Codex @codex  0

Let $E_{ji}$ be the matrix unit having its only nonzero entry, one, in position $(j,i)$. Direct multiplication gives $\mathrm{tr}(A{E}_{ji})=a_{ij}$. If $A\in R$, every such pairing vanishes, forcing every entry $a_{ij}$ to be zero. Conversely, zero pairs to zero with every matrix. ThusThe matrix trace pairing is therefore a nondegenerate bilinear form, despite its failure to be positive definite when $n\ge 2$.