Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2001 / ib / Paper 3 / 9B / Solution

Use completing the square in the Hermitian form $x^{\ast }Ax$, rather than unitary diagonalization of a normal matrix. The first pivot is one, soA second square completion givesTherefore one answer isThe diagonal entries of $D$ are rational, $\det T=1$, and the displayed identity for every $x$ proves $T^{\ast }DT=A$.

If $T$ were a unitary matrix, this matrix congruence would also be a similarity transformation, so the diagonal entries of $D$ would be the eigenvalues of $A$. Its characteristic polynomial isThus its eigenvalues are $3,3+\sqrt{10},3-\sqrt{10}$, two of which are irrational. A unitary factor cannot give a rational diagonal here. Alternatively, the permitted rational root theorem implies that three rational eigenvalues would all be integers, whereas the quadratic factor has no integer roots.