Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2004 / ia / Paper 1 / 1B / Solution

Split the vector $x$ into its normal and tangential orthogonal projections:A reflection in the plane negates the first component and preserves the second. Thus $Hx=x-2(n\cdot x)n$, giving the Householder reflectionSince $n\cdot n=1$ and $n\cdot u=n\cdot v=0$,The columns of a matrix representation of a linear map are the coordinates of the images of the ordered basis vectors. Consequently, in the orthonormal basis $(u,v,n)$,Equivalently, with the orthogonal matrix $Q=(uvn)$, the change of basis formula is $N=Q^{T}MQ$.