Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / ia / Paper 1 / 7B / i

Let $[v{]}_{\times }$ denote the cross product matrix, with $[v{]}_{\times }x=v\times x$. ThenThe two eigenvalue calculations use an orthonormal basis adapted to $u,v$.

If $u\cdot v=0$, use the positively oriented orthonormal basis $(u,v\times u,v)$. The cross product identities give $Au=u+v\times u$, $A(v\times u)=-u$ and $Av=0$. In this basis,Its characteristic polynomial is $\lambda ({\lambda }^2-\lambda +1)$, so

If $v=\pm u$, then $Au=u$. On the perpendicular plane, $u{u}^T$ vanishes and $[v{]}_{\times }$ is a signed right-angle rotation, whose square is minus the identity. Hence its complex eigenvalues are $\pm i$, and