Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / ia / Paper 1 / 7B / b / Solution

If $B=S^{-1}AS$ with $S$ invertible, then $tI-B=S^{-1}(tI-A)S$. Multiplicativity of the determinant givesThe roots of the characteristic polynomial, counted with their multiplicities, are the eigenvalues with their algebraic multiplicities. Thus similar matrices have the same eigenvalues with the same algebraic multiplicities.

The converse is false. The matricesboth have characteristic polynomial $(t-1{)}^2$, but every matrix similar to $I_2$ is $S^{-1}{I}_{2}S=I_2$, whereas $J\ne I_2$. Alternatively, their geometric multiplicities for $1$ differ.