Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ia / Paper 1 / 7B / a / Solution

If $A^T=-A$, then the scalar $x^{T}Ax$ equals its own transpose and henceso it vanishes.

Conversely, suppose $x^{T}Ax=0$ for every real $x$. Taking $x=e_i$ gives $A_{ii}=0$. Taking $x=e_i+e_j$ then gives $A_{ij}+A_{ji}=0$. Thus every entry satisfies $A^T=-A$, and