Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Prelims / Mathematics IV resit / 2 / a / Solution

First find the fixed axis of rotation by solving $(M-I)\mathbf{n}=0$. After removing a nonzero common factor, the linear equations areThey give $n_2=n_3=-n_1$. Choose the following unit vectors:Their dot products show that they form an orthonormal basis; hence $P=({\mathbf{p}}_1{\mathbf{p}}_2{\mathbf{p}}_3)$ is an orthogonal matrix. Since $M$ is an orthogonal matrix fixing ${\mathbf{p}}_1$, it preserves the orthogonal complement of ${\mathbf{p}}_1$. Its restriction there has determinant $1$, so it is a planar rotation.

The trace gives $1+2\cos \theta =\mathrm{tr}M=9/7$, so $\cos \theta =1/7$. To determine the sign of the sine, rather than just its magnitude, calculateThus a suitable angle and change of basis areIn fact direct matrix multiplication gives