Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / Paper 1 / 17 / g / Solution

From part (f), $PQ=\mathrm{diag}(-1,-1,1)$. To obtain $PQR=-I$, choose the Householder transformation that reverses only the third coordinate:Indeed $\mathbf{r}{\mathbf{r}}^T=\mathrm{diag}(0,0,2)$, so $R_{ij}={\delta }_{ij}-r_i{r}_j$, and direct matrix multiplication gives $PQR=-I$. The alternative vector $-\mathbf{r}$ produces the same matrix. Geometrically $R$ reflects in the plane $x_3=0$, completing the reversal of all three coordinates.