Past exam of the rings and modules course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 3 / a

Since $A^2+I=0$, its minimal polynomial $m_A$ divides $X^2+1$. The polynomial $X^2+1$ is an irreducible polynomial over the rational numbers: a reducible quadratic would have a rational root, whereas $r^2+1>0$ for every $r\in \mathbb{Q}$.

Because $n>0$, the constant polynomial one evaluates to the nonzero identity matrix $I$, so $m_A\ne 1$. Both $m_A$ and $X^2+1$ are monic polynomials; hence the only remaining divisor is

The nonconstant invariant factors of a linear operator satisfy $d_1\mid \cdots \mid d_k=m_A$. By part (a)(i), $m_A=X^2+1$ is an irreducible polynomial, so every $d_j$ must equal $X^2+1$. Their polynomial degrees sum to $n$, giving $n=2k$.

The companion matrix of $X^2+1$, in the basis $(1,X)$ of $\mathbb{Q}[X]/(X^2+1)$, isTherefore, for each fixed even $n$, every such $A$ has rational canonical formThere are no such matrices when $n$ is odd. This is an instance of the rational canonical form with irreducible minimal polynomial principle; equality of minimal polynomials alone does not determine rational canonical form in general.

Let $v\in {\mathbb{Q}}^2$ be nonzero. If the columns $v,Av$ were linearly dependent over the rational numbers, then $Av=\lambda v$ for some $\lambda \in \mathbb{Q}$. Applying $A$ once more would giveso $({\lambda }^2+1)v=0$. Since $v\ne 0$, this forces ${\lambda }^2=-1$, impossible in $\mathbb{Q}$. Thus the two columns are linearly independent, and the square matrixis an invertible matrix.

In the basis $(v,Av)$, the linear map given by $A$ sends $v$ to the second basis vector and sends $Av$ to $A^{2}v=-v$. Equivalently,Multiplying on the left by the matrix inverse $E^{-1}$ givesThis change of basis produces the companion matrix found in part (a)(ii).