Past exam of the year 1 of the computer science course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Digital systems, linear algebra, introduction to formal proof / 4 / b / Solution

The characteristic polynomial is $\det (\lambda I-A)={\lambda }^2-\lambda -1$. Its distinct eigenvalues are $\alpha =(1+\sqrt{5})/2$ and $\beta =(1-\sqrt{5})/2$. For either eigenvalue $\lambda$, the vector $(\lambda ,1{)}^{\top }$ is an eigenvector, since $A(\lambda ,1{)}^{\top }=(\lambda +1,\lambda {)}^{\top }=\lambda (\lambda ,1{)}^{\top }$.

ChooseThe determinant of $S$ is $\alpha -\beta =\sqrt{5}\ne 0$, soIts columns being eigenvectors gives $AS=SD$, and left multiplication by $S^{-1}$ proves $S^{-1}AS=D$.