Let be a real matrix such that . Determine all possible values of .
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Step-by-Step Solution
Insight: The equation restricts the eigenvalues of to the roots of .
Exam route: Since , any eigenvalue must satisfy , so . For a matrix, the trace is the sum of its two eigenvalues. The possible multisets of eigenvalues are , , and . Their sums are , , and . All are realizable by real matrices.
Learning route:
- Key idea: This is a polynomial-constraint-on-eigenvalues question. The matrix satisfies where .
- Why it applies: If , then . Since , we get , so .
- Working step by step: The trace is the sum of the eigenvalues.
- .
- .
- .
- Answer: The possible values are .
- Common trap: Assuming , which only gives trace and misses the other valid involutory matrices.
Verification: has trace and . has trace and squares to . has trace and . All three check out.