Paper 1, Section II, 1F1 F

Linear Algebra
Part IB, 2016

(a) Consider the linear transformation α:R3R3\alpha: \mathbb{R}^{3} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{3} given by the matrix

(566142364)\left(\begin{array}{rrr} 5 & -6 & -6 \\ -1 & 4 & 2 \\ 3 & -6 & -4 \end{array}\right)

Find a basis of R3\mathbb{R}^{3} in which α\alpha is represented by a diagonal matrix.

(b) Give a list of 6×66 \times 6 matrices such that any linear transformation β:R6R6\beta: \mathbb{R}^{6} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{6} with characteristic polynomial

(x2)4(x+7)2(x-2)^{4}(x+7)^{2}

and minimal polynomial

(x2)2(x+7)(x-2)^{2}(x+7)

is similar to one of the matrices on your list. No two distinct matrices on your list should be similar. [No proof is required.]