Paper 1, Section II, G
State the structure theorem for a finitely generated module over a Euclidean domain in terms of invariant factors.
Let be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field and let be a linear map. Let denote the -module with acting as . Apply the structure theorem to to show the existence of a basis of with respect to which has the rational canonical form. Prove that the minimal polynomial and the characteristic polynomial of can be expressed in terms of the invariant factors. [Hint: For the characteristic polynomial apply suitable row operations.] Deduce the Cayley-Hamilton theorem for .
Now assume that has matrix with respect to the basis of . Let be the free -module of rank with free basis and let be the unique homomorphism with for . Using the fact, which you need not prove, that ker is generated by the elements , find the invariant factors of in the case that and is represented by the real matrix
with respect to the standard basis.