Paper 2, Section II, F

Linear Algebra
Part IB, 2020

Let VV be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field. Show that an endomorphism α\alpha of VV is idempotent, i.e. α2=α\alpha^{2}=\alpha, if and only if α\alpha is a projection onto its image.

Determine whether the following statements are true or false, giving a proof or counterexample as appropriate:

(i) If α3=α2\alpha^{3}=\alpha^{2}, then α\alpha is idempotent.

(ii) The condition α(1α)2=0\alpha(1-\alpha)^{2}=0 is equivalent to α\alpha being idempotent.

(iii) If α\alpha and β\beta are idempotent and such that α+β\alpha+\beta is also idempotent, then αβ=0\alpha \beta=0.

(iv) If α\alpha and β\beta are idempotent and αβ=0\alpha \beta=0, then α+β\alpha+\beta is also idempotent.