Is Every Rank n-1 Matrix in Mn(F) Similar to a Specific Elementary Matrix?

  • Level: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter xixi
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Field Matrix Ring
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 3K views
xixi
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Let R = Mn(F) the ring consists of all n*n matrices over a finite field F and

E= E11 + E22 + ... + En-1,n-1, where Eii is the elementary matrix(Eij is matrix whose ij th element is 1 and the others are 0). Then the following hold:

1. If A is a rank n-1 matrix in RE then A is similar to E.

what is the proof of the above statement?
thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need to prove that any matrix of rank n-1 can be transformed to a similar elementary matrix of rank n-1 by applying a finite number of elementary row/column transformations.
 
radou said:
You need to prove that any matrix of rank n-1 can be transformed to a similar elementary matrix of rank n-1 by applying a finite number of elementary row/column transformations.

for similarity between A and E there must be an invertible matrix P such that [tex]\textit{P}[/tex][tex]\textit{A}[/tex][tex]\textit{\textit{P}}^{-1}[/tex][tex]\textit{=E}[/tex]
how can I say that?