# Is the matrix Diagonalizable

## Homework Statement

Let A be a 3x3 singular Matrix that satisfy:
p(A+5I) < p(A)
p - is the rank of the matrix
I - is the identity matrix,
Is A Diagonalizable?

## The Attempt at a Solution

I know that A diagonalizable matrix can be Singular from every rank, even at 0 rank, so i can't see how i can conclude anything.

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fresh_42
Mentor
You can exclude many cases by the given assumptions. What does it mean for A to be singular?
Can A or A+5I equal the zero matrix?

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Dank2
singular means it isn't invertible or the columns are linearly independent or the rank is lower than 3.
i think A + 5I cannot be the zero matrix, but how's that even related to the Diagnolization of A, since any rank of matrix can be diagonliazable.

fresh_42
Mentor
There is only one possibility for the ranks of A and A + 5I. Assume that A is diagonalizable. What does it mean for the eigenvalues? This gives you a criterium.

Dank2
You mean the eigenvectors? they are independent. if not i don't know, i know that if A is diagonalizable it means that the amount of the same eigenvalues should be equal to the dimension of the eigenvectors space that is related to the current eigenvalue.

also the rank of A<3
and i can't see how to prove that A+5I > 0 it does look reasonable to me.
So A+5I > 0 ==> A+5I = > 1
and then rank of A = 2.
How is that helps me determine if A Diagonalizable

Still need help

fresh_42
Mentor
I meant the eigenvalues.
##p(A)=2## and ##p(A+5I)=1## are the only possibilities for the ranks, since ##p(A) < 3## and neither matrix can be zero which is equivalent to rank zero. (If ##A+5I = 0## then ##A = -5I## of rank ##3##. If ##A=0## then there is no way for another rank below that.)

Now assume ##A## is diagonalizable, i.e. there is a matrix ##S## with ##SAS^{-1} = diag(α,β,γ)##.
Then ##S(A+5I)S^{-1} = SAS^{-1} + 5I = diag(α+5,β+5,γ+5)## and without loss of generality ##γ=0## because ##p(A)=2.##
Now we still have ##p(A+5I)=1## which is only possible for ##α = β = -5##.

Dank2
So if the rank of the matix nxn is k , then the amount of 0 eigenvalues is n-k ? .
and also if i get two eigenvalues that are 0, how can i know if the matrix is diagonal or not ?

Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed
You mean the eigenvectors? they are independent. if not i don't know, i know that if A is diagonalizable it means that the amount of the same eigenvalues should be equal to the dimension of the eigenvectors space that is related to the current eigenvalue.

also the rank of A<3
and i can't see how to prove that A+5I > 0 it does look reasonable to me.
So A+5I > 0 ==> A+5I = > 1
and then rank of A = 2.
How is that helps me determine if A Diagonalizable
Why do you say p(A) < 3? All you were told is that p(A+5I) < p(A), and so you can have p(A) = 3, p(A+5I) = 1 or 2.

Why do you say p(A) < 3? All you were told is that p(A+5I) < p(A), and so you can have p(A) = 3, p(A+5I) = 1 or 2.
Because A is singular, that means it has linearly independent columns, and that means the rank must be less than 3.

I think i've got it, the rank of P'AP = Rank of A .
Then Rank of A = Rank of it's Diagonal matrix . therefore the rank - n is equal to the number of 0 on the diagonal.
But, still haven't figured out if it's Diagonalizable or not.

fresh_42
Mentor
So if the rank of the matix nxn is k , then the amount of 0 eigenvalues is n-k ? .
Amount isn't a good word here. In case of an eigenvalue ##\lambda## we speak of geometric multiplicity (dimension of the eigenspace of ##\lambda##) and algebraic multiplicity (power of ##t-\lambda## in the characteristic polynomial ##det (A-tI) = 0##) . If ##A## is diagonalizable then they are equal.
In general (in the situation asked) ##n = p(A) + \dim \ker(A) = k + (n-k)## and ## \ker(A) = \{x \in V | Ax=0=0 \cdot x\}## the eigenspace of eigenvalue ##0##.

and also if i get two eigenvalues that are 0, how can i know if the matrix is diagonal or not ?
You can't. It heavily depends on the scalar domain that make up your coordinates.

Dank2
You can't. It heavily depends on the scalar domain that make up your coordinates.
Or maybe A is diagonalizable since the rank of A is 2, and ker of A=1, and it does have only one eigenvalue = 0 , and so the dim of the eigenspace of 0 is 1 .

How can i see the the dim of the Eigenspace of -5 is 2 ?

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fresh_42
Mentor
The question in my book says if A is Diagonalizable? Maybe they have mistake ?
If ##A = diag(-5,-5,0)## then ##A## is diagonal and all conditions are met. We only derived that there can't be other eigenvalues.

Dank2
If ##A = diag(-5,-5,0)## then ##A## is diagonal and all conditions are met. We only derived that there can't be other eigenvalues.
Thanks, think i got it.

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If ##A = diag(-5,-5,0)## then ##A## is diagonal and all conditions are met. We only derived that there can't be other eigenvalues.
I wondered one more thing, if i could show that the dim of the eigenspace of -5 is 2 ? or do i must have values of the matrix for that ?

Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed
Thanks, think i got it.
If
$$A = \pmatrix{-5 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -5 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0}$$
then all the conditions are met and ##A## cannot be diagonalized.

You mean can be ? if not :
I = Identity matrix
I' = Inverse
I'AI = A
which means A is diagonlaziable. We just found matrix I that Diagonalize A.

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Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed
You mean can be ? if not :
I = Identity matrix
I' = Inverse
I'AI = A
which means A is diagonlaziable. We just found matrix I that Diagonalize A.
No, it was deliberately chosen to be NON-diagonalizable. Look again: the element ##a_{12} \neq 0##. The matrix ##A## is a 3x3 Jordan canonical form for eigenvalues -5,-5,0, with a non-diagonal Jordan block in the top left 2x2 location.

The eigenvalue -5 has algebraic multiplicity 2 but geometric multiplicity 1; that means that you cannot find three linearly-independent eigenvectors, only two. You need to include a so-called "generalized" eigenvector in order to have a full 3-dimensional basis. That is why the matrix cannot be diagonalized.

No, it was deliberately chosen to be NON-diagonalizable. Look again: the element ##a_{12} \neq 0##. The matrix ##A## is a 3x3 Jordan canonical form for eigenvalues -5,-5,0, with a non-diagonal Jordan block in the top left 2x2 location.
Where did that a12 =1 came from ?
and how do you know that the Geometric multiplicity of -5 is 1 ?

fresh_42
Mentor
Where did that a12 =1 came from ?
and how do you know that the Geometric multiplicity of -5 is 1 ?
This ##a_{12}=1## has been willingly chosen, as I have chosen ##diag(-5,-5,0).##
However, as @Ray Vickson has said: it is the Jordan normal form for matrices (basically achieved by choosing a basis in which a matrix can be written as the sum of a diagonal and a nilpotent (strict upper triangular) matrix) which allow you to see the dimensions of eigenspaces. Diagonalizability depends on whether the geometric and algebraic multiplicities of eigenvalues coincide or not (see above).

These are two examples of possible matrices ##A##, one of which is diagonal and one is not diagonalizable.
(I haven't done it so far but it might be possible to make a finite conclusion if we take additionally the fact that ##p(A+5I)=1## into account?)

Dank2
This ##a_{12}=1## has been willingly chosen, as I have chosen ##diag(-5,-5,0).##
However, as @Ray Vickson has said: it is the Jordan normal form for matrices (basically achieved by choosing a basis in which a matrix can be written as the sum of a diagonal and a nilpotent (strict upper triangular) matrix) which allow you to see the dimensions of eigenspaces. Diagonalizability depends on whether the geometric and algebraic multiplicities of eigenvalues coincide or not (see above).

These are two examples of possible matrices ##A##, one of which is diagonal and one is not diagonalizable.
(I haven't done it so far but it might be possible to make a finite conclusion if we take additionally the fact that ##p(A+5I)=1## into account?)
We don't have nilpotent in our course, is possible to see that the geometric multiplicity of -5 is 2 or 1 ?

If
$$A = \pmatrix{-5 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -5 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0}$$
then all the conditions are met and ##A## cannot be diagonalized.
but Rank of A+5I is = Rank of A

fresh_42
Mentor
We don't have nilpotent in our course, is possible to see that the geometric multiplicity of -5 is 2 or 1 ?
Therefore I added "strict upper triangular".
Assume you have a matrix ##S## for which ##SAS^{-1} = B## where ##B## is either a diagonal matrix or of the form Ray suggested, i.e. has only two eigenvectors, one to the eigenvalue ##0## and one for ##-5##. Then examine ##A+5I## and remember it has to be of rank one.

Therefore I added "strict upper triangular".
Assume you have a matrix ##S## for which ##SAS^{-1} = B## where ##B## is either a diagonal matrix or of the form Ray suggested, i.e. has only two eigenvectors, one to the eigenvalue ##0## and one for ##-5##. Then examine ##A+5I## and remember it has to be of rank one.
see post #23,

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