# Matrix A s.t. A^3=0 but A^2 doesn't

## Homework Statement

Find a matrix, A, such that A3=0, but A2≠0.

## The Attempt at a Solution

I don't actually think this is possible. My only other thought is to take A2*A where this product equals zero, and then decompose A. But I don't know how to do that such that it is the "square root" of A.

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## Homework Statement

Find a matrix, A, such that A3=0, but A2≠0.

## The Attempt at a Solution

I don't actually think this is possible. My only other thought is to take A2*A where this product equals zero, and then decompose A. But I don't know how to do that such that it is the "square root" of A.
Try a 3x3 matrix with 1s above the diagonal.

How would I have known to look for that?

From what I know about matrix multiplication, I know that the zeroes below the diagonal help when I think of multiplying by taking linear combinations of the columns, but how would I reason this out in general?

How would I have known to look for that?

From what I know about matrix multiplication, I know that the zeroes below the diagonal help when I think of multiplying by taking linear combinations of the columns, but how would I reason this out in general?
Let A be an n xn matrix for which A^k = 0 for some k > n. Prove that A^n = 0.

This theorem tells me to work on nxn matrices since I know I know I can construct one that is A^n = 0. So your case we needed A^3. Hence I picked a 3x3

Ray Vickson