# Show that if T^2 = 0 then I - T is one-to-one and onto

1. Nov 8, 2015

### AzwinAwin

• Member warned to post homework questions in a homework section
Let V be a vector space and T:V->V a linear transformation. Show that if T^2 = 0 then I - T is one-to-one and onto. As I denoted as the identity transformation.

can i relate it with (1-t)(1+t)=(1-t^2) when i do the proving ? how?

2. Nov 8, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

You've found the basic idea behind it. But is it also true, that (A-B)^2 = A^2 - 2AB +B^2 for any linear A,B : V → V? When and why can you apply the binomial formula?

Last edited: Nov 8, 2015
3. Nov 8, 2015

### Bipolarity

Try using this with what you have: If the product of two linear maps is invertible, then each of those maps is invertible.

BiP

4. Nov 8, 2015

### AzwinAwin

5. Nov 20, 2015

### Abhineshwary

I'm sorry.
I don't think so the hint help me to solve the question.
Can someone explain more clearly?

6. Nov 20, 2015

### Samy_A

$(I-T)(I+T)=I²-T²=I-0=I$
and now use @Bipolarity 's remark.

7. Nov 20, 2015

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
(A- B)^2= (A- B)(A- B)= A^2- AB- BA+ B^2. That is NOT generally A^2- 2AB+ B^2 because, for linear transformations, it is NOT general y true that AB= BA.

The binomial formula assumes that the values are commutative under multiplication so that the product of the same number of terms in any order can be combined.

8. Nov 20, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

... which for linear functions in general is only true to multiples of 1.

9. Nov 20, 2015

### mathwonk

a function is 1-1 and onto iff it has an inverse. you have proved that 1-t has as inverse 1+t. qed. what can you say if T^3 =0? or if T^n = 0?

10. Nov 28, 2015

### Bill_Nye_Fan

I am kind of interested in what the answer to this would be.

I would have said that because T^2 = 0, T must also equal 0. Therefore, 1 - T = 1 - 0 = 1.

x/y = x:y
1/1 = 1:1

Is this process a valid proof for this kind of question? Or am I completely off?

11. Nov 29, 2015

### Samy_A

No, for operators, T^2 = 0 doesn't imply that T must also equal 0

An example, take the following operator $T: \mathbb R² \to \mathbb R²: (x,y) \mapsto (0,x)$
$T(x,y)=(0,x)$, $T²(x,y)=T(0,x)=(0,0)$
So $T \neq 0$, but $T²=0$.

Also note: $(I-T)(x,y)=I(x,y)-T(x,y)=(x,y)-(0,x)=(x,y-x) \neq I(x,y)$

12. Nov 29, 2015

### Bill_Nye_Fan

Okay, thank you. I am unfamiliar with what operators are or how they work, so I sort of just tried to solve it as a regular equation. I suppose I will need to go a research these operators further now.

13. Dec 4, 2015

### Abhineshwary

Okay, thanks a lot everyone!