Linear Algebra/Definition and Examples of Similarity

Linear Algebra Definition and Examples of Similarity Complex Representations Diagonalizability Definition and Examples We've defined and to be matrix-equivalent if there are nonsingular matrices and such that . That definition is motivated by this diagram x150px showing that and both represent but with respect to different pairs of bases. arrowWe now specialize that setup to the case where the codomain equals the domain, and where the codomain's basis equals the domain's basis. x150px To move from the lower left to the lower right we can either go straight over, or up, over, and then down. In matrix terms, (recall that a representation of composition like this one reads right to left). Definition 1.1similar The matrices and are similar if there is a nonsingular such that . Since nonsingular matrices are square, the similar matrices and must be square and of the same size. Example 1.2 With these two, calculation gives that is similar to this matrix. Example 1.3ex:OnlyZeroSimToZero The only matrix similar to the zero matrix is itself: . The only matrix similar to the identity matrix is itself: . Since matrix similarity is a special case of matrix equivalence, if two matrices are similar then they are equivalent. What about the converse: must matrix equivalent square matrices be similar? The answer is no. The prior example shows that the similarity classes are different from the matrix equivalence classes, because the matrix equivalence class of the identity consists of all nonsingular matrices of that size. Thus, for instance, these two are matrix equivalent but not similar. So some matrix equivalence classes split into two or more similarity classes— similarity gives a finer partition than does equivalence. This picture shows some matrix equivalence classes subdivided into similarity classes. x200px To understand the similarity relation we shall study the similarity classes. We approach this question in the same way that we've studied both the row equivalence and matrix equivalence relations, by finding a canonical form for representativesMore information on representatives is in the appendix. of the similarity classes, called Jordan form. With this canonical form, we can decide if two matrices are similar by checking whether they reduce to the same representative. We've also seen with both row equivalence and matrix equivalence that a canonical form gives us insight into the ways in which members of the same class are alike (e.g., two identically-sized matrices are matrix equivalent if and only if they have the same rank). Exercises Problem 1 For check that . Problem 2 Example 1.3 shows that the only matrix similar to a zero matrix is itself and that the only matrix similar to the identity is itself. <li> Show that the matrix , also, is similar only to itself. <li> Is a matrix of the form for some scalar similar only to itself? <li> Is a diagonal matrix similar only to itself? Problem 3 Show that these matrices are not similar. Problem 4 Consider the transformation described by , , and . <li> Find where . <li> Find where . <li> Find the matrix such that . Problem 5 Exhibit an nontrivial similarity relationship in this way: let act by and pick two bases, and represent with respect to then and . Then compute the and to change bases from to and back again. Problem 6 Explain Example 1.3 in terms of maps. Problem 7 Are there two matrices and that are similar while and are not similar? Halmos 1958 Problem 8 Prove that if two matrices are similar and one is invertible then so is the other. Problem 9exer:SimIsEquivRel Show that similarity is an equivalence relation. Problem 10 Consider a matrix representing, with respect to some , reflection across the -axis in . Consider also a matrix representing, with respect to some , reflection across the -axis. Must they be similar? Problem 11 Prove that similarity preserves determinants and rank. Does the converse hold? Problem 12 Is there a matrix equivalence class with only one matrix similarity class inside? One with infinitely many similarity classes? Problem 13 Can two different diagonal matrices be in the same similarity class? Problem 14 Prove that if two matrices are similar then their -th powers are similar when . What if ? Problem 15 Let be the polynomial . Show that if is similar to then is similar to . Problem 16 List all of the matrix equivalence classes of matrices. Also list the similarity classes, and describe which similarity classes are contained inside of each matrix equivalence class. Problem 17 Does similarity preserve sums? Problem 18 Show that if and are similar matrices then and are also similar. /Solutions/ References Paul P. Halmos Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces Second Van Nostrand 1958. Linear Algebra Definition and Examples of Similarity Complex Representations Diagonalizability