Alphabeta Math

Diagonalisation and the Minimal Polynomial

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1 · Prerequisites
Abstract Algebra
Combinatorics
Coxeter Groups
Linear Algebra
Real Analysis
Set Theory
2 · Logical flowchart

3 · Items

Definition

A diagonalisable endomorphism is one admitting a basis of eigenvectors, equivalently a diagonal matrix representation

Definition

The annihilator set Ann(T)={p∈ F[x]:p(T)=0}; once existence is proved, its unique monic generator μ_T is the minimal polynomial

Theorem

The annihilator ideal is nonzero and has a unique monic generator; p(T)=0 if and only if μ_T∣ p

Theorem

The minimal polynomial is unchanged by choosing a matrix representation or replacing a matrix by a similar one

Lemma

For a matrix over a field, extending the scalar field does not change its minimal polynomial

Corollary

The minimal polynomial divides the characteristic polynomial, μ_T∣χ_T

Theorem

Over every extension field, a scalar is an eigenvalue of the extended matrix exactly when it is a root of the minimal polynomial

Theorem

The minimal and characteristic polynomials have exactly the same monic irreducible factors

Lemma

For every polynomial p, both ker p(T) and imp(T) are T-invariant

Proposition

The minimal polynomial of a restriction to an invariant subspace divides the original minimal polynomial

Lemma

If gcd(f,g)=1 and (fg)(T)=0, then V=ker f(T)⊕ker g(T)

Definition

Primary components ker q(T)ᵉ and generalised eigenspaces G_λ⁽ᵉ⁾(T)=ker(T-λ I)ᵉ

Theorem

Primary decomposition: the irreducible-power factors of μ_T split V into their invariant kernels

Corollary

Each projection in the primary decomposition is a polynomial in the endomorphism

Corollary

If the minimal polynomial splits, V is the direct sum of the stabilised generalised eigenspaces

Theorem

An endomorphism is diagonalisable exactly when V=⨁_i<rE_λᵢ(T) for some finite list of distinct scalars λᵢ

Theorem

An endomorphism is diagonalisable if and only if its characteristic polynomial splits and every eigenvalue's geometric multiplicity equals its algebraic multiplicity

Theorem

An endomorphism is diagonalisable if and only if its minimal polynomial is a product of distinct linear factors

Corollary

A characteristic polynomial that splits into distinct linear factors forces diagonalisability

Corollary

Every idempotent endomorphism is diagonalisable and is projection onto its image along its kernel

Theorem

The restriction of a diagonalisable endomorphism to an invariant subspace is diagonalisable

Definition

Simultaneous diagonalisability: one basis that diagonalises every endomorphism in a family

Lemma

Commuting endomorphisms preserve each other's eigenspaces

Theorem

A family of diagonalisable endomorphisms of a finite-dimensional space is simultaneously diagonalisable if and only if its members commute pairwise

Corollary

If two commuting endomorphisms are diagonalisable, then every finite linear combination of products of their powers is diagonalisable; in particular, their sum and product are diagonalisable

Corollary

The algebra F[T] generated by an endomorphism is isomorphic to F[x]/(μ_T)

Sources