Questions: From the following, select all statements that are true. There may be more than one correct answer, A, X, and D are n x n matrices,
A. A is diagonalizable if and only if A has n eigenvalues, counting multiplicities.
B. If there exists a basis for R^n consisting entirely of eigenvectors of A, then A is diagonalizable,
C. If A is diagonalizable, then A is invertible,
D. A is diagonalizable if A = X D X^-1 for some diagonal matrix D and some invertible matrix X,
E. None of the above.
Transcript text: From the following, select all statements that are true. There may be more than one correct answer, $A, X$, and $D$ are $n \times n$ matrices,
A. $\boldsymbol{A}$ is diagonalizable if and only if $A$ has $n$ eigenvalues, counting multiplicities.
B. If there exists a basis for $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ consisting entirely of eigenvectors of $A$, then $A$ is diagonalizable,
C. If $A$ is diagonalizable, then $A$ is invertible,
D. $A$ is diagonalizable if $A=X D X^{-1}$ for some diagonal matrix $D$ and some invertible matrix $X$,
E. None of the above,
Solution
Solution Steps
To determine which statements are true, we need to analyze each statement based on the properties of diagonalizable matrices.
Statement A: A matrix \( A \) is diagonalizable if and only if it has \( n \) linearly independent eigenvectors. This is equivalent to saying \( A \) has \( n \) eigenvalues, counting multiplicities.
Statement B: If there exists a basis for \( \mathbb{R}^n \) consisting entirely of eigenvectors of \( A \), then \( A \) is diagonalizable. This is true by definition.
Statement C: If \( A \) is diagonalizable, it does not necessarily mean \( A \) is invertible. A diagonalizable matrix can have zero as an eigenvalue, making it non-invertible.
Statement D: If \( A \) is diagonalizable, then there exists an invertible matrix \( X \) and a diagonal matrix \( D \) such that \( A = X D X^{-1} \). This is true by definition.
Solution Approach
Analyze each statement based on the properties of diagonalizable matrices.
Verify the conditions for diagonalizability and invertibility.
Step 1: Analyze Statement A
A matrix \( A \) is diagonalizable if and only if it has \( n \) linearly independent eigenvectors. This is equivalent to saying \( A \) has \( n \) eigenvalues, counting multiplicities. Therefore, statement A is true.
Step 2: Analyze Statement B
If there exists a basis for \( \mathbb{R}^n \) consisting entirely of eigenvectors of \( A \), then \( A \) is diagonalizable. This is true by definition. Therefore, statement B is true.
Step 3: Analyze Statement C
If \( A \) is diagonalizable, it does not necessarily mean \( A \) is invertible. A diagonalizable matrix can have zero as an eigenvalue, making it non-invertible. Therefore, statement C is false.
Step 4: Analyze Statement D
If \( A \) is diagonalizable, then there exists an invertible matrix \( X \) and a diagonal matrix \( D \) such that \( A = X D X^{-1} \). This is true by definition. Therefore, statement D is true.