Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / ia / Paper 1 / 7B / e / Solution

Eigenvectors belonging to distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent. Indeed, supposeis a shortest nontrivial relation, where $A{v}_j={\lambda }_j{v}_j$ and the ${\lambda }_j$ are distinct. Applying $A-{\lambda }_{m}I$ givesa shorter nontrivial relation, a contradiction.

Thus $n$ distinct eigenvalues provide a basis of $n$ eigenvectors, proving that $A$ is diagonalizable over $\mathbb{C}$. If $A$ is real and all its eigenvalues are real, each real singular matrix $A-\lambda I$ has a nonzero real null vector. Choosing one for each eigenvalue gives a real eigenbasis. Hence the real matrix is diagonalizable over $\mathbb{R}$. This is the distinct eigenvalues imply diagonalizability criterion.

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