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Part BCSIR NET December 2024satisfying-a-polynomial-is-not-having-it-as-minimal

Satisfying a polynomial is not having it as minimal

Let A be a 3 × 3 complex matrix such that is the identity matrix. Which of the following statements is true?

  1. A.A is diagonalizable.
  2. B.A has at least two distinct eigenvalues.
  3. C.The characteristic polynomial of A is .
  4. D.The minimal polynomial of A cannot have degree 2.

You have the answer. Trap Analysis is why the other three were written.

Not a worked solution repeated four times — the specific reasoning error each wrong option was built to reward.

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50 are analysed free — try those first.

Related counterexample: Diagonalisable ⇒ invertible

More on this topic

The chapter behind this: Diagonalisability — the criteria card — free to read

From Eigenvalues and Canonical FormsDiagonalisability criteria

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