grandes-ecoles 2013 Q8
Eigenvalue and Characteristic Polynomial Analysis
We are given a matrix $S \in \mathbf{S}_n$, an angle $\theta \in \left]-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right[$ and integers $1 \leqslant p < q \leqslant n$ such that $s_{pq} \neq 0$. We define $S' = {}^t R_{p,q}(\theta) S R_{p,q}(\theta)$ and denote its coefficients by $s_{ij}'$.
We seek an angle $\theta \in \left]-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right[$ for which we have $s_{pq}' = 0$.
(a) Show that $s_{pq}' = 0$ if and only if $t = \tan\theta$ satisfies the equation $$t^2 + \frac{s_{pp} - s_{qq}}{s_{pq}} t - 1 = 0 \tag{1}$$
(b) Show that this equation admits one solution $t_0 \in ]-1, 1]$ and another $t_1 \notin ]-1, 1]$. What is the relationship between the angles $\theta_0$ and $\theta_1$ that correspond to these roots?
(c) In all that follows, we choose one of the two roots $t$ of equation (1). We thus have $s_{pq}' = 0$. A more precise choice will be made starting from question 12. Verify that $s_{pp}' - s_{pp} = t s_{pq}$; establish an analogous formula for $s_{qq}' - s_{qq}$.
(d) We decompose $S$ in the form $S = D + E$ with $D$ diagonal and $E$ with zero diagonal. We similarly decompose $S' = D' + E'$. Calculate $\|E'\|^2$ in terms of $\|E\|^2$ and $\left(s_{pq}\right)^2$.
(e) By justifying that $\|S'\| = \|S\|$, deduce an expression for $\|D'\|^2$ in terms of $\|D\|^2$ and $\left(s_{pq}\right)^2$.