Homework 9 Solutions

1. Let V , W be nite dimensional inner product spaces with dim(V ) dim(W ). Prove there is a linear
map T : V W such that hT (v), T (v 0 )iW = hv, v 0 iV for all v, v 0 V .

Proof. Let {v1 , . . . , vm }, {w1 , . . . , wn } be orthonormal bases for V, W respectively. These exist by the
Gram-Schmidt process. By the dimension condition, m n. Dene Pm T as the unique
Pm linear map with
T (vk ) = wk for each 1 k m. Then, for v, v 0 V , we write v = k=1 ak vk , v 0 = k=1 bk vk . We have
m
X m
X m
X m
X
hT (v), T (v 0 )iW = h ak T (vk ), bk T (vk )i = h ak wk , bk wk i
k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1

As hvj , vk i = hwj , wk i for each j, k, we have

m
X m
X m
X m
X
h ak wk , bk wk i = h ak vk , bk vk i = hv, v 0 iV
k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1

2. Let T : V V be an orthogonal projection on a subspace of an inner product space V . Prove that

kT (v)k kvk for all v V .

Proof. For v V , write v = w + z where w R(T ), z R(T ) , so T (v) = w. Then,

2 2 2 2 2
kT (v)k = kwk kwk + kzk = kw + zk = kvk

as hw, zi = 0.

3. Let V be a nite dimensional inner product space and T : V V be a projection such that
kT (v)k kvk for each v V . Prove T is an orthogonal projection.

Proof. Suppose T be projection along Z ; that is, N (T ) = Z . Suppose T is not an orthogonal projection.
Thus, if W = R(T ), we have Z 6= W . Hence, Z 6= W (if Z = W , then (Z ) = Z = W ). As
dim Z = dim W , we have Z \W 6= . Let x Z \W . We show kT (x)k > kxk. Write T (x) = z + z 0 where
z Z and z 0 Z . This is possible as V = Z Z . Write x = wx + zx where wx W , zx Z . Then,
T (x) = wx = z + z 0 , so wx z 0 = z Z . Thus, x z 0 = (wx z 0 ) + zx Z and is also in Z , so x = z 0 .
Hence, kT (x)k2 = kz + z 0 k2 = kzk2 + kz 0 k2 = kzk2 + kxk2 . As x / W , T (x) 6= x, so z 6= 0. Thus, kzk2 > 0,
so kT (x)k2 > kxk2 .

4. Let T be a normal operator on a nite dimensional inner product space. Suppose T is also a projec-
tion. Prove T is an orthogonal projection.

Proof. As T is normal, there is an orthonormal basis = {v1 , . . . , vn } for V such that [T ] is diagonal.
As T is a projection, the eigenvalues of T allPbelong to {0, 1}. Thus, if {v1 , . . . , vm } have eigenvalue 1 and
the rest have eigenvalue 0, we have, for v = nk=1 ck vk V
n
X n
X m
X m
X m
X n
X n
X n
X
hT (v), T (v)i = h ck T (vk ), ck (vk )i = h c k vk , ck vk i = |ck |2 |ck |2 = h ck v k , ck vk i = hv, vi
k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1 k=1

so by problem 3, T is an orthogonal projection.

5. Let T be a normal operator on a nite dimensional complex inner product space such that T n = 0 for
some n > 0. Prove T = 0.

1
 Proof. As T is normal, it has a basis of eigenvectors, say {v1 , . . . , vm } with eigenvalues 1 , . . . , m .
Then, T n (vk ) = nk vk = 0 for all n, so k = 0 for all k. Hence, T = 0 on a basis, so T = 0.

6. Let T be a normal operator on a nite dimensional complex inner product space. Prove for any integer
n > 1 there is a linear operator S such that T = S n .

Proof. As T is normal, there is an orthonormal basis = {v1 , . . . , vm } of eigenvectors, say with eigen-
values 1 , . . . , m . For each k , let k be such that nk = k . These exist by the fundamental theorem
of algebra. Dene S by S(vk ) = k vk . Then, S n (vk ) = nk vk = T (vk ) for each k, so S n = T as these
transformations are equal on a basis.

7. Let T be a unitary operator on a nite dimensional inner product space and W V a nite dimen-
sional T -invariant subspace. Prove that W is also T -invariant.

Proof. Let x W and w W . Then, hw, T (x)i = hT (w), xi = hT 1 (w), xi as T = T 1 . As

T is unitary, it is an isomorphism, so T 1 is also an isomorphism. Hence, dim T 1 (X) = dim(X) for
any subspace X V . In particular, dim T 1 (W ) = dim(W ), but W T 1 (W ) as W is T -invariant, so
W = T 1 (W ). Thus, T 1 (w) W , so hT 1 (w), xi = 0 as x W . As this holds for all w W , T (x) W .

8. Find an orthogonal matrix whose rst row is ( 31 , 32 , 23 ).

Solution. Take any basis where ( 13 , 32 , 23 ) is the rst element and perform Gram-Schmidt. Then, use the
results as the rows of the orthogonal matrix. For example, we could take {( 13 , 23 , 23 ), (4, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1)} (to
start o orthogonally) and normalize to {( 31 , 32 , 23 ), ( 418 , 118 , 118 ), (0, 12 ,
1
2
)} giving the matrix
1 2 2
3 3 3
4 1 1
18 18 18
1 1
0 2

2

9. Let T be a unitary operator on a complex nite dimensional inner product space V . Prove there
exists a unitary operator S such that T = S 2 .

Proof. Let S be as constructed in problem 6. We show S is unitary. Let = {v1 , . . . , vm } be as in

problem 6, so S(vk ) = k vk , T (vk ) = k vk , 2k = k . Then, as is an orthonormal basis, S (vk ) = k vk .
Hence, SS (vk ) = |k |2 vk = |k |vk . Now, T is unitary, so T (vk ) = k vk and, as T = T 1 , we have
T (vk ) = T 1 (vk ) = 1k vk . Thus, k k vk = vk , which is |k |2 = 1. Hence, SS (vk ) = vk for all k , so
SS = Id.

10. Let T be a self-adjoint positive denite operator on a nite dimensional inner product space V .
Prove there is an operator S such that S S = T .

Proof. Let = {v1 , . . . , vn } be an orthonormal basis for V such that T (vk ) = k vk for each vk . This

exists as T is self-adjoint. As T is positive denite, k > 0 for each k. Let S : V V by S(vk ) = k vk

(the positive square root). Then, as is an orthonormal basis, S (vk ) = k vk = k vk for each vk . Thus,
S S(vk ) = k vk = T (vk ) for all k , so S S = T .