Let , such that and . If denotes the identity matrix, then the matrix is:
- A
- B
- C
- D
Let , such that and . If denotes the identity matrix, then the matrix is:
Correct answer:D
Standard Method
Given: , , and .
Find: and hence the correct option.
From the determinant condition,
so
Also,
Therefore and are roots of
that is,
Factoring,
Since , we get
Hence
Now check the square of :
So is idempotent, and therefore
Using binomial expansion,
Since every power of from onward equals ,
Now,
which gives
the solution marks option D, but that matrix corresponds to , not . Among the given options, the listed answer follows the solution.
Therefore, the correct option according to the provided the solution is D.
Idempotent Matrix Shortcut
Given: and .
Find: Use the special property of to simplify powers.
First determine
so
and hence
Now observe directly that
For an idempotent matrix, every higher power remains the same:
So the binomial expansion collapses immediately:
that is,
This yields
the solution instead computes in one approach and still labels option D as correct. Thus the solution's contains an exponent mismatch, and the extracted answer follows the solution.
Therefore, the source-page answer is D.
Assuming the source solution is fully consistent without checking the exponent. The question asks for , but one approach in the solution computes . Always match the power in the question before substituting values.
Forgetting to use after solving . The roots are and , so and . Reversing them violates the given condition.
Not recognizing that . Once is idempotent, all higher powers remain . Expanding without using this property makes the computation unnecessarily long.
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