Ludium
Sign In
Linear Algebra Done Right
Vector Spaces
01Complex Numbers as Pairs of Real Numbers02Lists and Fⁿ: Coordinate Addition and a First Proof03Vectors in R², Scalar Multiplication, and FieldsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Definition of a Vector Space: Fⁿ, F^∞ and Function Spaces02Unique Zero and Inverses, 0v = 0, and the Subspace Test03Sums of Subspaces: The Smallest Subspace Containing Them04Direct Sums: Only One Way to Write ZeroProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Finite-Dimensional Spaces
01Linear Combinations, Span, and Finite-Dimensional Spaces02Linear Independence and the Linear Dependence Lemma03Independent Lists Are No Longer Than Spanning ListsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Bases: Reduce a Spanning List, Extend an Independent List02Dimension: Why Every Basis Has the Same Length03The Dimension of a Sum of Two SubspacesProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Linear Maps
01Linear Maps and the Linear Map Lemma: Values on a Basis02Sums, Scalar Multiples and Products of Linear Maps03Null Space, Range, Injectivity and Surjectivity04The Fundamental Theorem of Linear Maps and Linear SystemsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01The Matrix of a Linear Map: Each Column Is Tvₖ02Matrix Operations and Why Multiplication Is Row Times Column03Rows, Columns and Linear Combinations in Matrix Products04Column Rank Equals Row Rank: Column-Row FactorizationProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Invertible Linear Maps: Injective and Surjective02Equal Dimensions: Injective or Surjective Means Invertible03Isomorphic Spaces and the Dimension of L(V, W)04The Matrix of a Vector: M(Tv) = M(T)M(v)05Change of Basis for an Operator: A = C⁻¹BCProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Products of Vector Spaces: When Dimensions Add02Quotient Spaces V/U: Parallel Lines as Vectors03The Quotient Map and V/null T ≅ range TProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01The Dual Basis Reads Coefficients and T′ Reverses Arrows02The Annihilator U⁰ and dim U⁰ = dim V − dim U03Null T′ and Range T′ as Annihilators; M(T′) Is the TransposeProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Polynomials and Eigenvalues
01Conjugates, |z| and the Complex Triangle Inequality02Zeros, Factors and the Division Algorithm via a Basis03Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Complete Factorization04Real Polynomials: Linear and Irreducible Quadratic FactorsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Invariant Subspaces and Eigenvalues: Tv = λv02Eigenvectors, T − λI and At Most dim V Eigenvalues03p(T) and Why Every Complex Operator Has an Eigenvalue04The Minimal Polynomial: Existence, Uniqueness and Computation05Eigenvalues Are the Zeros of the Minimal Polynomial06Why Odd Dimension Forces a Real EigenvalueProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Upper-Triangular Matrices and Invariant Spans02Eigenvalues Sit on the Upper-Triangular Diagonal03The Minimal Polynomial Decides Upper-TriangularityProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Diagonalizable Operators and Direct Sums of Eigenspaces02Four Equivalent Tests for Diagonalizability03Distinct Linear Factors Decide Diagonalizability04The Gershgorin Disk Theorem: Where Eigenvalues Live05Commuting Operators Share a Diagonalizing Basis06Commuting Operators Over C: One Upper-Triangular BasisProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Inner Product Spaces
01Inner Products: Why Complex Spaces Need a Conjugate02Norms, Orthogonality and the Pythagorean Theorem03Cauchy-Schwarz and the Triangle InequalityProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Orthonormal Bases: Bessel's Inequality and Parseval02Gram-Schmidt, Orthonormal Bases and Schur's Theorem03Linear Functionals and the Riesz Representation TheoremProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Orthogonal Complements and the Direct Sum V = U ⊕ U⊥02Orthogonal Projection onto U and Why U⊥⊥ = U03Riesz Representation Without a Basis: v ⊥ null φProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01The Closest Point Is the Projection: Fitting Sine on [−π, π]02The Pseudoinverse T† and Its Three Inverse-Like Properties03T†w: The Best Approximate Solution of Smallest NormProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Operators on Inner Product Spaces
01The Adjoint T*: Moving T into the Second Slot of ⟨Tv, w⟩02Null T* = (range T)⊥ and M(T*) as the Conjugate Transpose03Self-Adjoint Operators: Real Eigenvalues and Real ⟨Tv, v⟩04Normal Operators: ‖Tv‖ = ‖T*v‖ and Orthogonal EigenvectorsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10

Real Polynomials: Linear and Irreducible Quadratic Factors

Why do the nonreal zeros of a real polynomial come in conjugate pairs, and when does x² + bx + c refuse to factor?


Loading…

←Previous Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and Complete FactorizationNext Invariant Subspaces and Eigenvalues: Tv = λv →

Your summary note

    1. 1

      Nonreal zeros of real polynomials come in conjugate pairs

      State the result for ppp with real coefficients and write out the proof: conjugate both sides of p(λ)=0p(\lambda) = 0p(λ)=0, naming the conjugate property used at each step.

    2. 2

      When x2+bx+cx^2 + bx + cx2+bx+c factors over R\mathbf{R}R: b2≥4cb^2 \geq 4cb2≥4c

      Write the completed-square identity x2+bx+c=(x+b2)2+(c−b24)x^2 + bx + c = (x + \frac{b}{2})^2 + (c - \frac{b^2}{4})x2+bx+c=(x+2b​)2+(c−4b2​) and carry out both directions, including the explicit real factors built from d2=b24−cd^2 = \frac{b^2}{4} - cd2=4b2​−c.

    3. 3

      Existence of the factorization over R\mathbf{R}R

      State the factorization with bk2<4ckb_k^2 < 4c_kbk2​<4ck​, expand (x−λ)(x−λˉ)=x2−2(Re⁡λ)x+∣λ∣2(x - \lambda)(x - \bar{\lambda}) = x^2 - 2(\operatorname{Re}\lambda)x + |\lambda|^2(x−λ)(x−λˉ)=x2−2(Reλ)x+∣λ∣2, and reproduce the argument that the quotient qqq has real coefficients, finishing by induction on degree.

    4. 4

      Uniqueness of the factorization over R\mathbf{R}R

      Write each irreducible quadratic factor as (x−λk)(x−λˉk)(x - \lambda_k)(x - \bar{\lambda}_k)(x−λk​)(x−λˉk​) and record how two different real factorizations would yield two different complex ones, contradicting uniqueness over C\mathbf{C}C.

    Attempt 1 of 2