Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Exercise 2.6.12

Posted on August 4, 2013 by hecker

Exercise 2.6.12. If H is the reflection matrix in the x–y plane, show that H^2 = I using the trigonometric identity \cos^2 \theta + \sin^2\theta = 1 (c^2+s^2=1 for short).

Answer: We have

H = \begin{bmatrix} 2c^2 -1&2cs \\ 2cs&2s^2-1 \end{bmatrix}

so that

H^2 = \begin{bmatrix} 2c^2 -1&2cs \\ 2cs&2s^2-1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 2c^2 -1&2cs \\ 2cs&2s^2-1 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} (2c^2 -1)(2c^2 -1)+(2cs)(2cs)&2cs(2c^2-1)+2cs(2s^2-1) \\ 2cs(2c^2-1)+2cs(2s^2-1)&(2cs)(2cs)+(2s^2 -1)(2s^2 -1) \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 4c^4-4c^2+1+4c^2s^2&2cs(2c^2+2s^2-2) \\ 2cs(2c^2+2s^2-2)&4c^2s^2+4s^4-4s^2+1 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 4c^2(c^2+s^2-1)+1&4cs(c^2+s^2-1) \\ 4cs(c^2+s^2-1)&4s^2(c^2+s^2-1)+1 \end{bmatrix}

Since c^2+s^2 =1 this can be simplified to

H^2 = \begin{bmatrix} 4c^2(1-1)+1&4cs(1-1) \\ 4cs(1-1)&4s^2(1-1)+1 \end{bmatrix}

= \begin{bmatrix} 4c^2 \cdot 0+1&4cs \cdot 0 \\ 4cs \cdot 0&4s^2 \cdot 0+1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1&0 \\ 0&1 \end{bmatrix} = I

NOTE: This continues a series of posts containing worked out exercises from the (out of print) book Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Edition by Gilbert Strang.

If you find these posts useful I encourage you to also check out the more current Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Fourth Edition, Dr Strang’s introductory textbook Introduction to Linear Algebra, Fourth Edition and the accompanying free online course, and Dr Strang’s other books.

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