Given two non-commuting matrices, can we always find another nontrivial matrix that commute with each of them?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
0
down vote

favorite












Given two non-commuting matrices $A,B$, can we always find another nontrivial matrix $C$ that commute with each of them and how to construct $C$ explicitly?



This is sort of the converse statement of that fact that commutation relation are not transitive. If the statement is not generally true, what minimal constraints could be added such that it is true?




linear-algebra matrices




share|cite|improve this question





















  • What about the identity matrix?
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:47










  • well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
    – Shadumu
    Jul 31 at 15:49










  • The zero matrix?
    – gammatester
    Jul 31 at 15:49






  • 1




    Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:50






  • 1




    here is a relevant discussion.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:59














up vote
0
down vote

favorite












Given two non-commuting matrices $A,B$, can we always find another nontrivial matrix $C$ that commute with each of them and how to construct $C$ explicitly?



This is sort of the converse statement of that fact that commutation relation are not transitive. If the statement is not generally true, what minimal constraints could be added such that it is true?




linear-algebra matrices




share|cite|improve this question





















  • What about the identity matrix?
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:47










  • well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
    – Shadumu
    Jul 31 at 15:49










  • The zero matrix?
    – gammatester
    Jul 31 at 15:49






  • 1




    Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:50






  • 1




    here is a relevant discussion.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:59












up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











Given two non-commuting matrices $A,B$, can we always find another nontrivial matrix $C$ that commute with each of them and how to construct $C$ explicitly?



This is sort of the converse statement of that fact that commutation relation are not transitive. If the statement is not generally true, what minimal constraints could be added such that it is true?




linear-algebra matrices




share|cite|improve this question













Given two non-commuting matrices $A,B$, can we always find another nontrivial matrix $C$ that commute with each of them and how to construct $C$ explicitly?



This is sort of the converse statement of that fact that commutation relation are not transitive. If the statement is not generally true, what minimal constraints could be added such that it is true?





linear-algebra matrices





share|cite|improve this question












share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Jul 31 at 15:51
























asked Jul 31 at 15:47









Shadumu

1445




1445











  • What about the identity matrix?
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:47










  • well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
    – Shadumu
    Jul 31 at 15:49










  • The zero matrix?
    – gammatester
    Jul 31 at 15:49






  • 1




    Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:50






  • 1




    here is a relevant discussion.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:59
















  • What about the identity matrix?
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:47










  • well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
    – Shadumu
    Jul 31 at 15:49










  • The zero matrix?
    – gammatester
    Jul 31 at 15:49






  • 1




    Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:50






  • 1




    here is a relevant discussion.
    – lulu
    Jul 31 at 15:59















What about the identity matrix?
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:47




What about the identity matrix?
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:47












well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
– Shadumu
Jul 31 at 15:49




well, let's say other than the identity @lulu
– Shadumu
Jul 31 at 15:49












The zero matrix?
– gammatester
Jul 31 at 15:49




The zero matrix?
– gammatester
Jul 31 at 15:49




1




1




Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:50




Any scalar multiple of the identity then. I think you may want to refine your question.
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:50




1




1




here is a relevant discussion.
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:59




here is a relevant discussion.
– lulu
Jul 31 at 15:59










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote



accepted










For the matrices $$A=pmatrix1&1\0&1, B=pmatrix1&0\1&1$$ it's easy to check that only the scalar matrices commute with both $A$ and $B$. Indeed those that commute with $A$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&b\0&a,$$ and those that commute with $B$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&0\c&a$$






share|cite|improve this answer





















    Your Answer




    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    );
    );
    , "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );








     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2868195%2fgiven-two-non-commuting-matrices-can-we-always-find-another-nontrivial-matrix-t%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest

















    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    2
    down vote



    accepted










    For the matrices $$A=pmatrix1&1\0&1, B=pmatrix1&0\1&1$$ it's easy to check that only the scalar matrices commute with both $A$ and $B$. Indeed those that commute with $A$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&b\0&a,$$ and those that commute with $B$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&0\c&a$$






    share|cite|improve this answer

























      up vote
      2
      down vote



      accepted










      For the matrices $$A=pmatrix1&1\0&1, B=pmatrix1&0\1&1$$ it's easy to check that only the scalar matrices commute with both $A$ and $B$. Indeed those that commute with $A$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&b\0&a,$$ and those that commute with $B$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&0\c&a$$






      share|cite|improve this answer























        up vote
        2
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        2
        down vote



        accepted






        For the matrices $$A=pmatrix1&1\0&1, B=pmatrix1&0\1&1$$ it's easy to check that only the scalar matrices commute with both $A$ and $B$. Indeed those that commute with $A$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&b\0&a,$$ and those that commute with $B$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&0\c&a$$






        share|cite|improve this answer













        For the matrices $$A=pmatrix1&1\0&1, B=pmatrix1&0\1&1$$ it's easy to check that only the scalar matrices commute with both $A$ and $B$. Indeed those that commute with $A$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&b\0&a,$$ and those that commute with $B$ are of the form $$pmatrixa&0\c&a$$







        share|cite|improve this answer













        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer











        answered Jul 31 at 16:09









        saulspatz

        10.3k21324




        10.3k21324






















             

            draft saved


            draft discarded


























             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2868195%2fgiven-two-non-commuting-matrices-can-we-always-find-another-nontrivial-matrix-t%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest
































































            Comments

            Post a Comment

            Popular posts from this blog

            What is the equation of a 3D cone with generalised tilt?

            Image
            Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP up vote 2 down vote favorite What is the equation of a 3D cone with generalized tilt? I've noticed that in most equations given to represent a cone, there is no parameter which defines the tilt of the cone in 3D space and that most of them have their point at the origin $(0,0,0)$ - I was wondering if anyone could give me a more generalized cone equation for a cone in any position in 3D space 3d share | cite | improve this question edited Jul 25 '16 at 0:05 ervx 9,425 3 13 36 asked Jul 24 '16 at 15:38 Charlene 11 2 2 Welcome to Math.SE! Could you please explain a few things to help people give an answer useful to you: 1. What do you mean by "generalized tilt"? 2. Are you asking about a right circular cone? Does the angle at the vertex matter? 3. What form of answer (implicit, parametric...?) are you looking for? 4. If this is homework, what tools do you have available, an...
            Read more

            Color the edges and diagonals of a regular polygon

            Image
            Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP up vote 5 down vote favorite 1 Here is the problem: For what $n$ is it possible to color the edges and diagonals of an $n$-side regular polygon with $dfracbinomn23$ colors, such that you use every color exactly three times and for every color the three segments (edges or diagonals) with that color form a triangle? Trivially $nequiv 0 text or 1 pmod3$. I can also prove that if the statement is true for $k$ than it is true for $3k$ as well. How to finish? Please help! Thanks combinatorial-geometry share | cite | improve this question edited Aug 6 at 21:57 alcana 118 4 asked Aug 6 at 21:15 Leo Gardner 356 11 Even assuming "polyhpn" in the title is a typo for polygon , it is unclear what you mean by "the edges and sides". Aren't the side of a regular polygon the same as the edges? A regular $n$-sided polygon has $n$ edges. – hardmath Aug 6 at 21:20 3 $n$ ne...
            Read more

            Relationship between determinant of matrix and determinant of adjoint?

            Image
            Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP up vote 2 down vote favorite We are studying adjoints in class, and I was curious if there is a relationship between the determinant of matrix A, and the determinant of the adjoint of matrix A? I assume there would be a relationship because finding the adjoint requires creating a cofactor matrix and then transposing it. linear-algebra determinant adjoint-operators share | cite | improve this question asked Nov 17 '17 at 17:32 CluelessCoder 32 5 For a square matrix $A$ of order $n$, we have $A(operatornameadj A)=(operatornameadj A)A=|A|I_n$ where $I_n$ is the identity matrix of order $n$. This should tell you about the determinant of the adjoint in terms of that of $A$ (use multiplicative property and other elementary properties of determinants). – Prasun Biswas Nov 17 '17 at 17:35 1 @CluelessCoder: see here: math.stackexchange.com/questions/516127/…...
            Read more