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I know that two matrices commute ($AB = BA$) if they are simultaneously diagonalizable.

I also know that they commute if B is a polynomial of A ( $B = \sum_{k=0}^na_kA^{k+1}$).

What I do not know is whether these two statements mean the same thing (and if so how can it be proved).

Community
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Salvador Dali
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  • No. They don't mean the same thing. The second statement is essentially trivial. Whereas, the first statement is stating something more general. – Jacky Chong Oct 04 '16 at 08:39
  • @JackyChong Thank you. Am I right with thinking that 2) is a subset of 1)? Also does this mean that if B is a polynomial of A, then A and B are simultaneously diagonalizable? – Salvador Dali Oct 04 '16 at 08:42

2 Answers2

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As pointed out, there are many simultaneously diagonalizable matrices such that neither is a polynomial of the other. One example that comes to mind is $$ A = \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 0\\0 &1 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix},\quad \begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 0\\0 &2 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 2\end{bmatrix} $$ since no polynomial in $A$ can make the topmost two diagonal entries unequal, and no polynomial in $B$ can make the bottommost two diagonal entries unequal.

However, if one matrix is a polynomial of the other, say $$ B = a_nA^n + \cdots + a_1A + a_0I $$ and $A$ is diagonalisable (say $A = PDP^{-1}$, with $D$ diagonal), then $$ B = a_n(PDP^{-1})^n + \cdots + a_1PDP^{-1} + a_0I \\ = a_nPD^nP^{-1} + \cdots + a_1PDP^{-1} + a_0PIP^{-1}\\ = P(a_nD^n + \cdots + a_1D + a_0I)P^{-1} = PEP^{-1} $$ where $E = a_nD^n + \cdots + a_1D + a_0I$ is diagonal. So $A$ and $B$ are simultaneously diagonalisable.

Arthur
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Hint:

Consider that the a scalar matrix commutes with all matrices (of the same dimension), but a polynomial function of a scalar matrix gives a scalar matrix.

And consider that two commuting matrices are simultaneously triangularizable and are simultaneouly diagonalizable if they are also diagonalizable.

Emilio Novati
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