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Linear AlgebraChallengeDiagonalization & Matrix Powers

Diagonalization & Matrix Powers · Challenge problem

Two matrices AA and BB commute and are simultaneously diagonalized by the same eigenvectors (1,1)(1,1) and (1,−1)(1,-1): AA has eigenvalues 22 and 55 on these (respectively), and BB has eigenvalues 33 and −1-1 on these same two eigenvectors. Since AA and BB share an eigenbasis, ABAB has eigenvalues equal to the products of the corresponding eigenvalues of AA and BB. Find det⁡(AB−I)\det(AB - I).