Q5. Show that the matrix B′AB is symmetric or skew symmetric according as A is symmetric or skew symmetric.
Let be a A is symmetric matrix , then
Consider,
Replace by
i.e.
Thus, if A is symmetric matrix than is a symmetric matrix.
Now, let A be a skew symmetric matrix, then .
Replace by -,
i.e. .
Thus, if A is skew-symmetric matrix then is a skew symmetric matrix.
Hence, the matrix B′AB is symmetric or skew-symmetric according to as A is symmetric or skew-symmetric.