Characteristic polynomial #
We define the characteristic polynomial of f : M →ₗ[R] M, where M is a finite and
free R-module. The proof that f.charpoly is the characteristic polynomial of the matrix of f
in any basis is in linear_algebra/charpoly/to_matrix.
Main definition #
linear_map.charpoly f: the characteristic polynomial off : M →ₗ[R] M.
The characteristic polynomial of f : M →ₗ[R] M.
Equations
- f.charpoly = (⇑(linear_map.to_matrix (module.free.choose_basis R M) (module.free.choose_basis R M)) f).charpoly
The Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, that the characteristic polynomial of a linear map, applied to the linear map itself, is zero.
See matrix.aeval_self_charpoly for the equivalent statement about matrices.
Any endomorphism polynomial p is equivalent under evaluation to p %ₘ f.charpoly; that is,
p is equivalent to a polynomial with degree less than the dimension of the module.
Any endomorphism power can be computed as the sum of endomorphism powers less than the dimension of the module.