:: Practise problems for matrix adjoints

  1. Assume that \(A,B\) are \(n \times n\) matrices. Carry out each of the following twice: once in the real case and once in the complex case.
    1. Prove that if \(A,B\) are both product-preserving, then the matrix product \(AB\) is also product-preserving.
    2. If \(A,B\) are both self-adjoint, is the matrix product \(AB\) necessarily self-adjoint? Prove or find a counter-example.
  2. Consider the square matrix \( A = \left[\begin{smallmatrix} A_1 \\ & A_2 \end{smallmatrix}\right] \) in block-diagonal form.
    Carry out each of the following twice: once in the real case and once in the complex case.
    1. Prove that \( A^\ast = \left[\begin{smallmatrix} A^\ast_1 \\ & A^\ast_2 \end{smallmatrix}\right] \).
    2. Prove that if both of the blocks \(A_1,A_2\) are self-adjoint, then so is \(A\).
    3. Prove that if both of the blocks \(A_1,A_2\) are product-preserving, then so is \(A\).