Signature of matrix associated with q











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For $alphainmathbb{R}$, let $q(x_1, x_2) = x_1^2
+ 2alpha x_1x_2 + dfrac{1}{2}2x_2^2$
, for $(x_1, x_2) in mathbb{R^2}$.Find all values of $alpha$ for which the signature of $q$ is 1.




The matrix associated with the quadratic form is $begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}$. To find the signature we reduce it to a diagonal form by simultaneous row and column transformations as $$begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}xrightarrow[C_2rightarrow C_2-alpha C_1]{R_2rightarrow R_2-alpha R_1}begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}.$$

Signature of a matrix is defined as number of positive entries - total no of negative entries.
Signature of matrix of $q$ is $1$ if ${displaystylealphageqfrac{1}{2}}cup{alphaleqfrac{-1}{2}} $. But there is also another formula so to say viz $2p-r$ where $p$ is the number of positive entries and $r$ is the rank of the diagonal form. For $2p-r=1$ we require $p=1$ and $r=1$. Thus the values of $alpha=pmdfrac{1}{2}$. Is it weird that we are getting two ranges for $alpha$ for the same quadratic form? I am sure I have made a mistake. Can anyone please clarify?










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    For $alphainmathbb{R}$, let $q(x_1, x_2) = x_1^2
    + 2alpha x_1x_2 + dfrac{1}{2}2x_2^2$
    , for $(x_1, x_2) in mathbb{R^2}$.Find all values of $alpha$ for which the signature of $q$ is 1.




    The matrix associated with the quadratic form is $begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}$. To find the signature we reduce it to a diagonal form by simultaneous row and column transformations as $$begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}xrightarrow[C_2rightarrow C_2-alpha C_1]{R_2rightarrow R_2-alpha R_1}begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}.$$

    Signature of a matrix is defined as number of positive entries - total no of negative entries.
    Signature of matrix of $q$ is $1$ if ${displaystylealphageqfrac{1}{2}}cup{alphaleqfrac{-1}{2}} $. But there is also another formula so to say viz $2p-r$ where $p$ is the number of positive entries and $r$ is the rank of the diagonal form. For $2p-r=1$ we require $p=1$ and $r=1$. Thus the values of $alpha=pmdfrac{1}{2}$. Is it weird that we are getting two ranges for $alpha$ for the same quadratic form? I am sure I have made a mistake. Can anyone please clarify?










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      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite












      For $alphainmathbb{R}$, let $q(x_1, x_2) = x_1^2
      + 2alpha x_1x_2 + dfrac{1}{2}2x_2^2$
      , for $(x_1, x_2) in mathbb{R^2}$.Find all values of $alpha$ for which the signature of $q$ is 1.




      The matrix associated with the quadratic form is $begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}$. To find the signature we reduce it to a diagonal form by simultaneous row and column transformations as $$begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}xrightarrow[C_2rightarrow C_2-alpha C_1]{R_2rightarrow R_2-alpha R_1}begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}.$$

      Signature of a matrix is defined as number of positive entries - total no of negative entries.
      Signature of matrix of $q$ is $1$ if ${displaystylealphageqfrac{1}{2}}cup{alphaleqfrac{-1}{2}} $. But there is also another formula so to say viz $2p-r$ where $p$ is the number of positive entries and $r$ is the rank of the diagonal form. For $2p-r=1$ we require $p=1$ and $r=1$. Thus the values of $alpha=pmdfrac{1}{2}$. Is it weird that we are getting two ranges for $alpha$ for the same quadratic form? I am sure I have made a mistake. Can anyone please clarify?










      share|cite|improve this question
















      For $alphainmathbb{R}$, let $q(x_1, x_2) = x_1^2
      + 2alpha x_1x_2 + dfrac{1}{2}2x_2^2$
      , for $(x_1, x_2) in mathbb{R^2}$.Find all values of $alpha$ for which the signature of $q$ is 1.




      The matrix associated with the quadratic form is $begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}$. To find the signature we reduce it to a diagonal form by simultaneous row and column transformations as $$begin{bmatrix} 1& alpha\alpha&frac12end{bmatrix}xrightarrow[C_2rightarrow C_2-alpha C_1]{R_2rightarrow R_2-alpha R_1}begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}.$$

      Signature of a matrix is defined as number of positive entries - total no of negative entries.
      Signature of matrix of $q$ is $1$ if ${displaystylealphageqfrac{1}{2}}cup{alphaleqfrac{-1}{2}} $. But there is also another formula so to say viz $2p-r$ where $p$ is the number of positive entries and $r$ is the rank of the diagonal form. For $2p-r=1$ we require $p=1$ and $r=1$. Thus the values of $alpha=pmdfrac{1}{2}$. Is it weird that we are getting two ranges for $alpha$ for the same quadratic form? I am sure I have made a mistake. Can anyone please clarify?







      linear-algebra proof-explanation quadratic-forms






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      edited Nov 15 at 9:28









      pointguard0

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      asked Nov 15 at 9:06









      Yadati Kiran

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          $r$ isn't the rank of the matrix. It's the rank of a quadratic form. If the matrix is non-degenerate and $frac 1 2 - alpha^2 < 0$ then its signature is $1$.



          For definitions see here.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















          • $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:39












          • can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:45










          • well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
            – pointguard0
            Nov 15 at 11:42











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          1 Answer
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          up vote
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          $r$ isn't the rank of the matrix. It's the rank of a quadratic form. If the matrix is non-degenerate and $frac 1 2 - alpha^2 < 0$ then its signature is $1$.



          For definitions see here.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















          • $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:39












          • can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:45










          • well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
            – pointguard0
            Nov 15 at 11:42















          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted










          $r$ isn't the rank of the matrix. It's the rank of a quadratic form. If the matrix is non-degenerate and $frac 1 2 - alpha^2 < 0$ then its signature is $1$.



          For definitions see here.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















          • $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:39












          • can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:45










          • well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
            – pointguard0
            Nov 15 at 11:42













          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          1
          down vote



          accepted






          $r$ isn't the rank of the matrix. It's the rank of a quadratic form. If the matrix is non-degenerate and $frac 1 2 - alpha^2 < 0$ then its signature is $1$.



          For definitions see here.






          share|cite|improve this answer












          $r$ isn't the rank of the matrix. It's the rank of a quadratic form. If the matrix is non-degenerate and $frac 1 2 - alpha^2 < 0$ then its signature is $1$.



          For definitions see here.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Nov 15 at 10:29









          pointguard0

          1,310821




          1,310821












          • $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:39












          • can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:45










          • well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
            – pointguard0
            Nov 15 at 11:42


















          • $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:39












          • can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
            – Yadati Kiran
            Nov 15 at 10:45










          • well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
            – pointguard0
            Nov 15 at 11:42
















          $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
          – Yadati Kiran
          Nov 15 at 10:39






          $r$ is the total number of square terms of the quadratic form viz the rank of $begin{bmatrix} 1& 0\0&frac12-alpha^2end{bmatrix}$.
          – Yadati Kiran
          Nov 15 at 10:39














          can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
          – Yadati Kiran
          Nov 15 at 10:45




          can we caluculate signature for degenerate quadratic form?
          – Yadati Kiran
          Nov 15 at 10:45












          well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
          – pointguard0
          Nov 15 at 11:42




          well, in case of non-degenerate matrices the signature is usually given by tuple $(p, q) equiv (p, r - p)$, while for degenerate matrices it is described by $(p, q, z)$, where $z$ indicates the number of non-zero $y_{t}$s such that they square to 0. For this case the quadratic form can be written as follows: $$ Q = y_1^2 + dots + y_p^2 - y_{p+1}^2 - dots - y_{p+q}^2 + y_{p+q+1}^2 + dots + y_{p+q+z}^2 $$
          – pointguard0
          Nov 15 at 11:42


















           

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