Let be a non-invertible square matrix of order with real entries, , and let be the adjoint of . Prove that if and only if the matrix is invertible.
Solution
As is non-singular, we get . Distinguish two cases:
i) . Then and the conclusion follows immediately.
ii) . Then and by Sylvester's inequality , that is .
It follows that where and . It follows that , with and . Denote by . Then or, equivalently, , which, in turn, implies , that is is invertible.
Moreover, if is invertible but , then from we deduce . Thus implying , a contradiction.
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