Question about rotation $2times 2$ rotation matrices












3












$begingroup$


How do I prove that, if for a $2 times 2$ matrix $A$ and a fixed integer $n> 0$ we have that $$A^n= begin{bmatrix} cos{x}& -sin{x}\ sin{x} & cos{x}end{bmatrix} ,$$
for some real $x$, then $A$ is also a rotation matrix? I know that it is very obvious, especially if you think about the isomorphism with complex numbers, but I can't seem to come up with a simple and rigorous proof.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    3












    $begingroup$


    How do I prove that, if for a $2 times 2$ matrix $A$ and a fixed integer $n> 0$ we have that $$A^n= begin{bmatrix} cos{x}& -sin{x}\ sin{x} & cos{x}end{bmatrix} ,$$
    for some real $x$, then $A$ is also a rotation matrix? I know that it is very obvious, especially if you think about the isomorphism with complex numbers, but I can't seem to come up with a simple and rigorous proof.










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      3












      3








      3


      1



      $begingroup$


      How do I prove that, if for a $2 times 2$ matrix $A$ and a fixed integer $n> 0$ we have that $$A^n= begin{bmatrix} cos{x}& -sin{x}\ sin{x} & cos{x}end{bmatrix} ,$$
      for some real $x$, then $A$ is also a rotation matrix? I know that it is very obvious, especially if you think about the isomorphism with complex numbers, but I can't seem to come up with a simple and rigorous proof.










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      How do I prove that, if for a $2 times 2$ matrix $A$ and a fixed integer $n> 0$ we have that $$A^n= begin{bmatrix} cos{x}& -sin{x}\ sin{x} & cos{x}end{bmatrix} ,$$
      for some real $x$, then $A$ is also a rotation matrix? I know that it is very obvious, especially if you think about the isomorphism with complex numbers, but I can't seem to come up with a simple and rigorous proof.







      linear-algebra rotations






      share|cite|improve this question















      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question








      edited Dec 16 '18 at 22:51









      Namaste

      1




      1










      asked Dec 16 '18 at 15:08









      Tanny SiebenTanny Sieben

      41028




      41028






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          2












          $begingroup$

          Even for the case $A^2=R$ there are many possible roots.



          Look for instance at:



          https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cms_upload/Square_Roots-Sullivan13884.pdf



          With the additional constraint $det(R)=1$ here you get $$operatorname{tr}(A)A=Rpm I$$



          and have to discuss according values of $x$, whether the trace is zero or not and so on.




          • e.g. $R=I$ and null trace, gives $begin{pmatrix}a&b\c&-aend{pmatrix}$ with $a^2+bc=1$


          [ $a=0,b=1,c=1$ is the case presented by David C. Ulrich in his answer ]





          For $A^n=R$ you get even more solutions.



          Starting with $n=2p$ even, you have to solve $A^p=B$ for every $B^2=R$ with $B$ not necessarily a rotation already...






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$





















            4












            $begingroup$

            "Very obvious" or not, it's not true. If $A=begin{bmatrix}0&1\1&0end{bmatrix}$ then $A^2=I$ but $A$ is not a rotation.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
              $endgroup$
              – Tanny Sieben
              Dec 16 '18 at 15:31








            • 2




              $begingroup$
              I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
              $endgroup$
              – David C. Ullrich
              Dec 16 '18 at 15:41












            • $begingroup$
              I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
              $endgroup$
              – Tanny Sieben
              Dec 16 '18 at 15:52





















            1












            $begingroup$

            $DeclareMathOperator{Tr}{Tr}$For the case $A^2=R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation different from identity, we can apply Sullivan's article quoted by zwim, and find:



            If $R=begin{pmatrix}-1\&-1end{pmatrix}$, then $A=begin{pmatrix}alpha&beta\gamma&-alphaend{pmatrix}$ with $alpha^2+betagamma=-1$.



            If $R$ is any other rotation over an angle $phi$, then $displaystyle A=pmfrac{R+I}{sqrt{2cosphi+2}}$. Working through the possibilities, it means that $A$ is a rotation matrix over either $frac 12phi$ or $frac 12phi + pi$.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













              Your Answer





              StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
              return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
              StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
              StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
              });
              });
              }, "mathjax-editing");

              StackExchange.ready(function() {
              var channelOptions = {
              tags: "".split(" "),
              id: "69"
              };
              initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

              StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
              // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
              if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
              StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
              createEditor();
              });
              }
              else {
              createEditor();
              }
              });

              function createEditor() {
              StackExchange.prepareEditor({
              heartbeatType: 'answer',
              autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
              convertImagesToLinks: true,
              noModals: true,
              showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
              reputationToPostImages: 10,
              bindNavPrevention: true,
              postfix: "",
              imageUploader: {
              brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
              contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
              allowUrls: true
              },
              noCode: true, onDemand: true,
              discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
              ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
              });


              }
              });














              draft saved

              draft discarded


















              StackExchange.ready(
              function () {
              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3042705%2fquestion-about-rotation-2-times-2-rotation-matrices%23new-answer', 'question_page');
              }
              );

              Post as a guest















              Required, but never shown

























              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2












              $begingroup$

              Even for the case $A^2=R$ there are many possible roots.



              Look for instance at:



              https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cms_upload/Square_Roots-Sullivan13884.pdf



              With the additional constraint $det(R)=1$ here you get $$operatorname{tr}(A)A=Rpm I$$



              and have to discuss according values of $x$, whether the trace is zero or not and so on.




              • e.g. $R=I$ and null trace, gives $begin{pmatrix}a&b\c&-aend{pmatrix}$ with $a^2+bc=1$


              [ $a=0,b=1,c=1$ is the case presented by David C. Ulrich in his answer ]





              For $A^n=R$ you get even more solutions.



              Starting with $n=2p$ even, you have to solve $A^p=B$ for every $B^2=R$ with $B$ not necessarily a rotation already...






              share|cite|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Even for the case $A^2=R$ there are many possible roots.



                Look for instance at:



                https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cms_upload/Square_Roots-Sullivan13884.pdf



                With the additional constraint $det(R)=1$ here you get $$operatorname{tr}(A)A=Rpm I$$



                and have to discuss according values of $x$, whether the trace is zero or not and so on.




                • e.g. $R=I$ and null trace, gives $begin{pmatrix}a&b\c&-aend{pmatrix}$ with $a^2+bc=1$


                [ $a=0,b=1,c=1$ is the case presented by David C. Ulrich in his answer ]





                For $A^n=R$ you get even more solutions.



                Starting with $n=2p$ even, you have to solve $A^p=B$ for every $B^2=R$ with $B$ not necessarily a rotation already...






                share|cite|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Even for the case $A^2=R$ there are many possible roots.



                  Look for instance at:



                  https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cms_upload/Square_Roots-Sullivan13884.pdf



                  With the additional constraint $det(R)=1$ here you get $$operatorname{tr}(A)A=Rpm I$$



                  and have to discuss according values of $x$, whether the trace is zero or not and so on.




                  • e.g. $R=I$ and null trace, gives $begin{pmatrix}a&b\c&-aend{pmatrix}$ with $a^2+bc=1$


                  [ $a=0,b=1,c=1$ is the case presented by David C. Ulrich in his answer ]





                  For $A^n=R$ you get even more solutions.



                  Starting with $n=2p$ even, you have to solve $A^p=B$ for every $B^2=R$ with $B$ not necessarily a rotation already...






                  share|cite|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Even for the case $A^2=R$ there are many possible roots.



                  Look for instance at:



                  https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cms_upload/Square_Roots-Sullivan13884.pdf



                  With the additional constraint $det(R)=1$ here you get $$operatorname{tr}(A)A=Rpm I$$



                  and have to discuss according values of $x$, whether the trace is zero or not and so on.




                  • e.g. $R=I$ and null trace, gives $begin{pmatrix}a&b\c&-aend{pmatrix}$ with $a^2+bc=1$


                  [ $a=0,b=1,c=1$ is the case presented by David C. Ulrich in his answer ]





                  For $A^n=R$ you get even more solutions.



                  Starting with $n=2p$ even, you have to solve $A^p=B$ for every $B^2=R$ with $B$ not necessarily a rotation already...







                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  edited Dec 16 '18 at 16:35

























                  answered Dec 16 '18 at 16:29









                  zwimzwim

                  12.5k831




                  12.5k831























                      4












                      $begingroup$

                      "Very obvious" or not, it's not true. If $A=begin{bmatrix}0&1\1&0end{bmatrix}$ then $A^2=I$ but $A$ is not a rotation.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$













                      • $begingroup$
                        I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:31








                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                        $endgroup$
                        – David C. Ullrich
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:41












                      • $begingroup$
                        I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:52


















                      4












                      $begingroup$

                      "Very obvious" or not, it's not true. If $A=begin{bmatrix}0&1\1&0end{bmatrix}$ then $A^2=I$ but $A$ is not a rotation.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$













                      • $begingroup$
                        I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:31








                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                        $endgroup$
                        – David C. Ullrich
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:41












                      • $begingroup$
                        I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:52
















                      4












                      4








                      4





                      $begingroup$

                      "Very obvious" or not, it's not true. If $A=begin{bmatrix}0&1\1&0end{bmatrix}$ then $A^2=I$ but $A$ is not a rotation.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$



                      "Very obvious" or not, it's not true. If $A=begin{bmatrix}0&1\1&0end{bmatrix}$ then $A^2=I$ but $A$ is not a rotation.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 16 '18 at 15:17









                      David C. UllrichDavid C. Ullrich

                      61.2k43994




                      61.2k43994












                      • $begingroup$
                        I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:31








                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                        $endgroup$
                        – David C. Ullrich
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:41












                      • $begingroup$
                        I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:52




















                      • $begingroup$
                        I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:31








                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                        $endgroup$
                        – David C. Ullrich
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:41












                      • $begingroup$
                        I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Tanny Sieben
                        Dec 16 '18 at 15:52


















                      $begingroup$
                      I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                      $endgroup$
                      – Tanny Sieben
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:31






                      $begingroup$
                      I see. So this means that the nth roots of a 2x2 rotation matrix are not necessarily rotation matrices? How would you then determine the nth roots of a rotation matrix?
                      $endgroup$
                      – Tanny Sieben
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:31






                      2




                      2




                      $begingroup$
                      I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                      $endgroup$
                      – David C. Ullrich
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:41






                      $begingroup$
                      I doubt there's a simple algorithm to find all the $n$th roots. For example $I$ has infinitely many square roots, only two of which are rotations. Otoh if you just want $n$ $n$th roots that's easy. Say $A_theta$ is the rotation through the angle $theta$; then $B^n=A_theta$ if $B=A_{(theta+2pi k)/n}$, $k=1,dots,n$.
                      $endgroup$
                      – David C. Ullrich
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:41














                      $begingroup$
                      I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                      $endgroup$
                      – Tanny Sieben
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:52






                      $begingroup$
                      I figured that too; What about if $A^n = R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation matrix different from the identity? Then would A necessarily be a rotation matrix?
                      $endgroup$
                      – Tanny Sieben
                      Dec 16 '18 at 15:52













                      1












                      $begingroup$

                      $DeclareMathOperator{Tr}{Tr}$For the case $A^2=R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation different from identity, we can apply Sullivan's article quoted by zwim, and find:



                      If $R=begin{pmatrix}-1\&-1end{pmatrix}$, then $A=begin{pmatrix}alpha&beta\gamma&-alphaend{pmatrix}$ with $alpha^2+betagamma=-1$.



                      If $R$ is any other rotation over an angle $phi$, then $displaystyle A=pmfrac{R+I}{sqrt{2cosphi+2}}$. Working through the possibilities, it means that $A$ is a rotation matrix over either $frac 12phi$ or $frac 12phi + pi$.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        $DeclareMathOperator{Tr}{Tr}$For the case $A^2=R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation different from identity, we can apply Sullivan's article quoted by zwim, and find:



                        If $R=begin{pmatrix}-1\&-1end{pmatrix}$, then $A=begin{pmatrix}alpha&beta\gamma&-alphaend{pmatrix}$ with $alpha^2+betagamma=-1$.



                        If $R$ is any other rotation over an angle $phi$, then $displaystyle A=pmfrac{R+I}{sqrt{2cosphi+2}}$. Working through the possibilities, it means that $A$ is a rotation matrix over either $frac 12phi$ or $frac 12phi + pi$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          1












                          1








                          1





                          $begingroup$

                          $DeclareMathOperator{Tr}{Tr}$For the case $A^2=R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation different from identity, we can apply Sullivan's article quoted by zwim, and find:



                          If $R=begin{pmatrix}-1\&-1end{pmatrix}$, then $A=begin{pmatrix}alpha&beta\gamma&-alphaend{pmatrix}$ with $alpha^2+betagamma=-1$.



                          If $R$ is any other rotation over an angle $phi$, then $displaystyle A=pmfrac{R+I}{sqrt{2cosphi+2}}$. Working through the possibilities, it means that $A$ is a rotation matrix over either $frac 12phi$ or $frac 12phi + pi$.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          $DeclareMathOperator{Tr}{Tr}$For the case $A^2=R$ where $R$ is a 2x2 rotation different from identity, we can apply Sullivan's article quoted by zwim, and find:



                          If $R=begin{pmatrix}-1\&-1end{pmatrix}$, then $A=begin{pmatrix}alpha&beta\gamma&-alphaend{pmatrix}$ with $alpha^2+betagamma=-1$.



                          If $R$ is any other rotation over an angle $phi$, then $displaystyle A=pmfrac{R+I}{sqrt{2cosphi+2}}$. Working through the possibilities, it means that $A$ is a rotation matrix over either $frac 12phi$ or $frac 12phi + pi$.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Dec 16 '18 at 21:09









                          I like SerenaI like Serena

                          4,2721722




                          4,2721722






























                              draft saved

                              draft discarded




















































                              Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                              • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                              But avoid



                              • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                              • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                              Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                              To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                              draft saved


                              draft discarded














                              StackExchange.ready(
                              function () {
                              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3042705%2fquestion-about-rotation-2-times-2-rotation-matrices%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                              }
                              );

                              Post as a guest















                              Required, but never shown





















































                              Required, but never shown














                              Required, but never shown












                              Required, but never shown







                              Required, but never shown

































                              Required, but never shown














                              Required, but never shown












                              Required, but never shown







                              Required, but never shown







                              Popular posts from this blog

                              Le Mesnil-Réaume

                              Ida-Boy-Ed-Garten

                              web3.py web3.isConnected() returns false always