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Exercise 1774Linear algebra › Matrices and linear systemsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Powers of a companion matrix

#companion matrix#powers#recurrence

Statement

Let
A=(0111).A = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}.
Compute AkA^k for all k≥1k \ge 1.

Hint

Compute A2A^2, A3A^3, and guess a pattern involving the Fibonacci numbers. Prove by induction.

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Solution

First powers.
A2=(0111)(0111)=(1112),A^2 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix},
A3=A2A=(1112)(0111)=(1223).A^3 = A^2 A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 2 & 3 \end{pmatrix}.

Pattern. The entries are Fibonacci numbers F0=0,F1=1,F2=1,F3=2,F4=3,…F_0=0, F_1=1, F_2=1, F_3=2, F_4=3, \ldots:
Ak=(Fk−1FkFkFk+1).A^k = \begin{pmatrix} F_{k-1} & F_k \\ F_k & F_{k+1} \end{pmatrix}.

Induction. Base case k=1k=1: A=(F0F1F1F2)=(0111)A = \begin{pmatrix} F_0 & F_1 \\ F_1 & F_2 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}. Correct. Inductive step:
Ak+1=AkA=(Fk−1FkFkFk+1)(0111)=(FkFk−1+FkFk+1Fk+Fk+1).A^{k+1} = A^k A = \begin{pmatrix} F_{k-1} & F_k \\ F_k & F_{k+1} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} F_k & F_{k-1}+F_k \\ F_{k+1} & F_k+F_{k+1} \end{pmatrix}.
Using Fk−1+Fk=Fk+1F_{k-1}+F_k = F_{k+1} and Fk+Fk+1=Fk+2F_k+F_{k+1} = F_{k+2}, we get
Ak+1=(FkFk+1Fk+1Fk+2).A^{k+1} = \begin{pmatrix} F_k & F_{k+1} \\ F_{k+1} & F_{k+2} \end{pmatrix}.

Conclusion. The formula holds for all k≥1k \ge 1.