# Power of a matrix

$A$ is a $n\times n$ matrix, $A^m = 0$ for some positive integer $m$. Show that $A^n = 0$.

My attempt:
For $n > m$, it's obvious since matrix multiplication is associative.

For $n < m$, $A^n\times A^{m-n} = 0$; not sure what to do next. Also I know that $\det A = 0$.

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If $A^m=0$, then the minimal polynomial of $A$ divides $x^m$. The minimal polynomial has degree at most $n$ by Cayley-Hamilton.

Here is an alternative approach that doesn't rely on knowing anything about minimal polynomials, or Cayley-Hamilton. Consider $A$ as a linear transformation on $K^n$ if $K$ is your base field. Let $M_1$ be the range of $A$, i.e., $M_1=A(K^n)=\{Av:v\in K^n\}$. For $j>1$ let $M_{j}=A(M_{j-1})$ be the image of $M_{j-1}$ under $A$. In other words, $M_j=A^j(K^n)$, and we can include $M_0=K^n$ for convenience. Note that each $M_j$ is a subspace and $M_j\subseteq M_{j-1}$ for all $j$.

We know that $A^m=0$, so $M_m=\{0\}$. If for some $j$, $M_j=M_{j-1}$, then $M_{j+1}=AM_{j}=AM_{j-1}=M_j$, so $M_{j-1}=M_j=M_{j+1}=M_{j+2}=\cdots$. It follows that $M_j$ must be $\{0\}$ in such cases. This implies that all of the containments are proper until you get to $\{0\}$, so there is an $m_0$ such that $\{0\}=M_{m_0}\subsetneq M_{m_0-1}\subsetneq\cdots\subsetneq M_2\subsetneq M_1\subsetneq K^n$. Since there are $m_0$ proper containments of subspaces and $K^n$ is $n$ dimensional, this implies that $m_0\leq n$. Since $M_{m_0}=\{0\}$ and $M_{m_0}$ is the range of $A^{m_0}$, it follows that $A^{m_0}=0$, and finally $A^n=A^{m_0}A^{n-m_0}=0$.

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From $A^m=0$ you learn that all eigenvalues of $A$ are zero. So the Jordan form of $A$ is strictly upper triangular, and it is an easy exercise to show that the $n^{\rm th}$ power of an upper triangular matrix with zero diagonal is zero.

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this matrix may not be diagonalizable. So to prove that its nth power is 0 i'm not quite sure how –  Lorenz Chaos Feb 12 '12 at 7:11
@imintomath: Nobody suggested diagonalizing. Have you seen Jordan form? –  Jonas Meyer Feb 12 '12 at 7:16
o.o oh i haven't learn about this Jordan form yet, but now it's quite obvious that $A^n = 0$. Thank you all ~ –  Lorenz Chaos Feb 12 '12 at 7:29