# Necessary and sufficient condition for the matrix $A = I-2xx^t$ to be orthogonal

Let $x$ be a non zeo (column) vector in $\mathbb{R}^n$. What is the necessary and sufficient condition for the matrix $A = I-2xx^t$ to be orthogonal?

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What have you tried so far? –  Rahul May 10 '12 at 22:46
If matrix $A$ is orthogonal then it should satisfy the condition $AA^{t} = I$. Then i came to conclusion that $(XX^{t})^2 = 0$ but it seems to be false. –  srijan May 10 '12 at 22:55
Just multiply $A$ and $A^T$. The formula will give an obvious condition on $x$ so that the product is the identity. –  copper.hat May 10 '12 at 23:05
You're right that for $A$ to be orthogonal, you need $AA^T = I$. You may have made a mistake in your derivation. You should get $$AA^T = (I - 2xx^T)(I - 2xx^T) = I - 4xx^T + 4xx^Txx^T = I - 4(1 - x^Tx)(xx^T).$$ In the last step, we use the fact that $x^Tx$ is a scalar and so can be pulled out of the middle of $xx^Txx^T$. So now, for $AA^T$ to equal $I$, either of the two parenthesized terms on the right should be zero. What does this tell you about the vector $x$?