# Diagonalizable vs Normal

If I have real valued matrix $A$, are these two notions of being Diagonalizable and being Normal equivalent?

• No. Any normal matrix is diagonalizable. The converse is not true. – Artem Jan 7 '13 at 1:19
• @Artem Isn't $\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 \\ \end{pmatrix}$ a Normal matrix that isn't diagonalizable over the reals? – Calvin Lin Jan 7 '13 at 1:27
• @CalvinLin, the usual meaning is "diagonalizable over the complex". – DonAntonio Jan 7 '13 at 2:27
• @DonAntonio I don't necessarily agree that is true. Furthermore, there have been people who argue that since OP specified real-valued, he is working with the reals as the base field. In any case, the real version is still slightly interesting to understand. – Calvin Lin Jan 7 '13 at 3:36

A real matrix is diagonalizable (over $\mathbb{C}$) by a unitary matrix if and only if it is normal.
$$\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & 1\\2 & 1\end{array}\right] = PDP^{-1}$$ where $$P = \left[\begin{array}{cc} -1 & 1\\ 1& 2\end{array}\right]$$ and $$D=\left[\begin{array}{cc} -1 &0\\0 & 2\end{array}\right].$$