Question:
If $A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1\end{array}\right]$, satisfies the matrix equation $A^{2}=k A$, write the value of $k$.
Solution:
$A^{2}=A A$
$\Rightarrow A^{2}=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1\end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1\end{array}\right]$
$\Rightarrow A^{2}=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1+1 & -1-1 \\ -1-1 & 1+1\end{array}\right]$
$\Rightarrow A^{2}=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -2 \\ -2 & 2\end{array}\right]$
Now,
$A^{2}=k A$
$\Rightarrow\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -2 \\ -2 & 2\end{array}\right]=k\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1\end{array}\right]$
$\Rightarrow\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -2 \\ -2 & 2\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{cc}k & -k \\ -k & k\end{array}\right]$
$\therefore k=2$