Diagonalizing quadratic forms

Question

I know how to diagonalize a given quadratic form using the Gaussian method. Though, I once read somewhere that there's another method which uses an augmented matrix, but I didn't go into details.

I would like to know about this method, perhaps by a simple example.

Say: $q: \mathbb R^2 \to \mathbb R$, $q(x,y) = xy - y^2$.

How would I use that method to diagonalize $q$?

Thank you.

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:20

1

$$ xy - y^2 = \left( \frac{x}{2} \right)^2 - \left( \frac{x}{2} - y \right)^2 $$

see Transforming quadratic forms, how is this theorem called?

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:20

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answered Jun 13 '15 at 02:09

Will Jagy

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Diagonalizing quadratic forms

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