Reducing a matrix power with Cayley–Hamilton

Every 2×22\times2 matrix satisfies its own characteristic equation, so A2A^2 can be written as A2=pA+qIA^2=pA+qI for scalars p,qp,q. For A=(1234)A=\begin{pmatrix}1&2\\3&4\end{pmatrix}, find p+qp+q.

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  1. Cayley–Hamilton: A2−(tr⁡A)A+(det⁡A)I=0A^2-(\operatorname{tr}A)A+(\det A)I=0.
  2. tr⁡A=5\operatorname{tr}A=5, det⁡A=−2\det A=-2, so A2=5A+2IA^2=5A+2I.

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