A theorem on the factorization of matrix polynomials (Q1087964)

A matrix polynomial \(L(\lambda)\) is a polynomial in \(\lambda\) whose coefficients are square matrices. The author shows that for a monic matrix polynomial \(L(\lambda)\) that is factored into matrix polynomials \(L_ i(\lambda)\), \(L(\lambda)=L_ k(\lambda)...L_ 1(\lambda)\), the companion matrix \(C\) of \(L(\lambda)\) is similar to a matrix \(W\) where \(C_ i\) on the diagonal are the companion matrices of \(L_ i(\lambda)\). A converse of this statement is also proved. A number of theorems from \textit{I. Gohberg, P. Lancaster} and \textit{L. Rodman} [Matrix polynomials (1982; Zbl 0482.15001)] are applied in the proof.