Simultaneous diagonalization of conics in \(\mathrm{PG}(2,q)\). A finite-geometry approach for simultaneous diagonalization of symmetric \(3\times 3\) matrices in \(\mathrm{GF}(q)\) (Q281318)

Let \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) be proper conics in a Desarguesian projective plane of odd order. The author investigates the question whether it is possible to diagonalize \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) simultaneously. It turns out that this is possible if and only if \(| C_1\cap C_2|\) is even and the pencil of conics generated by \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) contains at least two degenerate conics.