Sums of projections (Q5906232)

The author shows that an \(n\times n\) complex matrix \(A\) is a sum of projections (idempotent matrices) if and only if trace \(A\) is a positive integer and trace \(A\geq\text{rank} A\). This result is then applied to prove that \(A\) is a sum of involutions if and only if trace \(A\) is an integer \((n\) odd) and trace \(A\) is an even integer \((n\) even).