A formula for the exponential of a real skew-symmetric matrix of order 4 (Q5960917)

The author derives a formula for the exponential of a real skew-symmetric matrix (that is, \(A^T=-A\)) of order 4 with distinct eigenvalues, as a generalization of Rodrigues' formula for similar matrices of order 3. If the eigenvalues are not distinct, the formula is very simple. After corrections to typographical errors, Rodrigues' formula (1.1) in the present paper for \(A\) of order 3 is \[ e^A = I + {\sin \alpha \over \alpha} A + {\cos\alpha -1 \over \alpha^2} A^2 \] where \(\alpha = (u_1^2+u_2^2+u_3^2)^{1/2}\). Similarly, after corrections to typographical errors in Theorem~2.4 for \(A\) of order 4, \(a\) and \(c\) in (2.5) are \[ a={\alpha\sin\mu-\mu\sin\alpha\over\alpha\mu(\alpha^2+\mu^2)}\text{ and }c={\sin\alpha\over\alpha}-a\alpha^2. \] Moreover, for notational consistency, in the proof of the theorem, the symbols \(a,b,c,d\) should be changed to \(d,c,b,a\), respectively.