Numerical ranges of the real \(2\times 2\) matrices derived by first principles (Q6158497)

It is well known that the numerical range of a \(2\times 2\) complex matrix \(A\) is an elliptical disc with foci at \(\lambda_1\), \(\lambda_2\) (the eigenvalues of \(A\)), minor axis of length \[\sqrt {\mathrm{tr}\, (A^*A) - |\lambda_1|^2 - |\lambda_2|^2},\] and major axis of length \[\sqrt {\mathrm{tr}\, (A^*A) - 2\mathrm {Re}\, (\lambda_1\overline \lambda_2)}.\] See [\textit{M. Marcus} and \textit{I. Filippenko}, Linear Algebra Appl. 21, 217--232 (1978; Zbl 0393.15015)]. Also see [\textit{R. A. Horn} and \textit{C. R. Johnson}, Topics in matrix analysis. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press (1991; Zbl 0729.15001)]. For a \(2\times 2\) real matrix \(B\), the authors of the paper under review make use of elementary calculation to obtain the equation of the ellipse (the boundary of the numerical range which is symmetric about the real axis) in terms of the entries of the matrix. The author's result can be deduced readily from above known result. They also show how to associate a Cassinian oval with the numerical range of \(B\). For the entire collection see [Zbl 1509.53007].