A dense subset of $M\_n(\mathbb{R})$ containing diagonalizable matrices

Abstract

In this note, we consider matrices similar to $X$-form matrices, which are the matrices for which only the diagonal and the anti-diagonal elements can be different from zero. First, we give a characterization of these matrices using the minimal polynomial. Then, we prove that the set of matrices similar to $X$-form matrices over $\mathbb{R}$ and $\mathbb{C}$ are dense and we give a characterization of the interior of this set.