[Math] Matrices whose condition number is $1$

condition numberlinear algebramatricessingular values

The condition number of the identity matrix $I$ always equals $1$. Are there any other matrices that have a condition number equal to $1$, but are neither the identity matrix nor $\lambda I$ (for any scalar $\lambda$)?

(because if $A$ is a matrix, then $\mbox{cond}(\lambda A) = \mbox{cond}(A)$)

Best Answer

The $2$-norm condition number (i.e., the ratio of the largest singular value to the smallest singular value) of a unitary matrix is always equal to $1$.