A matrix A is skew-symmetric if AT = -A. Given that A and B are skew-symmetric, we have AT = -A and BT = -B.
Let C = A - B. To check if C is skew-symmetric, we find its transpose:
$$C^T = (A - B)^T = A^T - B^T$$Substituting the properties of skew-symmetric matrices:
$$C^T = (-A) - (-B) = -A + B = -(A - B) = -C$$Since CT = -C, the matrix A - B is skew-symmetric.
For (A), (AB)T = BTAT = (-B)(-A) = BA, which is not necessarily -AB. For (B), (AB + BA)T = (AB)T + (BA)T = BTAT + ATBT = BA + AB, which is symmetric. For (C), ((A+B)^2)^T = (A+B)^T(A+B)^T = (-A-B)(-A-B) = (A+B)^2, which is symmetric.
Final Answer: D
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