Let λ be a scalar such that (C − λI)_{n×n} is singular.
(a) If B \simeq C, prove that (B − λI) is also singular.
(b) Prove that (B − λ_{i}I) is singular whenever B_{n×n} is similar to
D = \begin{pmatrix}λ_1& 0 &· · ·& 0\\0 &λ_2& · · ·& 0\\\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\0 &0 &· · ·& λ_n\end{pmatrix}.(a) B = Q^{−1}CQ \Longrightarrow (B − λI) = Q^{−1}CQ − λQ^{−1}Q = Q^{−1}(C − λI)Q. The result follows because multiplication by nonsingular matrices does not change rank.
(b) B = P^{−1}DP \Longrightarrow B − λ_{i}I = P^{−1}(D − λ_{i}I)P and (D − λ_{i}I) is singular for each λ_{i}. Now use part (a).