Express the following matrix as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix: $\left[\begin{array}{ccc}3 & 3 & -1 \\ -2 & -2 & 1 \\ -4 & -5 & 2\end{array}\right]$

Let $A = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3 & 3 & -1 \\ -2 & -2 & 1 \\ -4 & -5 & 2\end{array}\right]$. Then,the transpose $A^{\prime} = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3 & -2 & -4 \\ 3 & -2 & -5 \\ -1 & 1 & 2\end{array}\right]$.
To express $A$ as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix,we use the formula $A = P + Q$,where $P = \frac{1}{2}(A + A^{\prime})$ is symmetric and $Q = \frac{1}{2}(A - A^{\prime})$ is skew-symmetric.
First,calculate $A + A^{\prime} = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3+3 & 3-2 & -1-4 \\ -2+3 & -2-2 & 1-5 \\ -4-1 & -5+1 & 2+2\end{array}\right] = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}6 & 1 & -5 \\ 1 & -4 & -4 \\ -5 & -4 & 4\end{array}\right]$.
Thus,$P = \frac{1}{2}(A + A^{\prime}) = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3 & \frac{1}{2} & -\frac{5}{2} \\ \frac{1}{2} & -2 & -2 \\ -\frac{5}{2} & -2 & 2\end{array}\right]$. Since $P^{\prime} = P$,$P$ is symmetric.
Next,calculate $A - A^{\prime} = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3-3 & 3-(-2) & -1-(-4) \\ -2-3 & -2-(-2) & 1-(-5) \\ -4-(-1) & -5-1 & 2-2\end{array}\right] = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}0 & 5 & 3 \\ -5 & 0 & 6 \\ -3 & -6 & 0\end{array}\right]$.
Thus,$Q = \frac{1}{2}(A - A^{\prime}) = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}0 & \frac{5}{2} & \frac{3}{2} \\ -\frac{5}{2} & 0 & 3 \\ -\frac{3}{2} & -3 & 0\end{array}\right]$. Since $Q^{\prime} = -Q$,$Q$ is skew-symmetric.
Therefore,$A = \left[\begin{array}{ccc}3 & \frac{1}{2} & -\frac{5}{2} \\ \frac{1}{2} & -2 & -2 \\ -\frac{5}{2} & -2 & 2\end{array}\right] + \left[\begin{array}{ccc}0 & \frac{5}{2} & \frac{3}{2} \\ -\frac{5}{2} & 0 & 3 \\ -\frac{3}{2} & -3 & 0\end{array}\right]$.