In this article we show how to estimate the trace multiplier norm of a
rank 2 matrix. As an application, an alternative proof of a theorem o
f Holbrook et al. (Maximal spectral distance, Linear Algebra Appl., 24
9 (1996) 197-205) on the maximal spectral distance between two normal
matrices with prescribed eigenvalues is given. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien
ce Inc. All rights reserved.