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Let $b$ be a symmetric bilinear form on a $k$-dimensional vector space $V_k(\mathbb{F}_q)$, with $char(\mathbb{F}_q)=2$ and $k$ odd. Theorem 3.15 of the book S. Ball, Finite Geometry and Combinatorial applications states that $$ V_k(\mathbb{F}_q)=E \oplus F, $$ where the restriction to $E$ of $b$ is an alternating form and $F$ is a non-isotropic one-dimensional subspace.

In Corollary 3.10, it says that a non-degenerate alternanting form $b$ on $V_k(\mathbb{F}_q)$ ($k=2r$ even) is, up to a choice of a basis, $$ b(u,v)=\sum_{i=1}^r(u_{2i-1}v_i-u_{2i}v_{2i-1}). $$

Now, in Corollary 3.16, it states that a non-degenerate symmetric bilinear form $b$ on $V_k(\mathbb{F}_q)$ ($k=2r+1$) is, up to a choice of a basis, $$ b(u,v)=\sum_{i=1}^r(u_{2i-1}v_i+u_{2i}v_{2i-1})+u_{2r+1}v_{2r+1}. $$ Why this last statement is true?

Mathsa
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First, subtraction is the same as addition, since we work over a field of characteristic $2$.

Applying the theorem, we get $V=E\oplus\langle f\rangle$ with $b(f,f)\ne 0$ and $b|_E$ being alternating.

Then, by the previous corollary, we can choose an appropriate basis on $E$, and let $w\notin E$ be a nonzero element of $E^\perp=\{x\mid\forall e\in E:\,b(x,e)=0\}$, which should exist since $b$ is nondegenerate. (See below.)

Then we can write $w=e+\lambda f$ with some $e\in E$ and $\lambda\ne 0$, and so, using symmetricity of $b$ and characteristic $2$, $$b(w,w)\ =\ b(e,e)+2\lambda\, b(w,f)+\lambda^2\,b(f,f)\ =\ \lambda^2\,b(f,f)\ne 0$$ Since in $\Bbb F_{2^m}$ every element is square (because $x=x^{2^m}$), $b(w,w)=\alpha^2$ and we can choose the last basis vector as $\alpha^{-1}w$ to get the desired coordinate form.

Update: Finally, to prove that $b|_E$ is nondegenerate (which also implies the existence of such $w$), assume that $E\subseteq e^\perp$ for some nonzero $e$, and choose a complementary subspace $E'\subseteq E$ with $\langle e\rangle\oplus E'=E$
Then $\dim E'=2r-1$ is odd, so the alternating bilinear form $b|_{E'}$ must be degenerate, yielding another vector $e'\in E'$ perpendicular to whole $E$.

Because of nondegeneracy, $b(e,f)\ne 0$, and thus $b(e',f)=\lambda\,b(e,f)$ with some $\lambda\in F$, so $e'-\lambda e$ would be $b$-perpendicular to the whole space.

Berci
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  • Why you get the desidered coordinate form? $$b(u,v)=b(\sum_{i=1}^{r}u_ie_i+u_{2r+1}w,\sum_{i=1}^{r}v_ie_i+v_{2r+1}w)$$ $$=\sum_{i=1}^r(u_{2i-1}v_{2i}+v_{2i-1}u_{2i})+\sum_r b(u_ie_i,v_{2r+1}w)+\sum_r b(u_{2r+1}w,v_ie_i)+u_{2r+1}v_{2r+1}b(w,w)$$. Why $b(w,e_i)=0$? – Mathsa Sep 15 '21 at 12:02
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    Because we chose $w$ from $E^\perp$. – Berci Sep 15 '21 at 13:21
  • thank you. Why $\lambda$ is different from $0$? – Mathsa Sep 15 '21 at 14:39
  • We want a $w\notin E$. – Berci Sep 15 '21 at 14:56
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    But, we don't know if $E^{\perp} \subseteq E$ or not. Morover, in order to apply the result about the alternating form on $E$, first we must prove that $b$ is also non-degenerate on $E$. – Mathsa Sep 15 '21 at 14:58
  • can you help me about the last question? – Mathsa Sep 16 '21 at 08:00
  • Hmmm.. Originally I thought that the restriction of a nondegenerate bilinear form to any subspace is also nondegenerate, but unfortunately that's not the case for generic bilinear forms.. Here in this special case it should hold, nevertheless, but I got uncertain.. – Berci Sep 16 '21 at 10:53
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    Ok, I think I got it. Updated my answer. – Berci Sep 16 '21 at 20:28