Periodic matrices in SL(3,Z) will be conjugated to product of periodic matrices in SL(2,Z) by +- indentity on a third integer direction. Is this true? ----------------------------------- Sorry, following your comments, maybe something I said is misleading. I state the original question: Consider a periodic homeomorphism $f$ on $T^3$, can we always find a coordinate on $T^3$, such that $f$ is either $\left( \begin{array}{cc} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & A \\ \end{array} \right)$ or $\left( \begin{array}{cc} -1 & 0 \\ 0 & A \\ \end{array} \right)$.