MAT 125.

1 Linear Algebra

Chapter -5
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Section 5.1
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Introduction
In this chapter we will focus on classes of scalars and vectors known as eigenvalues and
eigenvectors, terms derived from the German word eigen, meaning “own,” “peculiarto,”
“characteristic,” or “individual.” The underlying idea first appeared in the study of rotational
motion but was later used to classify various kinds of surfaces and to describe solutions of
certain differential equations. In the early 1900s it was applied to matrices and matrix
transformations, and today it has applications in such diverse fields as computer graphics,
mechanical vibrations, heat flow, population dynamics, quantum mechanics, and economics to
name just a few.

Objectives:
1) To find the eigenvalues of a matrix
2) To find the eigenvectors of a matrix
3) To find the eigenspaces of a matrix

Definition of Eigenvalue and Eigenvector

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

Compression and Stretches of a Vector by a Factor,  :

Example 1: Eigenvector of a 2x2 matrix

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Computing Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

We consider an n  n matrix A to find the eigenvalues of it. The equation Ax  x can be written
Ax  Ix
as
 (I  A) x  0 (homogeneous system)

For  to be an eigenvalue of A this equation must have a nonzero solution for x. For nonzero
solution, the coefficient matrix I  A has a zero determinant that is Det (I  A)  0 .

Example 2: Find the Eigenvalues of a 2x2 matrix

Solution:The eigenvalues of A are the solutions of the equation Det (I  A)  0 which we can
write as

This shows that the eigenvalues of A are   3 and   1 (Ans.)

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

Characteristic Equation and Polynomial

Det (I  A)  0 is called characteristic equation where Det(I  A) is called characteristic
3 0 
polynomial. For example, the characteristic polynomial of A    is
8  1

 3 0
p ( )   (  3)(  1)  2  2  3 which is a polynomial of degree 2 for 2 2
8  1
matrix. In general, the characteristic polynomial of an n  n matrix has the form

p ( )  n  c1n 1    c n

Here the coefficient of n is 1. Since a polynomial of degree n has at most n distinct roots,
itfollows that the equation n  c1n 1    c n  0

has at most n distinct solutions and consequently that an n  n matrix has at most n distinct
eigenvalues. Since some of these solutions may be complex numbers, it is possible for a matrix
to have complex eigenvalues, even if that matrix itself has real entries.

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

3  82  17  4  0 (4)

The only possible integer solutions of 4 are the divisors of -4, that is,  1,  2,  4 , Successively
substituting these values in (4) shows that   4 is an integer solution. As a consequence,   4
must be a factor of the left side of the equation. Dividing   4 into 3  82  17  4 shows
that (4) can be rewritten as

3  42  42  16    4  0

 2 (  4)  4 (  4)  1(  4)  0
 (  4)(2  4  1)  0
Also, 2  4  1  0 can be solved by the quadratic formula. Thus the eigenvalues of A are

  4,   2  3 and   2  3 Ans.

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

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Finding Eigenvectors and Bases for Eigenspaces

We know how to find the eigenvalues of a matrix. We will consider the problem of finding
thecorresponding eigenvectors. Since the eigenvectors corresponding to an eigenvalue  of a
matrix A are the nonzero vectors that satisfy the equation
(I  A) x  0
These eigenvectors are the nonzero vectors in the null space of the matrix I  A  0 . We call
this null space the eigenspaceof Acorresponding to  . Stated another way, the eigenspace of A
corresponding to the eigenvalue  is the solution space of the homogeneous system
(I  A) x  0 .

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

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MAT 125.1 Linear Algebra

Example 8: Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of A 7 for the following matrix

Solution:The eigenvalues of A are   2 and   1 (as shown in example 7). So, the
eigenvalues of A 7 are   2 7  128 and   17  1 . The eigenvectors of A 7 for   2 or   2 7
are

Similarly, the eigenvector of A 7 for   1 or   17 is

Ans.

Eigenvalues and invertibility of a matrix

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Home Work/Practice
Exercise Set-5.1

Discussions & Practice

Good Luck!

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