Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors
Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors
Introduction
This module introduces the calculation of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The eigenvalue
and eigenvector problem has a wide range of theoretical applications including solving
systems of differential equations, analyzing population growth models, and calculating
powers of matrices in order to define the exponential matrix. As a future secondary
mathematics teacher, it is important that you can at least acquire the skill of sharing how
to solve for eigenvalues and eigenvectors of matrices. Some students might choose to
specialize in physics, sociology, biology, economics, statistics, and other areas that have
considerable attention to eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module, you are expected to be able to solve for the eigenvalues and
eigenvectors of a matrix and form the eigenspace of the matrix.
Contents
1 1
Example 6. 1. Consider A .
2 4
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
A xI n
1 1 1 0
x
2 4 0 1
1 x 1
4 x
.
2
det A xl n
1 x 4 x 21
x 2 5x 6
Step 3: Equate the polynomial to zero i. e. x 2 5x 6 0 then solve for x:
x 2 5x 6 0
x 3x 2 0
x 3; x 2
1 x 1 1 3 1 2 1
2 4 x 2 4 3 2 1.
.
2 1 a
Let B and vector v 1 and solve Bv 1 0 :
2 1 b
2 1 a 0
2 1 b 0
2 1 0
2 1 0
2 1 0
R1 R2 R2
0 0 0
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
1 1 q q 2q 3q
2 4 2q 2q 8q 6q
q 3q
Similarly, the eigenvalue multiplied to v 1 is 3 .
2 q 6 q
1 x 1 1 2 1 1 1
2 4 x . 2 4 2 2 2.
1 1 a
Let C and let the vector v 2 then solve for Cv 2 0 i. e.
2 2 b
1 1 a 0
2 2 b 0
1 1 0
2 2 0
1 1 0
2 R1 R2 R2
0 0 0
ab 0
ab
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
1 1 r r
To check this result, test if is equal to 2 . Notice that
2 4 r r
1 1 r r r 2r r 2r
2 4 r 2r 4r 2r and 2r 2r .
1 1
Therefore, the eigenspace S x of matrix A is q, 1 r q, r R except 0
2
4 1 3
Example 2. Determine all the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of A 0 2 1 .
0 0 3
Step 1: Solve for A xI n .
4 1 3 1 0 0
A xI n 0 2 1 x 0 1 0
0 0 3 0 0 1
4 x 1 3
0 2 x 1
0 0 3 x
Step 3: Equate the polynomial to zero and then solve for the eigenvalues of A.
4 x 2 x 3 x 0
x 4 x 2 x 3
Step 4a: Solve for the eigenvector of matrix A corresponding to eigenvalue of 4 i. e. find
a
that nonzero vector v 1 b such that A 4I n v 1 equals the zero vector. So we
c
have
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
A 4 I n v1 0
4 4 1 3 a 0
0 24 1 b 0
0 0 3 4 c 0
0 1 3 a 0
0 2 1 b 0
0 0 7 c 0
b 3c 0
2b c 0
7c 0 c 0 and b 0.
Note that if c = 0, b = 0, then a must be any real number q except zero. This
q 1
means that the eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue of 4 is 0 0 q.
0 0
Step 4b: Solve for the eigenvector of A corresponding to eigenvalue of 2 i. e. find that
a
nonzero vector v 2 b such that A 2I n v 2 0.
c
A 2 I n v 2 0
4 2 1 3 a 0
0 22 1 b 0
0 0 3 2 c 0
2 1 3 a 0
0 0 1 b 0
0 0 5 c 0
2a b 3c 0
c0
5c 0 c 0
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
2a b 3c 0
2a r 30 0
2a r
r
a
2
r / 2 1 / 2
The eigenvector formed is v 2 r 1 r.
0 0
Step 4c: Solve for the eigenvector of A that corresponds to eigenvalue of 3 i. e. find that
a
nonzero vector v 3 b such that A 3I n v 3 0.
c
A 3I n v 3 0
4 3 1 3 a 0
0 2 3 1 b 0
0 0 3 3 c 0
7 1 3 a 0
0 5 1 b 0
0 0 0 c 0
7a b 3c 0
5b c 0
00
5b c 0 5b s 0
s
b
5
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
s
7 a b 3c 0 7 a 3s 0
5
s
7 a 3s 0
5
16 s
7a
5
16 s
a
35
16s / 35 16 / 35
The vector formed is v 3 s / 5 1 / 5 s.
s 1
1 1 / 2 16 / 35
0 q, 1 r , 1 / 5 s q, r , s R except 0 .
S x
0 0 1
Enrichment Activities
Determine all eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the following matrices. Show that each
eigenvector corresponding to an eigenvalue is correct. Finally, form the eigenspace of
each matrix.
7 3
a.
3 1
2 1 3
b. 1 2 3
3 3 20
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SEd Math 311 Linear Algebra
Assessment Tasks
2 3 2
1. Show that v is an eigenvector of A corresponding to
1 3 2
eigenvalue 4.
1 2 1 0
2. Show that v 0 is an eigenvector of A 1 2 1 corresponding to
1 0 1 2
eigenvalue 2.
3 0
a.
1 2
2 2 3
b. 1 2 1
2 2 1
References
Dr. Trefor Bazzet (2017, June). What eigenvalues and eigenvectors mean geometrically
(youtube video). Available at https://bit.ly/3lQdP3o
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