Chapter 4

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Review Question
1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-19

1
 Question 1
Mark each of the following statements true or false:
a. For all square matrices A, det(-A) = -det A.
b. If A and B are n × n matrices, then det (AB) = det (BA).
c. If A and B are n × n matrices whose columns are the same but in different
orders, then det B = -det A.
d. If A is invertible, then det (𝐴−1 ) = det AT.
e. If 0 is the only eigenvalue of a square matrix A, then A is the zero matrix.
f. Two eigenvectors corresponding to the same eigenvalue must be linearly
dependent.
g. If an n × n matrix has n distinct eigenvalues, then it must be diagonalizable.
h. If an n × n matrix is diagonalizable, then it must have n distinct eigenvalues.
i. Similar matrices have the same eigenvectors.
j. If A and B are two n × n matrices with the same reduced row echelon form,
then A is similar to B.

2
 Answer
a. For all square matrices A, det(-A) = -det A. Theorem 4.7: If A is an n × n
matrix, then det kA = k n det A
By theorem 4.7 we know that for all square matrix (n × n)
det −A = (−1)𝑛 det A.
So, the statement is true only for n is an odd numbers.
This statement is false.

Theorem 4.8: If A,B is an n × n

b. If A and B are n × n matrices, then det (AB) = det (BA). matrix, then
det (AB) = (det A)(det B)

since det(AB) = det(A) det(B) = det(B) det(A) = det(BA).

This statement is true.

Review Question: Question 1 3

 Answer
c. If A and B are n × n matrices whose columns are the same but in
Theorem 4.4: If E results from
different orders, then det B = -det A. interchanging two rows of In,
then det E = −1.
This statement is false, It depends on what order the columns are in.
Swapping any two columns of A multiplies the determinant by −1
For example:
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
𝑑 𝑓 𝑑 𝑒
det A = 𝐴 = 𝑑 𝑒 𝑓 =𝑎 𝑒 𝑓
−𝑏 +𝑐 = 𝑎𝑒𝑖 − 𝑎ℎ𝑓 − 𝑏𝑑𝑖 + 𝑏𝑔𝑓 + 𝑐𝑑ℎ − 𝑐𝑔𝑒
ℎ 𝑖 𝑔 𝑖 𝑔 ℎ
𝑔 ℎ 𝑖

𝑐 𝑎 𝑏
𝑑 𝑒 𝑓 𝑒 𝑓 𝑑
det B = 𝐵 = 𝑓 𝑑 𝑒 =𝑐 −𝑎 +𝑏 = 𝑐𝑑ℎ − 𝑐𝑔𝑒 − 𝑎ℎ𝑓 + 𝑎𝑒𝑖 + 𝑏𝑔𝑓 − 𝑏𝑑𝑖
𝑔 ℎ 𝑖 ℎ 𝑖 𝑔
𝑖 𝑔 ℎ
= 𝑎𝑒𝑖 − 𝑎ℎ𝑓 − 𝑏𝑑𝑖 + 𝑏𝑔𝑓 + 𝑐𝑑ℎ − 𝑐𝑔𝑒 = det 𝐴

This statement is false

Review Question: Question 1 4

 Answer
d. If A is invertible, then det (𝐴−1 ) = det AT.
By Theorem 4.10, det AT = det A
1
And by Theorem 4.9, det A-1 =
det A

1
det A-1 =
det AT

Therefore, the statement is false.

e. If 0 is the only eigenvalue of a square matrix A, then A is the zero matrix.

0 1
False. For example, the matrix has a characteristic polynomial of
0 0
0, so 0 is its only eigenvalue.

Review Question: Question 1 5

 Answer
f. Two eigenvectors corresponding to the same eigenvalue must be linearly
dependent.
False. For example, the identity matrix has only λ = 1 as an eigenvalue, but
ei is an eigenvector for every i.
g. If an n × n matrix has n distinct eigenvalues, then it must be
diagonalizable.
Let λ1,…,λn be distinct eigenvalues. By definition, there exist corresponding
eigenvectors v1,…,vn such that vi ≠ 0 and Avi = λivi.
As the eigenvalues are distinct, the vi are linearly independent and hence
form a basis. Expressing A in that base obviously produces a diagonal
matrix.
Therefore, the statement is true.

Review Question: Question 1 6

 Question 3
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 3𝑑 2𝑒 − 4𝑓 𝑓
If 𝑑 𝑒 𝑓 = 3, find 3𝑎 2𝑏 − 4𝑐 𝑐 .
𝑔 ℎ 𝑖 3𝑔 2ℎ − 4𝑖 𝑖 3𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
1. 3𝑑 𝑒 𝑓
TheoremTheorem 4.3:
4.3: If B is If B is obtained
obtained by by
3𝑔 ℎ 𝑖
Solution
adding a multiple of
multiplying a row (column) of A by one row
k, then(column)
det B = kof× A
dettoA.
another row
(column), then det B = det A.
3𝑎 2𝑏 𝑐
2. 3𝑑 2𝑒 𝑓
To get from the first to the second: 3𝑔 2ℎ 𝑖
1. Multiply the first column by 3; this multiplies the determinant by 3.
2. Multiply the second column by 2; this multiplies the determinant by 2. 3𝑎 2𝑏 − 4𝑐 𝑐
3. 3𝑑 2𝑒 − 4𝑓 𝑓
3. multiply -4 times the third column and add to the second; this does not
3𝑔 2ℎ − 4𝑖 𝑖
change the determinant.
4. Interchange the first and second rows; this multiplies the determinant by −1. 3𝑑 2𝑒 − 4𝑓 𝑓
So the determinant of the resulting matrix is 3 · 3 · 2 · (−1) = −18. 4. 3𝑎 2𝑏 − 4𝑐 𝑐
3𝑔 2ℎ − 4𝑖 𝑖

Review Question: Question 3 7

 Question 5
If A is a skew-symmetric n × n matrix and n is odd,
prove that det A = 0.

Solution
Prove that det A = 0.
For any n × n matrix: det A = det(AT )
and det(−A) = (−1)n det A.

if A is skew-symmetric, then AT = −A
So det A = det(AT ) = det(−A)
det A = (−1)n det A
Since n is odd. Then det A = − det A, means that det A = 0

Review Question: Question 5 8

 Question 7
Show that x is an eigenvector of A and find the
corresponding eigenvalue.

1 3 1
x= ,A= .
2 4 3

Solution
First, we need to prove that Ax = λx

3 1 1 5 1
Ax = = =5
4 3 2 10 2
we see that x is indeed an eigenvector
And the corresponding eigenvalue is 5.

Review Question: Question 7 9

 Question 9
−5 −6 3
Let A = 3 4 −3 .
0 0 −2

a. Find the characteristic polynomial of A.

b. Find al of the eigenvalues of A.
c. Find a basis for each of the eigenspaces of A.
d. Determine whether A is diagonalizable. If A is not diagonalizable, explain why not. If
A is diagonalizable, find an invertible matrix P and a diagonal matrix D such that
𝑃−1 𝐴𝑃 = 𝐷
Solution
a. Find the characteristic polynomial of A

−5 −6 3 1 0 0 −5 − λ −6 3
−5 − λ −6
det A − λI = 3 4 −3 . λ. 0 1 0 = 3 4−λ −3 = 0 − 0 + (−2 − λ)
3 4−λ
0 0 −2 0 0 1 0 0 −2 − λ
= −(λ + 2)((−5 − λ)(4 − λ) + 18)
= −(λ + 2)(λ2 + λ − 2) = −(λ + 2)(λ + 2)(λ − 1).

Review Question: Question 7 10

 b. Find all of the eigenvalues of A.
The eigenvalues of A are the roots of the characteristic polynomial
−(λ + 2)(λ + 2)(λ − 1) = 0

So λ1 = − 2, λ2 = 1

c. Find a basis for each of the eigenspaces of A

We row-reduce A − λI for each eigenvalue λ:

_ For λ = − 2

_ For λ = 1

Thus the eigenspaces are

Review Question: Question 7 11

 d. Determine whether A is diagonalizable or not. If yes, find an invertible
matrix P and a diagonal matrix D such that 𝑃−1 𝐴𝑃 = 𝐷
Even though A does not have three distinct eigenvalues, it is diagonalizable since
the eigenvalue of algebraic multiplicity 2, which is λ2 = −2, also has geometric
multiplicity 2.
 A diagonalizing matrix is a matrix P whose columns are the eigenvectors that
we found in question 3, so

−1 −2 1
P= 1 1 0
0 0 1
 Find a diagonal matrix D

1 2 −1 −5 −6 3 −1 −2 1 1 0 0
−1
D=P AP = −1 −1 1 3 4 −3 1 1 0 = 0 −2 0
0 0 1 0 0 −2 0 0 1 0 0 −2

Review Question: Question 7 12

 Question 11
1
If A is a 2 × 2 matrix with eigenvalues 𝜆1 = , 𝜆2 = −1, and corresponding eigenvectors
2
1 1 3
v1 = ,v = , find A−5 .
1 2 −1 7

Solution
3
Find A−5
7
Since
3 1 1
=5 −2
7 1 −1
By Theorem 4.19

Review Question: Question 11 13

 Question 13
Determine, with reasons, whether A is similar to B. If A ~ B, give an invertible matrix P
such that P-1AP = B

4 2 2 2
A= ,B=
3 1 3 2
Solution
The two characteristic polynomials are
4−𝜆 2
det 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = = 4 − 𝜆 1 − 𝜆 − 6 = 𝜆2 − 5𝜆 − 2
3 1−𝜆
2−𝜆 2
det 𝐵 − 𝜆𝐼 = = 2 − 𝜆 2 − 𝜆 − 6 = 𝜆2 − 4𝜆 − 2
3 2−𝜆

Since the characteristic polynomials are different, the matrices are not similar.

Review Question: Question 13 14

 Question 15
Determine, with reasons, whether A is similar to B. If A ~ B, give an invertible matrix P such
that P-1AP = B

1 1 0 1 1 0
A= 0 1 1 ,B= 0 1 0
0 0 1 0 0 1
Solution
These matrices are not similar. If there were, then there would be some 3 × 3 matrix

such that P-1AP = B, or AP = PB. But

• If these matrices are to be equal, then comparing entries in the last row and column gives f = i = g = 0
• The upper left entries also give d = 0. The two middle entries are e + h and d + e = e, so that h = 0 as
well.
 Thus the entire bottom row of P is zero, so P cannot be invertible and A and B are not similar.

Review Question: Question 15 15

 Question 17
If A3 = A, what are the possible eigenvalues of A?

Solution
If λ is an eigenvalue of A with eigenvector x, then Ax = λx, so that
A3x = A(A(A(x))) = A(A(λx)) = A(λ2x) = λ3x.
If A3 = A, then Ax = λ3x
So that λ = λ3
λ(λ2−1) = 0
Then λ = 0 or λ = ±1
Thus possible eigenvalues of A are λ = 0, λ = ±1

Review Question: Question 17 16

 Question 19
If x is an eigenvector of A with eigenvalue 𝜆 = 3, show that x is also an
eigenvector of A2 - 5A + 2I. What is the corresponding eigenvalue?

Solution
Ax = λx
If x is an eigenvector of A with eigenvalue λ = 3, then
(A2 − 5A + 2I)x = A2x − 5Ax + 2Ix = 9x − 5 · 3x + 2x = −4x
λ
This shows that x is also an eigenvector of A2 - 5A + 2I, with eigenvalue −4

Review Question: Question 19 17

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