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Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

The characteristic polynomial and the directions a matrix only stretches.

An eigenvector is a direction a matrix does not rotate — only stretches by its eigenvalue. Find eigenvalues as roots of det(A − λI), then eigenvectors by solving (A − λI)v = 0. In the 3D view the eigenvectors are drawn on the transformed cube.

ნამდვილი ასლი: eigenvalues of [[2,1],[1,2]]

Linear-Algebra · Eigenvalues

Eigenvalues of [[2,1],[1,2]]

\left[\begin{matrix}2 & 1\\1 & 2\end{matrix}\right]

ჟრყოკა ოჲ ჟრყოკა.

  1. \det(A - \lambda I) = 0

    Eigenvalues are the roots of the characteristic polynomial.

  2. \det\left[\begin{matrix}2 - \lambda & 1\\1 & 2 - \lambda\end{matrix}\right] = 0

    Subtract λ from the diagonal.

  3. \lambda^{2} - 4 \lambda + 3 = 0

    Expand the determinant.

  4. \left(\lambda - 3\right) \left(\lambda - 1\right) = 0

    Factor.

  5. \lambda = 3, \lambda = 1

    Eigenvalues (with multiplicity).

  6. \lambda = 1:\ (A - \lambda I)\mathbf{v} = 0 \Rightarrow \mathbf{v} = \left[\begin{matrix}-1\\1\end{matrix}\right]

    Solve (A − 1I)v = 0 for a basis eigenvector.

  7. \lambda = 3:\ (A - \lambda I)\mathbf{v} = 0 \Rightarrow \mathbf{v} = \left[\begin{matrix}1\\1\end{matrix}\right]

    Solve (A − 3I)v = 0 for a basis eigenvector.

ჲრკპთირვ ჲრდჲგჲპა.
\lambda = 3,\; \lambda = 1

Symbols used here

\det A,\ |A|
determinant
Scaling factor of area/volume under A; zero means singular.
\lambda
lambda (eigenvalue)
The factor by which an eigenvector is stretched: Av = λv.
A = \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}
matrix
A rectangular array of numbers; a linear map.
\neg,\ \wedge,\ \vee,\ \Rightarrow,\ \Leftrightarrow
not, and, or, implies, iff
Logical connectives.
\leq,\ \geq
less/greater than or equal
Inequalities that allow equality; < and > exclude it.
\mathbf{v},\ \vec{v}
vector
A quantity with magnitude and direction; a column of numbers.
A^{-1},\ A^{T}
inverse, transpose
The matrix that undoes A; A with rows and columns swapped.
\mathbf{u} \cdot \mathbf{v},\ \|\mathbf{v}\|
dot product, norm
Σ u_i v_i; the length of v, √(v·v).

How to: Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

  1. Eigenvalues are the roots of the characteristic polynomial.
  2. Subtract λ from the diagonal.
  3. Expand the determinant.
  4. Factor.
  5. Eigenvalues (with multiplicity).
  6. Solve (A − 1I)v = 0 for a basis eigenvector.
  7. Solve (A − 3I)v = 0 for a basis eigenvector.

Questions people ask

What does a determinant mean geometrically?

It is the factor by which the matrix scales area (2×2) or volume (3×3), with a negative sign if orientation flips. Zero means the matrix flattens space and cannot be undone.

What is an eigenvector?

A direction the matrix does not turn — it only stretches it by the eigenvalue. Along eigenvectors a complicated matrix acts like multiplication by a number.

Why is matrix multiplication not commutative?

Because a matrix is a transformation and AB means "do B, then A". Rotating then reflecting is not the same as reflecting then rotating.

ჲოთრაი ჟამ.

მეტი Linear Algebra

DeterminantsMatrix inverseMatrix multiplicationRow reductionVector spaces, span and linear independenceOrthogonality, projections and least squaresDiagonalisation and matrix powersLinear transformations and change of basis