Question

how do we find eigenvectors of any matrix where detA =0?

Answer 1

i mean det (A -(lamda)I)= 0 say for example A = (1 2;-1 4)

Answer 2

i know the eigen values are lamda = 3 and lamda =2 but how to find eigenvectors

Answer 3

@KingGeorge

Answer 4

If you have a matrix with a determinant of 0, I'm not sure what to do. However, for your example, let \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1&2\\-1&4\end{bmatrix}\]Then we look at the determinant of \(A-\lambda I_2\). So we have \[\det\left(\begin{bmatrix} 1&2\\-1&4\end{bmatrix}-\begin{bmatrix} \lambda&0\\0&\lambda\end{bmatrix}\right) \\
=\det\left(\begin{bmatrix} 1-\lambda&2\\-1&4-\lambda\end{bmatrix}\right) \\
=(1-\lambda)(4-\lambda)-(2)(-1)\]And set this equal to 0.

Answer 5

yeah i know how to find the eigenvalues completely like i am good at that but it asks what are the eigen vectors thats where i get confused

Answer 6

To be honest, I'm not too great at eigenvectors either.

Answer 7

hmm true they are a pain. like i am reading the theorem you have to sub it back into (A - (lamda)I)x =0 and then solve for x using those lamdas but i reduce my matrix down for both the lamdas and i get x1 = x2 but wth does that mean

Answer 8

You've pretty much solved one of the eigenvectors already. You just simplified it too much.

x1 = x2 means x1 - x2 = 0. What values of x1 and x2 will solve that equation? Eigenvectors are not unique, so there's infinitely many that will work in this case. Then, your eigenvector is [x1 x2]. Note: Eigenvalues are unique, so your eigenvector only corresponds to that eigenvalue, not both. You'll have to plug in the next eigenvalue to get your other eigenvector.

Answer 9

So if we have \(\lambda=2,3\), then we have \(A=2I_2 x\) or \(A=3I_2 x\). Let's start with 3. That gives us\[\begin{bmatrix} 1&2\\-1&4\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} x_1\\x_2\end{bmatrix}=3\begin{bmatrix} x_1\\x_2\end{bmatrix}\]Solving for this, we get that \(x_1=x_2\). So I guess that means that your eigenvector for \(\lambda=3\) is just any vector where both \(x_1\) and \(x_2\) are the same.

Answer 10

If you solve for \(\lambda=2\) instead, you get that \(x_1=2x_2\). So in this case, your eigenvector for \(\lambda=2\) is any vector where \(x_2\) is twice \(x_1\).

Answer 11

hmm ya thats what it said but i wasnt getting the right answer do they use any x values like we can use any number right?

Answer 12

You should be able to use any numbers you want, unless I'm grossly misunderstanding eigenvectors.

Answer 13

Right. So, in the example where lamda is equal to 3, you have x1 - x2 = 0. So, [x1 x2] could be [1, 1] or [3,3] or [sqrt(2),sqrt(2)]. The simpler the better though, in my opinion.

Answer 14

true for some reason they have [1/sqrt2 1/sqrt2] thats where i was going crazy in how they determined that

Answer 15

They wanted a normalized vector apparently (length of 1). Anyways, I've got to get going. Good luck.

Answer 16

ooo alright thanks a lot though

Answer 17

but @DanielxAK to get a normalized eigen vector we find the main eigenvector and normalize it?

Answer 18

Yes, if x is your vector, then to normalize it, you divide it by the norm:

x/||x||. The norm of x (||x||) is just the distance equation. (So, sqrt(x1^2 + x2^2) = ||x||)

Also, note that the normalized eigenvector is unique. That's probably one reason why they're asking you to normalize it.

Answer 19

oo true probably thanks a lot man, just another question do you know anything about symmetric matrices?

Answer 20

A bit. What's your question?

Answer 21

how do we show something is symmetric like i know A^T = A but its talking about some orthagonal stuff where A = CDC^T

Answer 22

Can you state the whole question? Is it asking you to show A^T = A when A = CDC^T? I'm guessing C is an orthogonal matrix and D is a diagonal matrix?

Answer 23

yeahh it isnt a question my TA just said just know something about that because it may be on the test

Answer 24

is this like a spectral decomposition?

Answer 25

Yes, sort of. It's a very specific type of decomposition. Matrices that have certain properties are easier to decompose. Decomposition is important in computing solutions to matrices. Some decompositions are more ideal than others. Anyway,

If A = CDC*, then A* = (CDC*)* = (C*)*D*C*= CD*C* = CDC* = A. (D* = D since D is diagonal).

Does that make sense?

Answer 26

hmm not quite

Answer 27

i didnt know (C*DC)* = (C*)*D*C* like i thought it was (AB)* = B*A* ?

Answer 28

Correct. But you have three matrices instead of two. So, in the case of two matrices, you're reversing the order. The same is true for three.

Answer 29

hmm true do you mind showing me an example of spectral decomposition if you dont mind ?

Answer 30

i have A = ( 3 6 -1; 6 9 4; -1 4 3)

Answer 31

I'm not going to work it out by hand. That'd be quite a bit of work for a 3x3 matrix. I did it on Matlab really quick though. So, you'd have it of the form:

A = C*D*C'

Where, roughly,
C = [ -0.4551 0.5802 -0.6754
-0.8460 -0.0451 0.5313
-0.2778 -0.8132 -0.5114]

D = [ 13.5417 0 0
0 3.9353 0
0 0 -2.4770]

Answer 32

ok sounds good and C= the normalized matrix for A?

Answer 33

C is your unitary (or orthogonal) matrix. Spectral decomposition is also known as eigenvalue decomposition. If you worked out the eigenvalues of that matrix, you would see that diagonal of D makes up your eigenvalues and each column of C makes up your normalized eigenvectors (which correspond to its eigenvalue).

For example, v =
-0.4551
-0.8460
-0.2778

corresponds to the eigenvalue 13.5417.

Answer 34

ahh okayy i have to keep on practicing thenn i apparently have to do this by hand tommorow lol

Answer 35

For a 3x3? I hope not. That's prone to error if done by hand. A 2x2 isn't too bad, but it gets much worse past that.

Answer 36

hmm truee just one final question, i have found the eigenvalues its just the vectors that throw me off

Answer 37

I have A = (3 1 1; 1 0 2; 1 2 0)

Answer 38

and i found the eigenvalues to be lamda1=1, lamda2=4, lamda3 = -2

Answer 39

and the question states that. Find the normalized eigenvectors and use them as columns in orthagonal matrix C

Answer 40

Alright. First, build your matrix D using your eigenvalues since you know those. Then, compute the eigenvector for each eigenvalue. Normalize the eigenvectors. Then, to build your C, match the column of C with the diagonal of D. So, the eigenvalue of your first diagonal of D should match your eigenvector which is the first column of C.