Skip to main content

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors [−2,2,−3;2,1,−6;…]

Short answer

Characteristic equation λ³+λ²−21λ−45=0 gives eigenvalues 5 and −3 (double). For λ=5, eigenvector (1,2,−1)ᵀ; for λ=−3, two independent vectors: (−2,1,0)ᵀ and (3,0,1)ᵀ.

Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix [−2 2 −3; 2 1 −6; −1 −2 0].

Eigenvalues of A = [−2 2 −3; 2 1 −6; −1 −2 0]

  • Trace = −2 + 1 + 0 = −1
  • Sum of principal minors = (0 − 12) + (0 − 3) + (−2 − 4) = −12 − 3 − 6 = −21
  • |A| = −2(0 − 12) − 2(0 − 6) + (−3)(−4 + 1) = 24 + 12 + 9 = 45
λ³ + λ² − 21λ − 45 = 0   ⇒   (λ − 5)(λ + 3)² = 0

Eigenvalues: 5, −3, −3.

Eigenvectors

λ = 5: A − 5I = [−7 2 −3; 2 −4 −6; −1 −2 −5]. From R₂: x = 2y + 3z; R₃: −x − 2y − 5z = 0 ⇒ −(2y + 3z) − 2y − 5z = 0 ⇒ y = −2z. Take z = −1: y = 2, x = 1. X₁ = (1, 2, −1)ᵀ. Check: AX₁ = (5, 10, −5) = 5X₁ ✓.

λ = −3: A + 3I = [1 2 −3; 2 4 −6; −1 −2 3]. All rows give x + 2y − 3z = 0 (rank 1), so there are two independent solutions:

  • y = 1, z = 0: X₂ = (−2, 1, 0)ᵀ
  • y = 0, z = 1: X₃ = (3, 0, 1)ᵀ

Answer:

EigenvalueEigenvectors
5k(1, 2, −1)ᵀ
−3 (twice)k₁(−2, 1, 0)ᵀ + k₂(3, 0, 1)ᵀ

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Mathematics III chapter 1 questions →