04.05.

2011 How to find eigenvectors of a matrix

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Dec3-09, 07:56 PM Las t edited by iamsmooth; Dec3-09 at 08:15 PM.. #1

How to find eigenvectors of a matrix

iamsmooth
My textbook doesn't seem to
iamsmooth is O ffline :
explain it clearly enough for me
Pos ts: 100 to comprehend. But from what I
can see, after getting the
eigenvalues, you sub them back
in to the lambdas that are in
the matrix:

From here, you can solve for

the system of equations with
Gaussian elimination. After you
solved it, the eigenvector is
determined by the values of
each unknown, where they take
the coefficient of the parameters (if present).

(quick example) So if I get a matrix and reduce it to RRE that says:

[102]
[013]
[000]

The the values are:

X3 = t
X2 = 3t
X1 = 2t

So the vectorspace I get from this is:

[2]
[3]
[1]

Or something?

This is probably way wrong. Can someone please help explain to me how to
calculate eigenvectors? I need it to solve one of my problems.

** I will personally send Christmas cards to anyone who helps me with

understanding this (provided that you pm me your address)**

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04.05.2011 How to find eigenvectors of a matrix

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Dec3-09, 08:04 PM #2

Re: How to find eigenvectors of a matrix

iamsmooth
Better yet, I'll post the example:
iamsmooth is O ffline :

Pos ts: 100

From here is where I need , which yields:

Now, I have tried using Gaussian elimination, but I get really screwy decimal
numbers which I really don't think is right. Can someone take me through the
process of calculating it and explain the steps and reasoning? I've checked
online eigenvector calculators and it said the eigen vectors are:

(1, -2) for -6.25

(1, 14) for -2.25

Not sure how to get to those results (or if they're even correct).

Thanks.

Dec4-09, 06:02 AM Last edited by Halls ofIvy; Dec4-09 at 06:18 AM.. #3

Re: How to find eigenvectors of a matrix

HallsofIvy
I have always tended to go back to the definition. As iamsmooth says,
has eigenvalues -2.5 and - 6.5.

HallsofIvy is O ffline :

Pos ts: 29,733

Now, the definition of "eigenvalue" is that it is a number, such that
is satisfied by some non-zero vector v. (And, since v= 0 is obviously
a solution, it there exists non-zero solutions, there must exist an infinite
number of them- the set of all eigenvectors corresponding to a given
eigenvector forms a subspace.)

That is, any eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue -2.5 must satisfy

That gives the two equations -6x+ .25y= -2.5x and 7x- 3y= -2.5y. Adding 6x
to both sides of first equation gives .25y= 3.5x or y= 14x. Adding 3y to both
sides of the second equation gives 7x= .5y or, again, y= 14x.

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04.05.2011 How to find eigenvectors of a matrix
Those two equations are dependent and we cannot solve for specific values
of x and y because, as I said, there exist an infinite number of eigenvectors
for each eigenvalue. We can choose x to be whatever we want and solve for
y, getting an eigenvector. For example, if we take x= 1, then y= 14 so <1,
14>, as iamsmooth got, is an eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue -2.5.

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