Practice Problem for Midterm #3, Math 1553

1. (a) Define eigenvectors and eigenvalues of a matrix.

(b) Describe a procedure for computing eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

(c) Define characteristic polynomial of a matrix.

(d) Define eigenspace corresponding to eigenvalue λ.

(e) Explain how trace and determinant of a matrix are related to its characteristic polynomial and
eigenvalues.

f) Define algebraic and geometric multiplicities of eigenvalue λ.

g) Define what it means for a matrix A to be diagonalizable.

h) Explain why if the eigenvalues of A are distinct then A is diagonalizable.

i) Define stochastic matrices, steady state, and state Perron-Frobenius Theorem.

2. Find and simplify the following determinants:

   
 -1 0 5     a 1 2 
   −1 b  
a)  1 -2 -1  b)   c)  a 2 −1 
 3 -1 2  x y 
 a −1 2 
 
   -1 3 3 4 
 −1 − λ 0 5   
 2
  0 -2 1 3 
d)  1 − λ
 −2 − λ −1  e) 
 
 0 0 3 4 
 
 3 −1 2−λ 
 0 0 0 3 

3). Let A be an n × n matrix.

a) Define what it means for a number λ to an eigenvalue of A.

b) Define what it means for a vector x to be an eigenvector of A.

c) Explain why eigenspace corresponding to eigenvalue λ is equal to the kernel of A − λI.

d) Suppose that A is invertible and x is an eigenvector of A with eigenvalue λ. Explain why x is

an eigenvector of A−1 and A3 .

e) Suppose that det(A − 5I) = 0. What can you say about eigenvalues of A?

4. Find the characteristic polynomial, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the following matrices:
     
-2 4 2 1 4 1
a) b) c)
9 -7 12 1 3 2
1
  
-1 3 3 4    
 0 -2 1 3  1 0 1 1 1 1
d) 
 0 0 3 4 
 e)  0 1 −1  f)  2 2 2 
5 −1 2 3 3 3
0 0 0 3

5. Diagonalize the following matrices, if possible:

 
    2 0 0 0
  1 4 1 2 0 1
1 -2  0 1 2 0 
a) b)  0 -4 3  c)  0 1 0  d)  
2 6  0 0 -5 0 
0 0 2 1 0 2
0 0 0 -3

6. True or False. No partial credit.

(a) A non-invertible matrix always has determinant equal to zero.

(b) Any 4 × 4 matrix has 4 distinct eigenvalues.

(c) Eigenvectors of any 6 × 6 matrix always span R6 .

(d) Any invertible matrix has kernel of dimension 0.

(e) For any invertible matrix A, the determinant of A−1 is equal to 1

Det A .

(f) The difference of any two vectors in a vector subspace is also in the vector subspace.

(g) If u is an eigenvector of A then −u is an eigenvector of A.

(h) If λ is an eigenvalue of A then −λ is an eigenvalue of A.

(i) If u and v are eigenvectors of A corresponding to the same eigenvalue λ, then u + v is also
an eigenvector of A.

(j) If u and v are a basis of 2 dimensional subspace V , then u + v and v are also a basis of V .

(k) If u is an eigenvector of A then u is also an eigenvector of A−1 .

(l) If A is diagonalizable then A−1 is also diagonalizable.

(m) Any matrix with distinct eigenvalues is diagonalizable.

7. Find all numbers h so that 1 is an eigenvalue of the following matrix:

   
h 0 2   h + 5 1 −1
h h−1
a)  1 h 1  b) c)  h + 4 0 1 
1 h2
1 3 1 h−3 3 1
2
  
  1
1
8. Find all numbers m so that or 2 (depending on size) is an eigenvector of the following
−1
0
matrix:
   
2m 0 2   1 1 −1
m m
a)  1 m 1  b) c)  m + 4 0 1 
1 m2
2 −1 1 m−8 3 1

9. Construct a matrix with the following properties:

 
1
a) 2 × 2 matrix with eigenvalues λ1 = −1 and λ2 = 1, and corresponding eigenvectors u1 =
2
 
−1
and u2 = .
0

b) 3 ×3 matrix
 with 
eigenvalues
 −2, 
λ1 =  λ2 = 0 and λ3 = 1, and corresponding eigenvectors
1 0 0
u1 =  2 , u2 =  1  and u3 =  0 .
−1 0 1

c) A 2 × 2 matrix that is not diagonalizable. The same for a 3 × 3 matrix.

d) A 3 × 3 matrix with eigenvalues 2 and 3, where 2 has algebraic multiplicity 2 and geometric
multiplicity 1.

10. a) Let A and B two n × n matrices. Suppose that AB is non-invertible. Explain why either A
or B must be non-invertible.
b) Suppose that A is an n × n matrix such that A2 = I. Explain why all eigenvalues of A are either
1 or −1. (Hint: look at what happens if Ax = λx with λ not equal to 1 or −1).
c) Explain why all eigenvectors of a matrix A that correspond to the same eigenvalue, form a vector
subspace.

11. a) Suppose that A is a 4 × 4 matrix with characteristic polynomial (4 − λ)2 (1 − λ)(2 − λ). Find
det A and the trace of A.
b) Suppose that v and w are eigenvectors of A with eigenvalues 3 and −7 respectively. Find
A(2v + 7w) in terms of v and w.

c) Suppose that A is a n × n matrix with real eigenvalues and determinant −6. Explain why A
must have at least one negative eigenvalue.
 
1 2
12. Find all values of q such that is not diagonalizable.
k 3