Mustafin Bexultan

Linear Algebra for Engineers

December 6, 2022

Homework 12-13

Similarity, eigenvalues, eigenvectors

   
2 −3 1 2
1. Let A = and B = . Find f (A), g(A), f (B), g(B), where f (t) = 2t2 − 5t + 6
5 1 0 3
and g(t) = t3 − 2t2 + t + 3.

Solution:

(a)
 2    
2 −3 2 −3 1 0
f (A) = 2A2 − 5A + 6I = 2 −5 +6 =
5 1 5 1 0 1
           
4 − 15 −6 − 3 10 −15 6 0 −22 −18 −4 15 −26 −3
=2 − + = + = ,
10 + 5 −15 + 1 25 5 0 6 30 −28 −25 1 5 −27
(b)
 3  2    
2 −3 2 −3 2 −3 1 0
g(A) = A3 − 2A2 + A + 3I = −2 + +3 =
5 1 5 1 5 1 0 1
        
4 − 15 −6 − 3 2 −3 4 − 15 −6 − 3 2 −3 3 0
−2 + + =
10 + 5 −15 + 1 5 1 10 + 5 −15 + 1 5 1 0 3
      
−11 −9 2 −3 22 18 5 −3
= + + =
15 −14 5 1 −30 28 5 4
         
−22 − 45 33 − 9 27 15 −67 24 27 15 −40 39
+ = + =
30 − 70 −45 − 14 −25 32 −40 −59 −25 32 −65 −27
(c)
 2          
2 1 2 1 2 1 0 1 2+6 −5 −10 6 0
f (B) = 2B −5B+6I = 2 −5 +6 =2 + + =
0 3 0 3 0 1 0 9 0 −15 0 6
     
2 16 1 −10 3 6
= + =
0 18 0 −9 0 9
(d)
3
  2    
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 0
g(B) = B 3 − 2B 2 + B + 3I = −2 + +3 =
0 3 0 3 0 3 0 1
        
1 8 1 2 1 8 1 2 3 0
= −2 + + =
0 9 0 3 0 9 0 3 0 3
           
1 2 + 24 −2 −16 4 2 1 26 2 −14 3 12
= + + = + =
0 27 0 −18 0 6 0 27 0 −12 0 15

1
2. For each matrix, find a polynomial having the following matrix as a root:

(a)  
2 5
A=
1 −3
(b)  
2 −3
B=
7 −4
(c)  
1 1 2
C = 1 2 3
2 1 4

Solution:

Use the formula (t) = t2 − tr(M )t + |M | for a 2 × 2 matrix M :

(a)
tr(A) = 2 − 3 = −1, |A| = −6 − 5 = −11, so ∆(t) = t2 + t − 11

(b)
tr(B) = 2 − 4 = −2, |B| = −8 + 21 = 13, so ∆(t) = t2 + 2t + 13

(c) Use the formula ∆(t) = t3 − tr(C)t2 + (C11 + C22 + C33 )t − |C|, where Cii is the cofactor
of cii in the 3 × 3 matrix C = [aij ].

tr(C) = 1 + 2 + 4 = 7,
     
2 3 1 2 1 1
C11 =
  = 8 − 3 = 5, C22 = 
  = 4 − 4 = 0, C33 =
 =2−1=1
1 4 2 4 1 2
C11 + A22 + A33 = 5 + 0 + 1 = 6, and |C| = 8 + 6 + 2 − (8 + 4 + 3) = 16 − 15 = 1
Thus, ∆(t) = t3 − 7t2 + 6t − 1

3. Find the classical adjoint of each matrix

(a)  
1 2 2 3
1 0 −2 0 

3 −1 1 −2
 (1)
4 −3 0 2
(b)  
2 1 3 2
3 0 1 −2

1 −1 4
 (2)
3
2 2 −1 1

2
Solution:

(a)
 T
A11 A12 A13 A14
A21 A22 A23 A24 
adj(A) =  A31 A32 A33 A34  =


A41 A42 A43 A44

         T
 0 −2 0  1 −2 0  1 0 0  1 0 −2
 −1 1   
−2 − 3 1 −2 3 −1 −2 − 3

−1 1  
  
 −3 0 2  2  4 −3 2   −3
4 0 4 0 
  
  
 2 2 3 1 2 3  1 2 3 1 2 2
      
  
 − −1 1 −2 3 1 −2 − 3 −1 −2 3 −1 1 
       
−3 0 2 4 0 2  4 −3 2 4 −3 0 
       
=    =
    
 2 2 3 1 2 3
 
1 2 3 
 
1
 2 2  
  0 −2 0 − 1 −2 0 1 0 0 − 1 0 −2
       
   
 −3 0 4 −3 2   4 −3
 
2   4 0 2 0 
      

  
 2 2 3  1 2 3  1 2
 3  1 2 2  
  
−  0 −2 0  1 −2 0  − 1 0
    0  1 0 −2 
−1 1 −2  3 1 −2   3 −1 −2 3 −1 1
 T
−(−2(−2 − 6)) −(2 + 2(6 + 8)) −2 − 6 −(3 − 2(−9 + 4))
−(−3(−4 − 3) + 2(2 + 2)) −2(6 + 8) + 2 − 12 −(−8 − 28 − 15) −(−11) + 2(−5) 
  =
 −2(4 + 9) −(4 · 6 + 2(−2 − 2)) −(4 + 9) −(−6 + 2(−3 − 8)) 
−(−2(−4 + 3)) −(−4 − 3) − 2(−2 − 9) −(−(−4 + 3)) −(2 + 2) + 2(−1 − 6)
 T  
−16 −30 −8 −13 −16 −29 −26 −2
−29 −38 51 1  −30 −38 −16 29 
  = 
−26 −16 −13 28   −8 51 −13 −1 
−2 29 −1 −18 −13 1 28 −18
(b)
 T
A11 A12 A13 A14
A21 A22 A23 A24 
adj(A) = 
A31 A32 A33 A34 
 =
A41 A42 A43 A44
       T
0 1 −2  3 1 −2 3 0 −2 3 0 1 
 −1 4  
3  − 1 4
 
3  1 −1 3 
 
− 1 −1 4 
 
  2 −1 1 
 2 −1 1 −1 
 2 2 1   2 2
    
 1  
  3 2 
2 3 2
 
2 1 2 
  2 1 3   
− −1 4 3 1 4 3 − 1 −1 3

1 −1 4  
      
2 −1 1 2 −1 1   2 2 1
2 2 −1 
       
=    =
 
 1 3 2
2 3
 2 
2 1 2 
  2 1
 3  
 0 1 −2 − 3 1 −2 3 0 −2 − 3 0 1  
  
 
 2 −1 1  −1 −1  
 
2 1 2 2 1 
 2 2
    
      
  1 3 2  2 3 2 
 
2 1
 2  2 1
 3 
  
−  0 1 −2 3 1 −2
  − 3 0 −2 3 0
 1 
−1 4 3  1 4 3  1 −1 3  1 −1 4

3
  T  T
4 + 17 −(20 + 24) −7 − 22 −(5 − 22) 21 −44 −29 17
 −(24 − 10) 24 − 13 −(8 − 9) 16 − 9  = −14 11 1 7 

  =
 −11 − 6 −(−16 − 17) 8 − (−5) −(20 − 1) −17 33 13 −19
−(9 − (−10)) 24 − 13 −(−8 − 13) −8 − 10 −19 11 21 −18
 
21 −14 −17 −19
−44 11 33 11 
 
−29 1 13 21 
17 7 −19 −18
 
2 −1
4. Let A =
−2 3

(a) Find eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors.

(b) Find a nonsingular matrix P such that D = P −1 AP is diagonal.
(c) Find A8 and f (A) where f (t) = t4 − 5t3 + 7t2 − 2t + 5.
(d) Find a matrix B 2 such that B 2 = A.

Solution:

(a) First find the characteristic polynomial ∆(t) of A:

∆(t) = t2 − tr(A)t + |A| = t2 − 5t + 4 = (t − 4)(t − 1)

The roots λ = 1 and λ = 4 of ∆(t) are the eigenvalues of A. We find corresponding

eigenvectors.
i. Subtract λ = 1 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix M = A − I, where the
corresponding homogeneous system M X = 0 yields the eigenvectors corresponding
to λ = 1. We have    
2 − 1 −1 1 −1
M= =
−2 3 − 1 −2 2
corresponding to
1x − 1y = 0
or x−y =0
−2x + 2y = 0
The system has only one free variable, and v1 = (1, 1) is a nonzero solution. Thus,
v1 = (1, 1) is an eigenvector belonging to (and spanning the eigenspace of) λ = 1.
ii. Subtract λ = 4 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix M = A − 4I, where the
corresponding homogeneous system M X = 0 yields the eigenvectors corresponding
to λ = 4. We have    
2 − 4 −1 −2 −1
M= =
−2 3 − 4 −2 −1
corresponding to
−2x − 1y = 0
or −2x − y = 0
−2x − 1y = 0
The system has only one free variable, and v2 = (1, −2) is a nonzero solution. Thus,
v1 = (1, −2) is an eigenvector belonging to λ = 4.
(b) Let P be the matrix whose columns are v1 and v2 . Then

4
      
1 1 −1 1 0 −1 2/3 1/3
P = and D = P AP = , where P =
1 −2 0 4 1/3 −1/3
(c) Using the diagonal factorization A = P DP −1 , and 18 = 1 and 48 = 65536, we get
     
6 6 −1 1 1 1 0 2/3 1/3 21846 −21845
A = PD P = =
1 −2 0 65536 1/3 −1/3 −43690 43691
Also, f (1) = 6 and f (4) = 45. Hence,
     
1 1 6 0 2/3 1/3 19 −13
f (A) = P f (D)P −1 = =
1 −2 0 45 1/3 −1/3 −26 32
 
1 0
(d) Here is the real sqare root of D. Hence the real sqare root of A is
0 2
√
     
−1 1 1 1 0 2/3 1/3 4/3 −1/3
B = P DP = =
1 −2 0 2 1/3 −1/3 −2/3 5/3

5. For each of the following matrices, find all eigenvalues and a maximum set S of linearly
independent eigenvectors:
(a)  
1 −3 3
A = 3 −5 3
6 −6 4
(b)  
3 −1 1
B = 7 −5 1
6 −6 2
(c)  
1 2 2
C =  1 2 −1
−1 1 4
Which matrices can be diagonalized, and why?

Solution:

(a) First find the characteristic polynomial ∆(t) of A. We have

tr(A) = 1 − 5 + 4 = 0 and |A| = −20 − 54 − 54 − (−90 − 36 − 18) = −128 + 144 = 16
Also, find each cofactor Aii of aii in A:
     
−5 3 1 3 1 −3
A11 =   = −20+18 = −2, A22 =    = 4−18 = −14, A33 =
  = −5+9 = 4
−6 4 6 4 3 −5

Hence, ∆(t) = t3 − tr(A)t2 + (A11 + A22 + A33 )t − |A| = t3 + (−2 − 14 + 4)t − 16 =

t3 − 12t − 16 = t3 − 16t + 4t − 16 = t(t2 − 16) + 4(t − 4) = t(t − 4)(t + 4) + 4(t − 4) =
(t(t + 4) + 4)(t − 4) = (t2 + 4t + 4)(t − 4) = (t − 4)(t + 2)2
Accordingly, λ = −2 and λ = 4 are eigenvalues of A.
Find linearly independent eigenvectors for each eigenvalue of A.

5
 i. Subtract λ = −2 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix
   
3 −3 3 3 −3 3
M = 3 −3 3 = 0 0 0, corresponding to x − y + z = 0
6 −6 6 0 0 0
Here u = (1, 1, 0) and v = (−1, 0, 1) are linearly independent solutions.
ii. Subtract λ = 4 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix
   
−3 −3 3 −3 −3 3
−x − y + z = 0
M =  3 −9 3 =  0 −12 6, corresponding to
− 2y + z = 0
6 −6 0 0 0 0
Only z is a free variable. Here w = (1, 1, 2) is a solution.
Thus, S = {u, v, w} = {(1, 1, 0), (−1, 0, 1), (1, 1, 2)} is a maximal set of linearly inde-
pendent eigenvectors of A.
(b) First find the characteristic polynomial ∆(t) of B. We have
tr(B) = 3 − 5 + 2 = 0 and |B| = −30 − 6 − 42 − (−30 − 14 − 18) = −78 + 62 = −16
Also, find each cofactor Bii of bii in B:
     
−5 1 3 1 3 −1
B11 =   = −4, B22 =    = 0, B33 =
  = −8
−6 2 6 2 7 −5

Hence, ∆(t) = t3 −tr(B)t2 +(B11 +B22 +B33 )t−|B| = t3 +(−4−8)t−16 = t3 −12t+16 =

t3 − 16t + 4t + 16 = t(t2 − 16) + 4(t + 4) = t(t − 4)(t + 4) + 4(t + 4) = (t(t − 4) + 4)(t + 4) =
(t2 − 4t + 4)(t + 4) = (t + 4)(t − 2)2
Accordingly, λ = 2 and λ = −4 are eigenvalues of B.
Find linearly independent eigenvectors for each eigenvalue of B.
i. Subtract λ = 2 down the diagonal of B to obtain the matrix
   
1 −1 1 1 −1 1
x−y+z=0
M = 7 −7 1 = 0 0 −6, corresponding to
z=0
6 −6 0 0 0 0
Only y is a free variable. Here u = (1, 1, 0) is a solution.
ii. Subtract λ = −4 down the diagonal of B to obtain the matrix
   
7 −1 1 7 −1 1
7x − y + z = 0
M = 7 −1 1 = 0 −36/7 36/7, corresponding to
−y+z=0
6 −6 6 0 0 0
Only z is a free variable. Here v = (0, 1, 1) is a solution.
Thus, S = {u, v} = {(1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 1)} is a maximal set of linearly independent eigen-
vectors of B.
(c) First find the characteristic polynomial ∆(t) of C. We have
tr(C) = 1 + 2 + 4 = 7 and |C| = 3(1 + 2) = 9
Also, find each cofactor Cii of cii in C:
     
2 −1  1 2 1 2 
C11 =   = 9, C22 = 
−1 4 = 6,
 C33 =  =0
1 4 1 2

Hence, ∆(t) = t3 − tr(C)t2 + (C11 + C22 + C33 )t − |C| = t3 − 7t2 + (9 + 6)t − 9 =

t3 −7t2 +15t−9 = t3 −7t2 +15t−9 = t3 −t2 −6t2 +6x+9x−9 = t2 (t−1)−6t(t−1)+9(t−1) =

6
 (t2 − 6t + 9)(t − 1) = (t − 1)(t − 3)2
Accordingly, λ = 1 and λ = 3 are eigenvalues of C.
Find linearly independent eigenvectors for each eigenvalue of C.
i. Subtract λ = 1 down the diagonal of C to obtain the matrix
   
0 2 2 0 2 2
y+z=0
M =  1 1 −1 = 1 1 −1, corresponding to
x+y−z=0
−1 1 3 0 0 0
Only z is a free variable. Here u = (2, −1, 1) is a solution.
ii. Subtract λ = 3 down the diagonal of C to obtain the matrix
   
−2 2 2 −2 2 2
M =  1 −1 −1 =  0 0 0, corresponding to −x + y + z = 0
−1 1 1 0 0 0
Here v = (1, 1, 0) and w = (1, 0, 1) are linearly independent solutions.
Thus, S = {u, v, w} = {(2, −1, 1), (1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1)} is a maximal set of linearly inde-
pendent eigenvectors of C.
Only A and C can be diagonalized; use P = [u, v, w].

6. For each of the following linear operators T : R2 → R2 , find all eigenvalues and a basis for
each eigenspaces:

(a)
T (x, y) = (3x + 3y, x + 5y)

(b)
T (x, y) = (3x − 13y, x − 3y)

Solution:

(a) Find the matrix A that represents T relative to the usual basis of R2 . We have
 
3 3
A= , so ∆(t) = t2 − tr(A)t + |A| = t2 − 8t + 12 = (t − 6)(t − 2)
1 5
The roots λ = 2 and λ = 6 of ∆(t) are the eigenvalues of A. We find corresponding
eigenvectors.
i. Subtract λ = 2 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix M = A − 2I, where the
corresponding homogeneous system M X = 0 yields the eigenvectors corresponding
to λ = 2. We have    
3−2 3 1 3
M= =
1 5−2 1 3
corresponding to
1x + 3y = 0
or x + 3y = 0
1x + 3y = 0
The system has only one free variable, and v1 = (−3, 1) is a nonzero solution. Thus,
v1 = (−3, 1) is an eigenvector belonging to (and spanning the eigenspace of) λ = 2.

7
 ii. Subtract λ = 6 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix M = A − 6I, where the
corresponding homogeneous system M X = 0 yields the eigenvectors corresponding
to λ = 6. We have    
3−6 3 −3 3
M= =
1 5−6 1 −1
corresponding to
−3x + 3y = 0 or −x + y = 0
The system has only one free variable, and v2 = (1, 1) is a nonzero solution. Thus,
v1 = (1, 1) is an eigenvector belonging to λ = 6.
(b) Find the matrix A that represents T relative to the usual basis of R2 . We have
 
3 −13
A= , so ∆(t) = t2 − tr(A)t + |A| = t2 + 4
1 −3
There are no real roots. Thus A, a real matrix representing a linear transformation on
R2 , has no eigenvalues and no eigenvectors.

7. For each of the following symmetric matrices A, find an orthogonal matrix P and a diagonal
matrix D such that D = P −1 AP :

(a)  
5 4
A=
4 −1
(b)  
4 −1
A=
−1 4
(c)  
7 3
A=
3 −1

Solution:

(a) First find the characteristic polynomial ∆(t) of A. We have

∆(t) = t2 − tr(A)t + |A| = t2 − 4t − 21 = (t − 7)(t + 3)

Thus, the eigenvalues of A are λ = −3 and λ = 7. We next find corresponding eigenvec-

tors.
i. Subtract λ = 7 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix
   
−2 4 −2 4
M= = , corresponding to −x + 2y = 0
4 −8 0 0
A nonzero solution is u1 = (2, 1)
ii. Subtract λ = −3 down the diagonal of A to obtain the matrix
   
8 4 8 4
M= = , corresponding to 2x + y = 0
4 2 0 0
A nonzero solution is u2 = (1, −2)

8
 As expected, because A is symmetric, the eigenvectors u1 and u2 are orthogonal. Nor-
malize u1 and u2 to obtain, respectively, the unit vectors
√ √ √ √
uˆ1 = (2/ 5, 1/ 5) and uˆ2 = (1/ 5, −2/ 5)
Finally, let P be the matrix whose columns are the unit vectors uˆ1 and uˆ2 , respectively.
Then  √ √ 
2/√5 1/ √5
P =
1/ 5 −2/ 5
(b)

8. For each of the following symmetric matrices B, find its eigenvalues, a maximal orthogonal
set S of eigenvectors, and an orthogonal matrix P such that D = P −1 BP :

(a)  
0 1 1
B= 1
 0 1
1 1 0
 
2 2 4
B= 1
 5 8
4 8 17

Solution:

(a) d
(b)

9. Find the characteristic and minimal polynomials of each of the following matrices:

(a)  
3 1 −1
A= 2 4 −2
−1 −1 3
(b)  
3 2 −1
B = 3 8 −3
3 6 −1

Solution:

(a) d
(b) d
   
1 1 0 2 0 0
10. Let A = 0 2 0 and B = 0 2 2. Show thar A and B have different characteristic
0 0 1 0 0 1
polynomials (and so are not similar) but have the same minimal polynomial. Thus, nonsimilar
matrices may have the same minimal polynomial.

9
Solution:

(a) d
(b)

10