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2023week9 Pre
2023week9 Pre
2023week9 Pre
where Cij = (−1)i+j det Aij is the (i, j)-cofactor of A, and Aij is the (i, j)-minor of A, defined as the
(n − 1) × (n − 1) matrix obtained from A by removing row i and column j.
(iv) A quick way to remember the signs is the following “checkerboard” pattern
+ − + − ···
− + − + · · ·
+ − + − · · ·
− + − + · · ·
.. .. .. .. . .
. . . . .
(v) If A is triangular, in the sense that all entries above or below the diagonal are zero, then det(A) is the
product of the diagonal elements.
(vi) A is invertible if and only if det(A) ̸= 0.
(vii) Multiplicative property of the determinant: For any n × n matrices A and B, we have
(ix) Recall that the transpose AT of a matrix A is the matrix obtained by interchanging rows and columns
of A. Since the determinant of a matrix can be computed by expanding along any row or column of
the matrix, taking the transpose of a matrix does not change its determinant. That is,
det AT = det A.
det(B) = − det(A).
(xi) If B is obtained from a matrix A by adding a scalar multiple of one row of A to another row of A, then
det(B) = det(A).
det(B) = µ det(A).
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(xiii) If A is an n × n matrix, then det(kA) = k n det(A).
(xiv) Let A be an n × n matrix. The system Ax = b has a unique solution if and only if det(A) ̸= 0.
(xv) Let A be a square matrix, x a nonzero column vector, and λ a scalar such that
Ax = λx.
det(A − λI) = 0.
(xvii) The expression det(A − λI) is a polynomial in λ and is called the characteristic polynomial of A. The
equation det(A − λI) = 0 is called the characteristic equation of A. The eigenvalues of a matrix are
precisely the solutions to its characteristic equation.
(xviii) The characteristic polynomial of an n × n matrix is a degree-n polynomial, and so it has at most n
distinct roots. Therefore, an n × n matrix has at most n distinct eigenvalues.
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Preparatory Exercises:
5. For each of the following matrices A, find the characteristic polynomial det(A − λI) and its roots.
Hence, state the eigenvalues for each of these matrices.
1 0 0 −1 −1 3
(i) A = (ii) A = (iii) A =
0 2 −1 0 2 0
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Answers:
4. The eigenvalues of A are solutions to the equation 0 = det(A − λI) = (1 − λ)(2 − λ), so the eigenvalues
of A are 1 and 2.
5. (i) Characteristic polynomial is det(A − λI) = (λ − 1)(λ − 2). Roots are λ = 1, 2.
(ii) Characteristic polynomial is det(A − λI) = (λ + 1)(λ − 1). Roots are λ = −1, 1.
(iii) Characteristic polynomial is det(A − λI) = (λ + 3)(λ − 2). Roots are λ = −3, 2.
Copyright © Some of these tutorial exercises have been adapted from A First Course in Linear Algebra by David Easdown
and from Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction, 4th Edition by David Poole.