Homework #10 Solutions Due: November 29

2 3
1 3 3
3. A = 4 3 5 35
1 1 1

I Solution. (a) The characteristic polynomial of A is

1 3 3 1+ 3 3
det(A I) = 3 5 3 = ( 1) 3 5 3
1 1 1 1 1 1
2
0 2 4
= ( 1) 0 2 6 3
1 1 1
2 2
2 4 1 4
= ( 1)( 1) = (2 )
2 6 3 1 6 3
2 2
= (2 )(6 3 (4 )) = (2 )( 3 + 2)
2
= ( 1)( 2) .

(b) A has eigenvalues 1 and 2, with algebraic multiplicities 1 and 2 respectively.

(c) The eigenspace of A associated to the eigenvalue 1 is the null space of the matrix
A I. To find a basis for the eigenspace, row reduce this matrix.
2 3 2 3
2 3 3 1 0 3
A I=4 3 4 35 ! ··· ! 40 1 35
1 1 0 0 0 0
2 3 2 3
x1 3
~ 4
Thus, the general solution to the equation (A I)~x = 0 is x2 = 5 4 35 x3 where
2 3 x3 1
3
x3 is arbitrary. Letting x3 = 1 gives B1 = h 35i as a basis of the eigenspace
4
1
associated to the eigenvalue 1.
The eigenspace of A associated to the eigenvalue 2 is the null space of the matrix
A 2I. To find a basis for the eigenspace, row reduce this matrix.
2 3 2 3
3 3 3 1 1 1
A 2I = 4 3 3 35 ! ··· ! 4 0 0 05
1 1 1 0 0 0

Thus, the general solution to the equation (A 2I)~x = ~0 is

2 3 2 3 2 3
x1 1 1
4 x2 5 = 4 1 5 x2 + 4 0 5 x3
x3 0 1

Math 2085 3