Linear Algebra: Matrix Eigenvalue

Problems – Part 2

By Dr. Samer Awad

Assistant professor of biomedical engineering
The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
samer.awad@gmail.com
June 9, 2024 :Last update
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8.3 Symmetric, Skew-symmetric,

and Orthogonal Matrices
• Symmetric matrix:
• Skew-symmetric matrix:
• Orthogonal matrix:

• Examples:

Symmetric Skew-symmetric Orthogonal

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8.3 Symmetric, Skew-symmetric,

and Orthogonal Matrices
• Any real square matrix A may be written as the sum
of a symmetric matrix R and a skew-symmetric
matrix S, where:
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Example 6: Finding R and S of a

Square Matrices

• Remember: Symmetric (R): , Skew-symmetric (S):

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Symmetric & Skew-symmetric

Matrices
• Theorem 1: Eigenvalues of Symmetric and Skew-
Symmetric Matrices:
(a) The eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix are real.
(b) The eigenvalues of a skew-symmetric matrix are
pure imaginary or zero. Example 7.

• Remember: Symmetric: , Skew-symmetric:

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Orthogonal Matrices
• Theorem 3: Orthogonal matrices: Orthonormality of
Column and Row Vectors: A real square matrix is
orthogonal iff its column vectors (and also its row
vectors) form an orthonormal system:

Proof:

• Remember: Orthogonal matrix:

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Orthogonal Matrices
• Theorem 4: Determinant of an Orthogonal Matrix:
The determinant of an orthogonal matrix has the value
+1 or ‒1.

• Theorem 5: Eigenvalues of an Orthogonal Matrix:

The eigenvalues of an orthogonal matrix A are real or
complex conjugates in pairs and have absolute value 1.

Example 8.

• Remember: Orthogonal matrix:

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8.4 Diagonalization of Matrices:

Similar Matrices
• Definition: Similar Matrices: An n x n matrix is called
similar to an n x n matrix if

where P is a non-singular n x n matrix.

• Theorem 3: Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of

Similar Matrices: If is similar to , then has the same
eigenvalues as . Furthermore, if x is an eigenvector
of 𝑨, then is an eigenvector of corresponding to the
same eigenvalue.
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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Let A and P be the following:

• P has det = 1 and P-1 was obtained by:

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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Eigenvalues of :

2‒5 +6=0
 ( ‒ 3)(‒ 2) = 0
=3
=2
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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Eigenvalues of :

 ( ‒ 3)(‒ 2) = 0
=3
=2
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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Eigenvectors of :

• For

• Hence for 𝜆
• If we choose we obtain the eigenvector
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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Eigenvectors of :

• For

• Hence for 𝜆
• If we choose we obtain the eigenvector
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Example 9: Similar Matrices

• Eigenvectors of :

• For
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Diagonalization of a Matrix
• Diagonalization: converting a square matrix into a
diagonal matrix.
• Matrix diagonalization is equivalent to transforming
the underlying system of equations into a special
set of coordinate axes in which the matrix takes this
canonical form.
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Diagonalization of a Matrix

Also . Can you prove that?

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Example 10: Diagonalization of

a Matrix

• The characteristic determinant gives the characteristic

equation:

• The eigenvalues (roots):

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Example 10: Diagonalization of

a Matrix
• Eigenvectors of A are:
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Example 11: Diagonalization of

a Matrix
• From eigenvalues example 2
the matrix A is:
• The eigenvalues/eigenvectors are:

Note that ’s for are independent  X is invertable