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MatricesLinear algebraCollegeabout 1:07

Find the eigenvalues of the matrix [2 1 0; 1 2 0; 0 0 3]: animated lesson

A narrated, step-by-step matrices video lesson with captions. Final answer: λ = 3, 3, 1.

Video with a synthetic English voice and captions. Pick another language for subtitles in that language, or open the interactive version.

Video narrated by a synthetic voice (Piper TTS, en_US-ljspeech-high voice (LJ Speech dataset, public domain)); the steps come from our maths engine and the answer was checked independently. Download MP4 (0.4 MB) · Captions (WebVTT)

Steps on screen

  1. 1. The problem
    Worked example
    Find the eigenvalues of the matrix [2 1 0; 1 2 0; 0 0 3].
  2. 2. Steps, part 1
    1. det⁡(λI−A)=0,A=[210120003]\det(\lambda I - A) = 0,\quad A = \begin{bmatrix}2 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 3\end{bmatrix}
      Set up the characteristic equation
    2. p(λ)=λ3−7λ2+15λ−9p(\lambda) = \lambda^{3} - 7\lambda^{2} + 15\lambda - 9
      Characteristic polynomial
    3. λ=1, λ=3, λ=3\lambda = 1,\ \lambda = 3,\ \lambda = 3
      Rational roots found with the rational root theorem
    4. [−1101−10000] v=0⇒v=⟨1,1,0⟩, ⟨0,0,1⟩\begin{bmatrix}-1 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & -1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}\,v = 0 \Rightarrow v = \langle 1, 1, 0 \rangle,\ \langle 0, 0, 1 \rangle
      Eigenvectors for λ = 3: solve (A − λI)v = 0
  3. 3. Steps, part 2
    1. [110110002] v=0⇒v=⟨−1,1,0⟩\begin{bmatrix}1 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 2\end{bmatrix}\,v = 0 \Rightarrow v = \langle -1, 1, 0 \rangle
      Eigenvectors for λ = 1: solve (A − λI)v = 0
  4. 4. The answer
    λ=3, 3, 1\lambda = 3,\ 3,\ 1

    p(λ) roots: 3, 3, 1

  5. 5. Check
    • Sum of eigenvalues ≈ 7 equals the trace 7.
    • Product of eigenvalues equals the determinant 9.

Transcript

The problem. Here is the problem: Find the eigenvalues of the matrix [2 1 0; 1 2 0; 0 0 3]. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a 3 times 3 matrix.

Steps, part 1. Set up the characteristic equation. Characteristic polynomial. Rational roots found with the rational root theorem. Eigenvectors for λ equals 3: solve (A minus λI)v equals 0. Algebraic multiplicity 2, geometric multiplicity 2.

Steps, part 2. Eigenvectors for λ equals 1: solve (A minus λI)v equals 0.

The answer. So the answer is λ equals 3, 3, 1. The eigenvalues are the roots of the characteristic polynomial. Eigenvectors: λ equals 3: ⟨1, 1, 0⟩, ⟨0, 0, 1⟩; λ equals 1: ⟨-1, 1, 0⟩.

Check. Sum of eigenvalues approximately 7 equals the trace 7. Product of eigenvalues equals the determinant 9.

About matrices

Determinants, inverses, products, transposes and eigenvalues of matrices.

Find the eigenvalues of the matrix [2 1 0; 1 2 0; 0 0 3]