Math  /  Algebra

QuestionWithout calculation, find one eigenvalue and two linearly independent eigenvectors of A=[222222222]A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}2 & 2 & 2 \\ 2 & 2 & 2 \\ 2 & 2 & 2\end{array}\right]. Justify your answer.
One eigenvalue of AA is λ=0\lambda=0 because the columns of AA are linearly dependent. Two linearly independent eigenvectors of AA are \square because the entries of each vector sum to 0 . (Use a comma to separate answers as needed.)

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? Find an eigenvalue and two eigenvectors of a matrix *without any calculations* and justify it! Watch out! Eigenvectors must be linearly independent, and we need to explain *why* our choices are valid.

STEP 2

1. Find an Eigenvalue
2. Find the Eigenvectors
3. Justify the Solution

STEP 3

The matrix AA has identical rows, which means its determinant is **zero**.
A matrix with a determinant of zero *must* have an eigenvalue of **zero**.
Why? Because the determinant of a matrix is the product of its eigenvalues!
If the product is zero, at least one of the eigenvalues has gotta be zero!
So, λ=0\lambda = 0 is an eigenvalue.

STEP 4

Remember, an eigenvector vv satisfies the equation Av=λvAv = \lambda v.
Since our eigenvalue is λ=0\lambda = 0, we're looking for vectors vv such that Av=0v=0Av = 0 \cdot v = 0, the zero vector.

STEP 5

Let's think about what AA *does* to a vector.
Multiplying AA by any vector [xyz]\begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{bmatrix} gives us 2x+2y+2z2x + 2y + 2z for *every* entry in the resulting vector.
We want this result to be the zero vector, [000]\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, so we need 2x+2y+2z=02x + 2y + 2z = 0, which simplifies to x+y+z=0x + y + z = 0.

STEP 6

Now, we need *two* linearly independent vectors that satisfy this equation.
Let's pick x=1x = 1 and y=1y = -1.
Then, 1+(1)+z=01 + (-1) + z = 0, so z=0z = 0.
This gives us our first eigenvector: [110]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}.

STEP 7

For our second eigenvector, let's choose x=1x = 1 and z=1z = -1.
Then, 1+y+(1)=01 + y + (-1) = 0, so y=0y = 0.
This gives us our second eigenvector: [101]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix}.
These two eigenvectors are linearly independent because one is not a scalar multiple of the other!

STEP 8

We found that λ=0\lambda = 0 is an eigenvalue because the determinant of AA is zero, and the determinant is the product of the eigenvalues.

STEP 9

We found two eigenvectors by solving Av=0Av = 0.
Since the entries of both [110]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} and [101]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix} sum to zero, multiplying AA by these vectors results in the zero vector, satisfying the eigenvector equation for λ=0\lambda = 0.

STEP 10

An eigenvalue is λ=0\lambda = 0.
Two linearly independent eigenvectors are [110]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} and [101]\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix}.

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