Eigen-vectors/values under row flipping

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of row flipping on the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of a matrix, specifically examining the relationship between the eigendecomposition of an original matrix and its row-flipped version. Participants explore both theoretical implications and practical calculations, including connections to singular value decomposition (SVD).

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the eigendecomposition of the original matrix and the flipped version appears unrelated, while the SVD shows that the right singular vectors and singular values remain the same, suggesting a deeper connection.
  • Another participant describes the row flipping as a matrix operation that can be represented by a flipping matrix acting on the original matrix, implying that SVD can accommodate this transformation, but eigenvectors cannot simply absorb the change.
  • A participant asserts that the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the original and flipped matrix are not related, indicating that the eigendecomposition must be recalculated for the flipped matrix.
  • Further clarification is provided that applying a transformation like row flipping does not maintain similarity between the original and flipped matrices, thus necessitating a new computation of eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the eigendecomposition of the flipped matrix needs to be recomputed, but there is some debate regarding the implications of this transformation and the relationship between eigenvalues and singular values.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of matrix transformations and their effects on eigenvalues and eigenvectors, with specific attention to the conditions under which these relationships hold. There are unresolved aspects regarding the mathematical details of the transformations discussed.

onako
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After the eigendecomposition of the following matrix is performed, I wonder what happens to the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the matrix obtained by flipping rows of the original. Say the original is
0 5 7 8
5 0 2 9
7 2 0 3
8 9 3 0
and the flipped version is:
5 0 2 9
8 9 3 0
7 2 0 3
0 5 7 8
Using the online matrix calculator says (at first glance) that the eigendecomposition data of the original and flipped version have no relation. But, SVD of the original and the flipped appear to be related: right singular vectors and singular values of the original and flipped are the same, and they are equal to the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the original. (left singular vectors of flipped matrix are also flipped). I would like to hear the reasoning behind this behaviour.
More precisely, what is the relation between the eigendecomposition of the original and the flipped version, and how might this be related to the svd.

Thanks
 
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Generally speaking when you flip one row with another, that can be described by a matrix acting from the left onto the right of another matrix, i.e.

A(the flipping matrix) * original_matrix = matrix with flipped rows
(likewise, original_matrix * A = matrix_with_flipped_columns)
In this particular case to flip, A has to be something simple like a re-organized identity matrix.

So in the case of the SVD the U vectors absorb the row flipping that you do to your original matrix. (Since yourMatrix, M = U*E*V_t).

For eigenvectors the U and V have to be same vectors, so now the U can't just absorb the change, and a new set of eigenvectors has to be found.
 
So, eigevectors and eigenvalues of the original and flipped matrix are not related (meaning that the eigendecomposition of the flipped matrix needs to be computed anew)?
 
Short answer is that it needs to be recomputed anew.

Start with your basic eigen equation:

Ax=x * \lambda
where A is your original matrix and x is an eigenvector, and \lambda is the constant eigenvalue.

Now rotate (or apply some matrix transformation such as row flipping) by R on the left.

Now:
R*A*x= R*x*\lambda

To make the left x equal to the right R*x so that those will both be eigen values we can put in an identity matrix between A and x, and assuming that R is invertible, set it equal to R^{-1} * R.

So you have
{R*A*R^{-1}} * {R*x} = {R*x} * \lambda

In that case now your eigenvectors would be easily related. But in your case there is no R^-1 being applied, i.e. your matrix is not similar to the original matrix and will have its own eigenvalues/vectors.

(This is really annoying the Latex isn't showing up properly, so if you see a -1 and \lambda swapped between the last 2 equations that is why).
 
Last edited:
Wow -- last one blew up -- I pulled out the coding, hopefully this is a little easier to read.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Short answer is that it needs to be recomputed anew.

Start with your basic eigen equation:

Ax=x * \lambda
where A is your original matrix and x is an eigenvector, and \lambda is the constant eigenvalue.

Now rotate (or apply some matrix transformation such as row flipping) by R on the left.

Now:
R*A*x= R*x*\lambda

To make the left x equal to the right R*x so that those will both be eigen values we can put in an identity matrix between A and x, and assuming that R is invertible, set it equal to R^{-1} * R.

So you have
(R*A*R^{-1} ) * (R*x) = (R*x) * \lambda

In that case now your eigenvectors would be easily related. But in your case there is no R^-1 being applied, i.e. your new matrix is not similar to the original matrix and will have its own eigenvalues/vectors.
 
And now that I take all the latex out, the old latex starts working fine!

I give up :)
 
Thanks.
 

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