Eigenvalues of Inverse Transformations

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, particularly in the context of linear transformations and their inverses. Participants explore the relationships between the eigenvalues of a transformation and its inverse, as well as the computation of characteristic polynomials to find eigenvalues.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between eigenvalues of a transformation and its inverse, questioning the validity of certain proofs and assumptions. There are attempts to compute characteristic polynomials and identify eigenvalues and eigenvectors from given transformations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on each other's reasoning and calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the computation of characteristic polynomials and the interpretation of results, but there is no explicit consensus on all points raised.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the assumptions made regarding eigenvectors and the implications of linear transformations. There are also references to the diagonalizability of matrices and the nature of eigenspaces, indicating a need for clarity on these concepts.

TranscendArcu
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Homework Statement



Screen_shot_2012_02_24_at_3_34_33_PM.png


The Attempt at a Solution


So I observed:

T(B) = λB
T-1(B) = λ'B

Also,

T-1(T(B)) = λ'λB = B

This implies,

λ'λ = 1

And so, there should be a relation

[itex]λ = \frac{1}{λ'}[/itex].

Is that right?
 
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Looks OK to me. Note that this is quite obvious if T is diagonal, which can be achieved by a coordinate transformation such that the new coordinates are along the Eigenvectors.
 
So this is a similar sort of problem, so I'll ask about it here:

Screen_shot_2012_02_24_at_4_28_11_PM.png


T(1,0,0) = (1,1,0)
T(0,1,0) = (2,2,0)
T(0,0,1) = (0,0,1)

Thus, the matrix relative to the standard basis is:

[itex]\left| \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 1 &2&0 \\<br /> 1&2&0 \\<br /> 0&0&1 \end{array} \right|[/itex]

[itex]Δ_T (t) = det(\left| \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 1 &2&0 \\<br /> 1&2&0 \\<br /> 0&0&1 \end{array} \right| - tI)[/itex]

I have this as equaling,

[itex](1-t)[(1-t)(2-t)-2] = (1-t)(-3t+2t^2)[/itex]. First of all, I don't know if this is right. If it is right, I don't know how to interpret it.

Of course, I know I also have to do the other parts of the problem, but I'll get there eventually :)
 
Last edited:
You are computing the characteristic polynomial. Once you find that the roots are the eigenvalues. [itex](1-t)[(1-t)(2-t)-2][/itex] is right, the other side isn't. You want to factor it.
 
TranscendArcu said:

Homework Statement



Screen_shot_2012_02_24_at_3_34_33_PM.png


The Attempt at a Solution


So I observed:

T(B) = λB
T-1(B) = λ'B

Also,

T-1(T(B)) = λ'λB = B

This implies,

λ'λ = 1

And so, there should be a relation

[itex]λ = \frac{1}{λ'}[/itex].

Is that right?
Your conclusion is correct but I'm not sure I agree with your proof. In particular this
T-1(B) = λ'B
is only true if B is an eigenvector of T, and that's not really clear a priori. Just say that B is an eigenvector of T so

T(B) = λB

Apply T-1 to both sides
T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB)

T is a linear operator (I assume) ... I'll let you finish the argument. It's pretty trivial.

Also as to the diagonalization comment, while I agree that's a good way to think about it intuitively it's not a good technique for a proof. Obviously there are issues with some finite dimensional space maps being non-diagonalizible; but even more fundamentally for a Hilbert space I think you would need the operator to be compact to have any hope of such an approach working.
 
Last edited:
Dick said:
You are computing the characteristic polynomial. Once you find that the roots are the eigenvalues. [itex](1-t)[(1-t)(2-t)-2[/itex] is right, the other side isn't. You want to factor it.

Should I write: [itex](1-t)[(1-t)(2-t)-2 = -(t-3)(t-1)(t)[/itex]. This is the characteristic polynomial. Thus, the roots are 3,1,0. These are the eigenvalues. If I have equations,

(1-t)x + 2y = 0
1x + (2-t)y = 0
(1-t)z = 0,

and I plug in for t=0,1,3, I find for t=3 that eigenvectors are multiples of (1,1,0). For t=1, eigenvectors are multiples of (0,0,1). For t=0, eigenvectors are multiples of (-2,1,0). The matrix is diagonalizable because T has three linearly indep. eigenvectors.

Because these vectors are linearly independent, and because the number of vectors = dim(R3), these vectors span R3. Thus, R3 is the eigenspace of T (?)

How does that look?
 
kai_sikorski said:
Your conclusion is correct but I'm not sure I agree with your proof. In particular this
T-1(B) = λ'B
is only true if B is an eigenvector of T, and that's not really clear a priori. Just say that B is an eigenvector of T so

T(B) = λB

Apply T-1 to both sides
T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB)

T is a linear operator (I assume) ... I'll let you finish the argument. It's pretty trivial.

Hmm. What's the problem with writing:

T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB) = λ'λB = B

And then arriving at an identical conclusion?
 
T-1(λB) = λ'λB

This is only true if B is an eigenvector of T-1, (sorry guess I forgot the exponent in my first post) and I don't think that's clear ahead of time.
 
Okay. How about this:

T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB) = B. This implies,

T-1λ = 1. And thus,
T-1 = 1/λ,

which confirms the relation,

T-1(T(B)) = (1/λ)λ B = 1B =B

It occurs to me that this isn't very good notation. But is the idea here right? Or am I still off?
 
  • #10
TranscendArcu said:
T-1λ = 1. And thus,

:confused:

you have a matrix on one side of the equation and a scalar on the other
 
  • #11
Okay. How about this:

T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB) = B. This implies,

T-1λ(B) = 1(B). And thus,
T-1(B) = 1/λ (B),

which confirms the relation,

T-1(T(B)) = (1/λ)λ B = 1B =B
 
  • #12
TranscendArcu said:
Okay. How about this:

T-1(T(B)) = T-1(λB) = B. This implies,

T-1λ(B) = 1(B). And thus,
T-1(B) = 1/λ (B),
You're done here. This line means exactly that B is in fact an eigenvector of T-1 and the eigenvalue is 1/λ.

TranscendArcu said:
which confirms the relation,

T-1(T(B)) = (1/λ)λ B = 1B =B

This is self evident from the definition of the inverse, and does not need to be confirmed.
 
  • #13
This is a problem nearly identical to the 2nd problem in this thread. Since I'm still kind of sure about the material, I'd like my work checked here as well.
Screen_shot_2012_02_26_at_3_59_09_PM.png


T(1,0,0) = (3,-1,0)
T(0,1,0) = (0,1,0)
T(0,0,1) = (-1,2,4)

Thus, we have the matrix,

[itex]\left| \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 3 &0&-1 \\<br /> -1&1&2 \\<br /> 0&0&4 \end{array} \right|[/itex]

[itex]Δ_T (t) = det( \left| \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 3 &0&-1 \\<br /> -1&1&2 \\<br /> 0&0&4 \end{array} \right| - tI)[/itex]

I have this equaling: -(t-4)(t-3)(t-1), which is the characteristic polynomial. The roots are the eigenvalues, which are 4,3,1.

To compute the eigenvectors:

When t=4, we have,
-x-z=0
-x-3y+2z=0
0z=0

Which implies that eigenvectors are multiples of (-1,1,1).

When t=3, we have,
-z=0
-x-2y=0
z=0

Which implies that eigenvectors are multiples of (-1,2,0)

When t=1, we have,
2x-z=0
-x+2z=0
3z=0

Which implies that eigenvectors are multiples of (0,1,0).

T is diagonizable because (-1,1,1),(-1,2,0),(0,1,0) are lin. indep.

I'm still unsure if the eigenspace is the span of the eigenvectors. If so, I guess R3, otherwise, I'm not sure.
 

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