# Eigenvector help

1. Jan 23, 2007

http://orion.math.iastate.edu/vika/cal3_files/lec33267.pdf [Broken]

i searched eigenvectors on google and this showed up. here are some problems i need further explaining for example 3 and 4.

3. where do they get e1+e2= 0 equation from? then where did they get e= (1,-1)

4. where do they get the e1+2e2+e3= 0 eq from?

any help would really be appreciated...i understand how to get the eigenvalues but i have no clue what to do to get the vectors

Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
2. Jan 24, 2007

### chanvincent

3.
Write out the vector $$\vec{e}$$ explicitly, i.e. $$(e_1,e_2)$$, then substitude into $$(A-3E) \vec{e} = 0$$, you will see the result immediately.

4.
Same as above.........

3. Jan 24, 2007

### HallsofIvy

The first matrix is
$$\left(\begin{array}{cc}-2 & 1 \\ -1 & 4\end{array}\right)$$
which, by solving the "characteristic equation" is determined to have the single eigenvalue -3.

The definition of "eigenvalue" is that there exist a non-trivial (i.e. non-zero) vector v such that $Ax= \lambda x$. Saying that -3 is an eigenvalue means that there is a non-zero vector
$$v= \left(\begin{array}{c}x \\ y\end{array}\right)$$
such that
$$\left(\begin{array}{cc}-2 & 1 \\ -1 & 4\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}x \\ y\end{array}\right)= \left(\begin{array}{c}-2x+ y \\ -x+ 4y\end{array}\right)= \left(\begin{array}{c}-3x \\ -3y\end{array}\right)$$.

The top row says -2x+ y= -3x and the second -x+ 4y= -3y. Normally, two equations in two variables would have a unique solution (and obviously x=0, y= 0 is a solution) but here the equations are not "independent" (precisely because -3 is an eigenvalue). It's easy to see that both equations reduce to y= -x. That is the same as x+y= 0 (your book uses e1+e2= 0 but it is the same thing). Any vector of the form (a, -a)= a(1,-1) is an eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue -3.

4. Jan 25, 2007