Find Complex Eigenvalues for 3x3 Matrix with All 9 Numbers at .3 | Homework Help

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on finding the eigenvalues of a 3x3 matrix where all elements are 0.3. The characteristic polynomial derived was incorrectly stated as l^3 - 0.9l^2 + 0.54l - 0.162 = 0. The correct eigenvalues are 0.9, 0, and 0, indicating that 0 is a double eigenvalue due to the matrix's non-invertibility. The method to find complex roots involves dividing the cubic polynomial by one known root to solve for the remaining roots.

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Homework Statement


A 3x3 matrix with all 9 of the numbers being .3
Find all the eigenvalues.

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The Attempt at a Solution


I worked through it and I ended up with (l=lamda) l^3-.9l^2+.54l-.162=0
With my calculator I found one of the values, which means that there are 2 complex values.
Considering how I have not done this in a while, how do I find the complex roots of this equation?

Thanks in advance
 
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You made a mistake calculating the characteristic polynomial. The three eigenvalues for that matrix are 0.9, 0, and 0.

To answer your question about the roots: in general when you have a cubic and one of its roots r, divide the cubic by (x-r) and find the roots of the resulting quadratic.
 
It should be obvious that one of the eigenvalues is 0 because this matrix is obviously not invertible. In fact, without doing any work at all it should be clear that the "row-echelon form" for this matrix is
\begin{bmatrix}3 & 3 & 3 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}
so that all of R3 is mapped to R1- the null space must be two-dimensional so 0 must be a "double" eigenvalue as vela says.
 

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