Find the basis for both eigenvalues

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Homework Statement



Given matrix A= {[39/25,48/25],[48/25,11/25]} find the basis for both eigenvalues.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I row reduced the matrix and found both eigenvalues. I found λ = -1, and λ = 3. Then, I used diagonalization method [-1I2 - A 0] and [3I2 - A 0]. I got a basis of {[1,-3/4]} and {[1,4/3]}. However, I checked these but these were incorrect. I wasn't sure what I did wrong.
 
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Row reduce the matrix? You can't find eigenvalues by row reduction!

If [x, y] is an eigenvector corresponding eigenvalue -1, then
\begin{bmatrix}\frac{39}{25} & \frac{48}{25} \\ \frac{49}{25} & \frac{11}{25}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}x \\ y \end{bmatrix}= \begin{bmatrix}-x \\ -y\end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix}\frac{39}{25}x+ \frac{48}{25}y \\ \frac{48}{25}x+ \frac{11}{25}y\end{bmatrix}= \begin{bmatrix}-x \\ -y \end{bmatrix}

So we must have 39x/25+ 48y/25= -x, which is the same as 64x+ 48y= 0 and 48x/25+ 11y/25= -y which is the same as 48x+ 36y= 0.

Both of those equations reduce to a single equation of the form ax+ by= 0 so that y= (b/a)x.

If [x, y] is an eigenvector corresponding eigenvalue 3, then
\begin{bmatrix}\frac{39}{25} & \frac{48}{25} \\ \frac{49}{25} & \frac{11}{25}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}x \\ y \end{bmatrix}= \begin{bmatrix}3x \\ 3y\end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix}\frac{39}{25}x+ \frac{48}{25}y \\ \frac{48}{25}x+ \frac{11}{25}y\end{bmatrix}= \begin{bmatrix}-x \\ -y \end{bmatrix}

So we must have 39x/25+ 48y/25= 3x, which is the same as -36x+ 48y= 0 and 48x/25+ 11y/25= 3y which is the same as 48x- 64y= 0. Again, both of those equations reduce to a single equation.
 
Okay, so given those two solutions, do I row reduce it to determine teh basis?
 
LosTacos said:
Okay, so given those two solutions, do I row reduce it to determine teh basis?
No. The first equation in HallsOfIvy's post is 48x + 36y = 0, which is equivalent to 4x + 3y = 0. From that equation you can find the eigenvector that is associated with the eigenvalue λ = -1.

The second equation is 48x - 64y = 0, or 3x - 4y = 0. Use this equation to find the eigenvector that is associated with the eigenvalue λ = 3.
 
thank you
 
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There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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