# Finding Eigenvalues: List of possible solutions for Lambda

Gold Member

## Homework Statement

I got a solution for finding eigen values. It evaluates to:

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0, Then it that the list of possible integer solutions is:

+-1, +-2, +-4, _-8, +-16 (i.e. plus minus 1, plus minus 2 and so on).

I cant understand, why he says list of possible solution is this, when only lambda = 4 satisfies the eq..

Zulfi.

## Homework Equations

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0

## The Attempt at a Solution

Only lamda =4 satisfies the eq while other values do not.
The solution provided by web site isttached/.

Zulfi

#### Attachments

• 55.9 KB Views: 485

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fresh_42
Mentor
If $\lambda_0$ is a solution to $\lambda^3-12\lambda-16=0$ then $(\lambda-\lambda_0)$ is a divisor of it. This means especially that $\lambda_0$ divides $16$. If there are integer solutions, those numbers are simply the list of possible divisors of $16$, which can be tested, in order to reduce the degree of the equation. How did you find that $\lambda_0=4$ is a solution?

Gold Member
Hi,
4^3 -12*4 -16 =0
64-48 -16 =0

It evaluates to zero.

Other values do not.

Zulfi.

Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed

## Homework Statement

I got a solution for finding eigen values. It evaluates to:

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0, Then it that the list of possible integer solutions is:

+-1, +-2, +-4, _-8, +-16 (i.e. plus minus 1, plus minus 2 and so on).

I cant understand, why he says list of possible solution is this, when only lambda = 4 satisfies the eq..

Zulfi.

## Homework Equations

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0

## The Attempt at a Solution

Only lamda =4 satisfies the eq while other values do not.
The solution provided by web site isttached/.

Zulfi
He is claiming that at least one root is to be found in the set {-1, 1, -2, 2, -4, 4, -8, 8, -16, 16}. That means that you can find a root by checking at most 10 values of $\lambda.$ Some of the values in the set are not roots of the equation, but at least one of them is a root, or so he says.

He got the set by looking for rational roots of the equation, using the so-called Rational Root Theorem; see, eg., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_root_theorem
or https://trans4mind.com/personal_development/mathematics/polynomials/rationalRootTheorem.htm

Note: this method finds rational roots if they exist. Therefore, if none of the numbers in the list are actually roots, it follows that the polynomial has only irrational roots.

SammyS
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member

## Homework Statement

I got a solution for finding eigen values. It evaluates to

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0, Then it that the list of possible integer solutions is:

+-1, +-2, +-4, _-8, +-16 (i.e. plus minus 1, plus minus 2 and so on).

I cant understand, why he says list of possible solution is this, when only lambda = 4 satisfies the eq..

Zulfi.

## Homework Equations

(Lambda)^3 -12(lambda) -16=0

## The Attempt at a Solution

Only lamda =4 satisfies the eq while other values do not.
The solution provided by web site isttached/.

Zulfi
One other number satisfies this. It is in your list.

Gold Member
Hi,
Ray Vickson, thanks for providing the link. God bless you.

I would try.

Zulfi.

Gold Member
Hi,
Using p/q I am able to find possible solutions for λ
λ^3 -12λ -16 = 0

P|16 = 1, 2, 4, 8, 16

Q|1 = 1

Now P/q = +-1.2^4/1 or +- 4 * 4/1 or +- 1.2.8/1 or +- 1.16/1

So possible solutions for λ = +-1, +-2, +-4, +-8 and +-16 but only λ=4 satisfies the eq.

Zulfi.

fresh_42
Mentor
Hi,
Using p/q I am able to find possible solutions for λ
λ^3 -12λ -16 = 0

P|16 = 1, 2, 4, 8, 16

Q|1 = 1

Now P/q = +-1.2^4/1 or +- 4 * 4/1 or +- 1.2.8/1 or +- 1.16/1

So possible solutions for λ = +-1, +-2, +-4, +-8 and +-16 but only λ=4 satisfies the eq.

Zulfi.
Nope.

Gold Member
Hi,
Can you please tell me what's wrong with this? I have followed the tutorial.

Zulfi.

fresh_42
Mentor
Hi,
Can you please tell me what's wrong with this? I have followed the tutorial.

Zulfi.
No, you haven't.
One other number satisfies this. It is in your list.
... is still true. You could either try to find it by trying or you calculate $f(\lambda):=(\lambda^3-12\lambda -16):(\lambda -4)$ and solve the quadratic equation $f(\lambda)=0$.

Gold Member
Hi,
I got it. Its -2. instead of lambda I am using x.

X^3 -12x -16 =0

X =1: 1 -12 -16 = 0 (false)

X=-1: -1 -12 -16 =0 (false)

X = 2: 8-16-16=0 (false)

X= -2: -8 -+24 -16 =0 (true)

Zulfi.

fresh_42
Mentor
Hi,
I got it. Its -2. instead of lambda I am using x.

X^3 -12x -16 =0

X =1: 1 -12 -16 = 0 (false)

X=-1: -1 -12 -16 =0 (false)

X = 2: 8-16-16=0 (false)

X= -2: -8 -+24 -16 =0 (true)

Zulfi.
Now you have two zeroes, but three are possible. What can you say about the third?

Gold Member
Hi,
I cant see the 3rd one.

X = 4: 64 -48 -16 =0(true)

X= -4: -64 +48 -16 =0 (false)

X=8: Not possible

X=-8: Not possible

X=16: Not possible

X=-16: not possible

Zulf.

fresh_42
Mentor
But couldn't the third be a zero which is not rational? That's where the long division is more useful than testing zeroes. Once you have a zero, $x=4$, we can divide the polynomial by $x-4$ and solve the rest. It is done the same way as a long division by numbers. Here's an example how it's done: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/constructing-the-splitting-field-for-a-polynomial-over-z-z3.889140/#post-5595083

The reason is, that every polynomial $p(x)=x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+\ldots +a_1x+a_0$ can be written as $p(x)=(x-z_1)\cdot \ldots \cdot (x-z_n)$. The $z_i$ are usually complex numbers, but not in our case.

SammyS
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Hi,
I cant see the 3rd one.
...

Zulf.
In the following thread of yours, you have the same polynomial,

Find the factors of an equation

I wrote the following in Post #4 of that thread:
This looks to be basically same problem as in your other recent post.

You can divide $\ x^3 -12x -16 \$ by $\ x−4 \$ using polynomial long division or its short cut, synthetic division.​
.

Gold Member
Yes. You are right SammyS. Ray Vickson provided me the link for long division again discussed by fresh_42. Thanks everybody. God bless you people.If I put zero, I would get:
-16 = 0

How it can be the root of cubic eq?

Any way you are right. I would explore the long division aspect tomorrow.

Zulfi.

SammyS
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Yes. You are right SammyS. Ray Vickson provided me the link for long division again discussed by fresh_42. Thanks everybody. God bless you people.If I put zero, I would get:
-16 = 0

How it can be the root of cubic eq?

Any way you are right. I would explore the long division aspect tomorrow.

Zulfi.
What was your result for dividing $\ x^3 -12x -16 \$ by $\ x-4\$ ?

Mark44
Mentor
X= -2: -8 -+24 -16 =0 (true)
This is actually incorrect, but likely is a typo.
If x = -2, the value of the expression $x^3 - 12x - 16$ is $(-2)^3 - 12(-2) - 16 = -8 + 24 - 16 = 0. You wrote -+24, which is the same as -24. Gold Member Hi Sammys, fresh_42,and Ray Vickson I have the eq : X^3 -12x -16 X^2 term is missing. So I would add 0x^2 in the above: X^3 +0x^2-12x -16 divided by the obtained factor x-4 x-4)x^3 +0x^2-12x -16(x^2+4x +4 x^3-4x^2 - + ------------------ 4x^2-12x 4x^2-16x - + ------------------------ 4x -16 4x-16 - + ____________________ zero Ans: x^2+4x +4 root = -2 Thanks. Zulfi. ehild Homework Helper Hi Sammys, fresh_42,and Ray Vickson I have the eq : X^3 -12x -16 X^2 term is missing. So I would add 0x^2 in the above: X^3 +0x^2-12x -16 divided by the obtained factor x-4 x-4)x^3 +0x^2-12x -16(x^2+4x +4 x^3-4x^2 - + ------------------ 4x^2-12x 4x^2-16x - + ------------------------ 4x -16 4x-16 - + ____________________ zero Ans: x^2+4x +4 root = -2 x=-2 is double root of the equation x^2+4x +4=0. It can happen that some of the eigenvalues are equal. It means that the original expression can be factorized as x^3 -12x -16=(x+2)[x+2)(x-4). Gold Member Hi Mark, Now I have to find out the eigen vectors. It says: Once the eigenvalues of a matrix (A) have been found, we can find the eigenvectors by Gaussian Elimination. • STEP 1: For each eigenvalue λ, we have (A − λI)x = 0, where x is the eigenvector associated with eigenvalue . • STEP 2: Find x by Gaussian elimination. That is, convert the augmented matrix (A − λI)X = 0 to row echelon form, and solve the resulting linear system by back substitution. Right side is still zero. Do we have to convert into echelon form by using augmented matrix. Zufi. Gold Member Hi Mark, Case 1: _ = 4 We must find vectors x which satisfy (A − λI)x = 0. Now they are using the augmented matrix (attached). Is there any way to avoid it Zulfi. #### Attachments • 35.2 KB Views: 152 Mark44 Mentor Now they are using the augmented matrix (attached). Is there any way to avoid it Augmented matrices are not needed. Notice that after it says "Construct the augmented matrix ..." every augmented matrix has a fourth column of all zeroes. None of the row operations can possibly change this column, so what's the sense in keeping it? If you start with the un-augmented matrix in this section, doing the same row operations as shown in the screen shot will produce a 3 x 3 matrix that is the same as the first three columns in the last matrix they show. The augmented matrix they show represents the matrix equation$(A - 4I)\vec x = \vec 0##. Since the right side is the zero vector, you don't need to use an augmented matrix.

Mark44
Mentor
@zak100, if you have more questions about eigenvalues and eigenvectors, please post them in the Calculus & Beyond section, not in the Precalculus section. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues are typically well beyond precalculus topics.