# Null Space and Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors

1. Dec 10, 2010

### psholtz

Suppose I have a linear operator of dimension n, and suppose that this operator has a non-trivial null space. That is:

$$A \cdot x = 0$$

Suppose the dimension of the null space is k < n, that is, I can find 0 < k linearly independent vectors, each of which yields the 0 vector when the linear operator A is applied to it.

Is it fair to say that this operator then has k eigenvalues, of value 0? and that the k eigenvectors corresponding to this eigenvalue=0 are linearly independent vectors of the null space?

2. Dec 10, 2010

### tiny-tim

hi psholtz!
yes

(what is worrying you about that? )

3. Dec 10, 2010

### psholtz

Just wanted to make sure I had it straight..

thanks!

4. Dec 11, 2010

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
It would be more standard to say that 0 is an eigenvalue of geometric multiplicity k (which would imply that it had algebraic multiplicity greater than or equal to k: the characteristic equation has a factor $x^n$ for $n\ge k$) rather than to talk about "k eigenvalues", all of value k, as if they were different eigenvalues that happened to have the same value. Its value is the only property an eigenvalue has!

5. Dec 11, 2010

### psholtz

Yes, thanks..

So algebraic multiplicity is the number of times the eigenvalue appears as a root in the characteristic equation.

Geometric multiplicity is the dimension of the subspace formed by the eigenvectors of that particular eigenvalue..

And the algebraic multiplicity is always going to be greater than or equal to the geometric multiplicity, correct?