Undergrad What are the Eigenvalues of the Hermitian Inverse \(H^{-1}\)?

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The discussion centers on the eigenvalues of the Hermitian inverse \(H^{-1}\) of a negative eigenvalue Hermitian matrix \(H\). The integral \(G = \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{tH} dt\) is shown to equal \(H^{-1}\), leading to the conclusion that \(G\mathbf{e}_i = -\frac{1}{\lambda_i} \mathbf{e}_i\). This raises the question of whether \(H^{-1}\) should have eigenvalues of \(1/\lambda_i\), given that \(H\mathbf{e}_i = \lambda_i \mathbf{e}_i\). The analysis confirms that \(G = -H^{-1}\), which resolves the apparent contradiction. The discussion highlights the nuances of eigenvalue relationships in Hermitian matrices.
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##H## is an ##n\times n## Hermitian matrix with eigenvectors ##\mathbf{e}_i## and all eigenvalues negative. It's claimed that ##G = \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{tH} dt## is such that ##G = H^{-1}##. I was looking at\begin{align*}
G\mathbf{e}_i &= \int_0^{\infty} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{t^n}{n!} H^n \mathbf{e}_i dt = \mathbf{e}_i\int_0^{\infty} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{t^n \lambda_i^n}{n!} dt = \mathbf{e}_i \int_0^{\infty} e^{\lambda_i t} dt = - \frac{1}{\lambda_i} \mathbf{e}_i
\end{align*}which is weird, because ##\mathbf{e}_i = H^{-1} H\mathbf{e}_i = \lambda_i H^{-1} \mathbf{e}_i## so ##H^{-1}## should have eigenvalues ##1/\lambda_i##?
 
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If you try ##H = -I## you'll see you are correct. ##G = -H^{-1}##.
 
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Thanks, I'm surprised. It's part of an old exam question!
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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