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Understanding Eigenbases and Their Examples

An eigenbasis for a matrix A is a basis for Rn consisting entirely of eigenvectors of A. To find an eigenbasis, eigenvectors are found that form a basis for each eigenspace of A. The collection of these basis vectors forms an eigenbasis for A. The document provides an example of finding the eigenbasis for a 5x5 matrix A by determining its eigenvalues and eigenspaces and constructing a basis from the eigenvectors of each eigenspace.

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123 views1 page

Understanding Eigenbases and Their Examples

An eigenbasis for a matrix A is a basis for Rn consisting entirely of eigenvectors of A. To find an eigenbasis, eigenvectors are found that form a basis for each eigenspace of A. The collection of these basis vectors forms an eigenbasis for A. The document provides an example of finding the eigenbasis for a 5x5 matrix A by determining its eigenvalues and eigenspaces and constructing a basis from the eigenvectors of each eigenspace.

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ohnoitsgabe
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EIGENBASES

NATHAN GRIGG

Let A be an n n matrix. An eigenbasis corresponding to A is a basis for Rn consisting entirely of eigenvectors for A. Such a basis only exists if A is diagonalizable (or not defective). To nd an eigenbasis, you nd a basis for each eigenspace of A. The collection of all these basis vectors for an eigenbasis for A. The fact that you get a basis for Rn is kind of special. Usually, combining two linearly independent sets doesnt give you a new linearly independent set, but it does when each linearly independent set consists of eigenvectors, each set for a dierent eigenvalue. You can prove this in pretty much the same way you would prove that any two eigenvectors that have dierent eigenvalues are linearly independent. 2 3 83 4 35 Example. The matrix A = 4 348 20 140 5 has eigenvalues 3, 4, 4. The 174 8 974 82 3 2 3 4 = < 35 eigenspace E4 has a basis 4 0 5 , 4 87 5 , and the eigenspace E3 has a basis : ; 87 0 82 82 39 3 2 3 2 39 4 1 = < 1 = < 35 4 4 5 . So an eigenbasis corresponding to A is 4 0 5 , 4 87 5 , 4 4 5 . : ; : ; 2 87 0 2 Exercises. 3 2 3 1 3 0 3 3 5. Write x = 4 2 5 (1) Find an eigenbasis corresponding to A = 4 0 3 0 0 0 3 as a linear combination of the basis and use this to nd A10 x. 2 3 0 1 1 0 1 5. Write x = (2) Find an eigenbasis corresponding to A = 4 1 1 1 0 2 3 x 4 y 5 as a linear combination of the basis and use this to nd a general z formula for At x. 2

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