Tutorial 11 - Matrices 3 Page 1 of 3

Tutorial 11 - Matrices 3
Questions with Answers

1. Find the characteristic polynomial det( A − λI ) for each of the following

matrices.
     
1 1 α β 0 1
(i) (ii) (iii)
0 1 γ 0 −1 0

Answer

(i) λ2 − 2λ + 1 (ii) λ2 − αλ − βγ (iii) λ2 + 1

2. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the following matrices.

   
1 1 1 2
(i) (ii)
−1 3 −1 1

Answer  
1
(i) There is only a single eigenvalue 2 and eigenvector .
1

√ 
2

(ii) There are complex eigenvalues 1 ± i 2 with eigenvectors √ .
±i 2

3. Find and compare the eigenvalues/vectors of the following matrices.

   
1 2 k 2k
(i) (ii)
3 0 3k 0

Answer
(i) We have λ1 = 3 and λ2 = −2 with eigenvectors,
   
1 −2
v1 = v2 =
1 3

101MP Algebra james.griffin@coventry.ac.uk

Tutorial 11 - Matrices 3 Page 2 of 3

(ii) We have λ1 = 3k and λ2 = −2k with eigenvectors,

   
1 −2
v1 = v2 =
1 3
Note that the eigenvalues are multiplied by k but the eigenvectors are
unchanged. Can you see this from the defining equation Av = λv?

4. Find the eigenvalues/vectors of the matrix,

 
1 2 1
D = 2 1 1 .
1 1 2

Answer
We have λ1 = 4, λ2 = −1 and λ3 = 1 with eigenvectors,
     
1 −1 −1
v1 = 1
  v2 =  1  v3 = −1 .

1 0 2

5. Use row operations to show that,

 
−1 3 −1
1
D −1 =  3 −1 −1 .
4
−1 −1 3

Answer
N/A

6. Calculate the eigenvalues/vectors of D −1 (note, you can consider 4D −1 to

simplify the algebra) and compare to your answer for D.

Answer
We have λ1 = 1/4, λ2 = −1 and λ3 = 1 with eigenvectors unchanged. This is
a general result, here is a quick proof.
1
Av = λv ⇒ A−1 Av = A−1 λv ⇒ v = A−1 v.
λ

101MP Algebra james.griffin@coventry.ac.uk

Tutorial 11 - Matrices 3 Page 3 of 3

7. Consider the matrix,  

3 4
A=
4 −3
Calculate

a) the characteristic polynomial of A,

b) the eigenvalues of A,

c) the eigenvectors of A,

d) the set of solutions of the equation,

 

x
x y A =1
y

sketching the curve.

Answer

a) λ2 − 25,

b) ±5,
   
2 1
c) and ,
−1 2

d) Since one eigenvalue is positive and one is negative

 thesolution set is a

2 1
hyperbola. It’s axes are the eigenvectors and .
−1 2

101MP Algebra james.griffin@coventry.ac.uk