MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

NAME: DATE:

Matrices are an important tool for understanding systems of differential equations (including higher order differential equa-
tions); so, we are going to do some work with matrices today.

Now, if we multiply an n ×n matrix by an n ×1 vector, we will get a new n ×1 vector back. What we want to know is if it is possible
to get the following:
A→
−
η = λ→
−
η

where →
−
η is a vector and λ is a constant.

If we do happen to have a →
−
η and λ for which this works, then we call λ an eigenvalue and →
−
η an eigenvector of A.

You typically learn to find the eigenvector and eigenvalue for any sized matrix in linear algebra, but for the purposes of this
course, we can focus on 2 × 2 matrices.

Observe that
A→
−
η = λ→
−
η

is equivalent to
A→
−
η − λ→
−
η =0

which is equivalent to
(A − λI )(→
−
η)=0

à !
1 0
where I is the identity matrix (so, in the 2 × 2 case, I =
0 1

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

à !
2 7
1. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for A =
−1 −6

à !
−3 4
2. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for A =
1 7

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

à !
1 −1
3. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for A =
4
9 − 13

à !
−4 −17
4. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for A =
2 2

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

à !
2 1
5. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for A =
0 2

à !
1 k
6. Find the eigenvalues of A = in terms of k. Can you find an eigenvector corresponding to each of the eigenvalues?
2 1

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

à ! à !
a b →− v1
7. Let A = and η = . Find the eigenvalues of A.
c d v2

8. Consider the system of differential equations

x ′ = ax + b y

y′ = cx + d y

Show that this system can be rewritten as

x ′′ − (a + d )x ′ + (ad − bc)x = 0

Then solve the differential equation using the characteristic polynomial. What do you observe?

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

We can turn and system of differential equations into a matrix equation, where

→
−
x ′ = A→
−
x

For example, consider the second order differential equation ÿ = 2y − 6 ẏ.

(a) Rewrite the differential equation as a system of first order differential equations.

(b) Convert the system of equations into a matrix equation.

(c) Use eigenvalues to solve the differential equation.

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MMD IFF E Q I NTRODUCTION TO E IGENVALUES AND E IGENVECTORS

9. Solve the differential equation using matrices and eigenvalues.

y ′′ − k 2 y = 0

10. Solve the differential equation using matrices and eigenvalues.

y ′′ − 8y ′ + 16y = 0

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