MA5158 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I

UNIT I - MATRICES
Section 3. Cayley-Hamilton theorem

Faculty
Department of Mathematics
Anna University, Chennai

Strictly for University Departments only 1

Section 3. Cayley-Hamilton theorem

Contents
Cayley-Hamilton Theorem
I Verification of Cayley-Hamilton theorem
Applications
I Finding the inverse of a matrix
I Finding the polynomial expressions in A
Examples
Practice Problems and MCQs

Strictly for University Departments only 2

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem: Every square matrix satisfies its

own characteristic equation.
(i.e.) if the characteristic equation for the nth order square matrix A is
|A − λI| = (−1)n λn + k1 λn−1 + ..... + kn−1 λ + kn = 0 then
(−1)n An + k1 An−1 + ..... + kn−1 A + kn In = 0n×n .
Applications: 1. This method is used for the computation of the
inverse of large matrices.
Note that kn = product of the eigen values of A = |A|. Hence A−1 exists
iff kn is not equal to zero. Suppose |A| = kn 6= 0.

Strictly for University Departments only 3

By pre-multiplying the above equation by A−1 and re-arranging the
equation we get
1
A−1 = − ((−1)n An−1 + k1 An−2 + ..... + kn−1 In ).
kn
This method will be useful for finding the inverses of very large matrices
using a computer.
2. Given a polynomial P (A) in A of degree greater than or equal to
n, using division algorithm we can write
P (A) = Quotient((−1)n An + k1 An−1 + ..... + kn−1 A + kn In ) + Remainder.

By Cayley-Hamilton theorem
(−1)n An + k1 An−1 + ..... + kn−1 A + kn In = 0. Therefore
P (A) = Remainder, which is a polynomial in A of degree atmost (n − 1).
This makes the computation of P (A) very simple.
Strictly for University Departments only 4
Examples
Example
 1: Verify
 Cayley Hamilton theorem for the matrix
2 5
A= and hence find A−1 .
1 −3
Solution:
The characteristic equation of A is |A − λI| = 0

2−λ 5
=0
1 −3 − λ

λ2 − (sum of the diagonal elements)λ + |A| = 0

λ2 − (2 − 3)λ + (−11) = 0
λ2 + λ − 11 = 0
    
2 2 5 2 5 9 −5
Now A = =
1 −3 1 −3 −1 14

Strictly for University Departments only 5

        
9 −5 2 5 11 0 0 0
A2 + A − 11I = + − = .
−1 14 1 −3 0 11 0 0

Therefore the matrix A satisfies its own characteristic equation.

Hence Cayley Hamilton Theorem is verified for the matrix A.
To find A−1 ,
we have A2 + A − 11I = 0
Pre-multiplying both sides by A−1 we get,
A + I − 11A−1 = 0
   
1 1 2 5 1 0
A−1 = (A + I) = +
11 11 1 −3 0 1
 
1 3 5
A−1 =
11 1 −2

Strictly for University Departments only 6

  
1 0 3
Example 2: Verify Cayley-Hamilton theorem for A =  2 1 −1 
1 −1 1
and hence find A−1 and A4 .
Solution:
The characteristic equation of A is |A − λI| = 0
1−λ 0 3
2 1 − λ −1 =0
1 −1 1 − λ
λ3 − (sum of the diagonal elements of A)λ2 +
(sum of the minors of the diagonal elements)λ − |A| = 0
λ3 − (1 + 1 + 1)λ2 + (0 − 2 + 1)λ − |A| = 0.
λ3 − 3λ2 − λ + 9 = 0 as |A| = −9.
Now,    
1 0 3 1 0 3 4 −3 6
A2 = 2 1 −1   2 1 −1  =  3 2 4 
1 −1 1 1 −1 1 0 −2 5
Strictly for University Departments only 7
     
4 −3 6 1 0 3 4 −9 21
A3 =A2 A= 3 2 4   2 1 −1  =  11 −2 11 
0 −2 5 1 −1 1 1 −7 7
   
4 −9 21 12 −9 18
A3 − 3A2 − A + 9I= 11 −2 11  −  9 6 12 
1 −7 7 0 −6 15
   
1 0 3 9 0 0
- 2 1 −1
  +  0 9 0 
1 −1 1 0 0 9
 
0 0 0
= 0 0 0 
0 0 0

Therefore the matrix A satisfies its own characteristic

equation.

Strictly for University Departments only 8

To find A−1 . We have

A3 − 3A2 − A + 9I = 0 (1)

Pre-multiplying both sides by A−1 we get,

A2 − 3A − I + 9A−1 = 0
1
A−1 = (−A2 + 3A + I)
9
     
−4 3 −6 3 0 9 1 0 0
1
=  −3 −2 −4  +  6 3 −3  +  0 1 0 
9
0 2 −5 3 −3 3 0 0 1
 
0 3 3
−1 1 
Therefore A = 3 2 −7  .
9
3 −1 −1

Strictly for University Departments only 9

To find A4 .
Rearranging equation (1) we get,

A3 = 3A2 + A − 9I

A4 = 3A3 + A2 − 9A
     
4 −9 21 4 −3 6 9 0 27
A4 = 3 11 −2 11  +  3 2 4  −  18 9 −9 
1 −7 7 0 −2 5 9 −9 9
 
12 + 4 − 9 −27 − 3 63 + 6 − 27
= 33 + 3 − 18 −6 + 2 − 9 33 + 4 + 9 
3−9 −21 − 2 + 9 21 + 5 − 9
 
7 −30 42
=⇒ A4 = 18 −13 46 
−6 −14 17
Strictly for University Departments only 10
Example
 3: Using Cayley-Hamilton
 theorem determine A−1 , A−2 , A−3 if
4 6 6
A= 1 3 2 .
−1 −4 −3
Solution:
The characteristic equation of A is |A − λI| = 0
4−λ 6 6
1 3−λ 2 =0
−1 −4 −3 − λ
λ3 − (sum of the diagonal elements of A)λ2 +
(sum of the minors of the diagonal elements)λ − |A| = 0
λ3 − (4 + 3 − 3)λ2 + (−1 − 6 + 6)λ − (−4) = 0
or λ3 − 4λ2 − λ + 4 = 0
By Cayley Hamilton theorem A satisfies A3 − 4A2 − A + 4I = 0

Strictly for University Departments only 11

 1
=⇒ A−1 = −A2 + 4A + I

4
Now,    
4 6 6 4 6 6 16 18 18
2
A =  1 3 2   1 3 2  =  5 7 6 
−1 −4 −3 −1 −4 −3 −5 −6 −5
      
16 18 18 4 6 6 1 0 0
1
A−1 = −  5 7 6  + 4 1 3 2 + 0 1 0 
4
−5 −6 −5 −1 −4 −3 0 0 1
 
1 6 6
1
= −1 6 2 
4
1 −10 −6

Pre-multiplying by A−1 on both sides, 

−2 −1 −1 −1 1 2
A =A A =A (−A + 4A + I)
4
1
−A + 4I + A−1

=
4

Strictly for University Departments only 12

 1 −9 −9
 
 4 2 2 
 
 
 −5 5 −3 
1 
=  4 2 2 
4



 5 3 11 
 
4 2 2
 

Similarly, pre-multiplying by A−1 on both sides,


−3 −1 −2 −1 1 −1
A =A A =A (−A + 4I + A )
4
1
−I + 4A−1 + A−2

=
4
 
1 78 78
1 
= −21 90 26  .
64
21 −154 −90

Strictly for University Departments only 13

Example
 4: Verify
 Cayley Hamilton theorem for the matrix
1 4
A= and hence find A−1 . Also find the matrix represented by
3 2
A5 − 3A4 − 7A3 − 9A2 − 20A − 10I.
Solution:
The characteristic equation of A is |A − λI| = 0

1−λ 4
=0
3 2−λ

(1 − λ)(2 − λ) − 12 = 0

λ2 − 3λ − 10 = 0

Now,    
2 1 4 1 4 13 12
A = =
3 2 3 2 9 16

Strictly for University Departments only 14

    
1 4 3 12
3A=3 =
3 2 9 6
     
13 12 3 12 10 0
A2 − 3A − 10I= − −
9 16 9 6 0 10
 
0 0
=
0 0
Therefore the matrix A satisfies its own characteristic equation.
Hence Cayley Hamilton Theorem is verified for the matrix A.
To find A−1 ,we have A2 − 3A − 10I = 0
Pre-multiplying both sides by A−1 we get,
A − 3I − 10A−1 = 0
   
1 1 1 4 1 0
A−1 = (A − 3I) = −3
10 10 3 2 0 1
 
1 −2 4
A−1 =
10 3 −1

Strictly for University Departments only 15

Now we divide the polynomial A5 − 3A4 − 7A3 − 9A2 − 20A − 10I by
A2 − 3A − 10I

Rough work: Instead of A write x and we divide

x5 − 3x4 − 7x3 − 9x2 − 20x − 10 by x2 − 3x − 10.
x3 + 3x
2 5 4 3 2


x − 3x − 10 x − 3x − 7x − 9x − 20x − 10
− x5 + 3x4 + 10x3
3x3 − 9x2 − 20x
− 3x3 + 9x2 + 30x
10x
Therefore we have,
x5 − 3x4 − 7x3 − 9x2 − 20x − 10 = Quotient(x2 − 3x − 10) + Remainder.

x5 − 3x4 − 7x3 − 9x2 − 20x − 10 = (x3 + 3x)(x2 − 3x − 10) + 10x − 10.

Strictly for University Departments only 16

Replace x by the matrix A. Note that the constant term −10 in the
polynomial should be replaced by the matrix −10I. Now we go back
to the solution of the problem.

We obtain

A5 − 3A4 − 7A3 − 9A2 − 20A − 10I = (A3 + 3A)(A2 − 3A − 10I)+

(10A − 10I)

= 10A − 10I (as A2 − 3A − 10I = 0.)

   
1 4 1 0
= 10 − 10
3 2 0 1
 
0 40
= .
30 10

Strictly for University Departments only 17

Example 5: By using Cayley Hamilton Theorem, express
B = A8 − 11A7 − 4A6 + A5 + A4 − 11A3 −3A2 + 2A + I as a quadratic
1 2 3
polynomial in A and also find B where A =  2 4 5  .
3 5 6
Solution:
The characteristic equation of A is |A − λI| = 0
1−λ 2 3
2 4−λ 5 =0
3 5 6−λ
(1 − λ)[(4 − λ)(6 − λ) − 25] − 2[2(6 − λ) − 15]
+3[10 − 3(4 − λ)] = 0
=⇒ λ3 − 11λ2 − 4λ + 1 = 0

Strictly for University Departments only 18

We know that by Cayley Hamilton theorem every square matrix satisfies its

own characteristic equation.

Hence A3 − 11A2 − 4A + I = 0
To find B: Divide B by A3 − 11A2 − 4A + I. Then write B as
B = Quotient(A3 − 11A2 − 4A + I) + Remainder
Therefore, B = A8 − 11A7 − 4A6 + A5 + A4 − 11A3 − 3A2 + 2A + I
= (A5 + A)(A3 − 11A2 − 4A + I) + A2 + A + I
= (A5 + A)(0) + A2 + A + I
= A2 + A + I
      
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 0 0
B =  2 4 5  2 4 5  +  2 4 5  +  0 1 0 
3 5 6 3 5 6 3 5 6 0 0 1

Strictly for University Departments only 19

      
14 25 31 1 2 3 1 0 0
B =  25 45 56  +  2 4 5  +  0 1 0 
31 56 70 3 5 6 0 0 1
 
16 27 34
=  27 50 61  .
34 61 77
Remark: Here A is a square matrix of order 3. Note that using division
algorithm, any polynomial B in A can be reduced to a polynomial of
degree less than or equal to 2.
In general, if A is a square matrix of order n, then any polynomial in A, in
particular higher powers of A, are in fact equal to a polynomial in A of
degree less than or equal to (n − 1).
Hence using Cayley Hamilton theorem computations are made simpler.

Strictly for University Departments only 20

Practice Problems

 
1 1 3
1. Find the characteristic equation of the matrix A =  1 3 −3 
−2 −4 −4
and hence find its inverse.
 
2 1 1
2. Find the characteristic equation of the matrix A =  0 1 0  and
1 1 2
−1
hence compute A . Also find the matrix represented by
A8 − 5A7 + 7A6 − 3A5 + A4 − 5A3 + 8A2 − 2A + I.

Strictly for University Departments only 21

Multiple Choice Questions

1. I. Any set of vectors which includes the zero vector is linearly

independent.
II. Every square matrix does not satisfy its own characteristic equation.
(a) Both I and II are true
(b) Only I true
(c) Only II true
(d) Both I and II are false  
4 3 2 2 3
2. The value of A − 4A − 5A − A + 2I when A = is
3 2
   
0 1 1 0
(a) −3 (b)−3
1 0 0 1
   
0 −1 −1 0
(c) −3 (d) −3
1 0 0 −1

Strictly for University Departments only 22

Answers to MCQs

1. (d)
2. (c)

Strictly for University Departments only 23