IIT – JAM MATH CRASH COURSE

(IIT - JAM | GATE | NET | M.Sc. ENTRANCE)

LINEAR ALGEBRA
Lecture - 11

ANANT ARYAM INSTITUTE

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION
EIGEN VALUES AND EIGEN VECTORS
Q.1. Let A be a 3 × 3 matrix with eigenvlaues 1, −1 and 3. Then
[IITJAM MA 2005]
(a) 𝐴2 + 𝐴 is non-singualr (b) 𝐴2 − 𝐴 is non-singualr
(c) 𝐴2 + 3𝐴 is non –singualr (d) 𝐴2 − 3𝐴 is non-singular

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.2. Let A be a 3 × 3 matrix with trace 𝐴 = 3 and
det 𝐴 = 2 . 𝐼𝑓 1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 A, then the eigenvalues of the matrix 𝐴2 −
2𝐼 are [IIT JAM MA 2011]
(a) 1,2 𝑖 − 1 , −2 𝑖 + 1 (b) −1,2 𝑖 − 1 , 2 𝑖 + 1
(c) 1,2 𝑖 + 1 , −2(𝑖 + 1) (d) −1,2 𝑖 − 1 , −2(𝑖 + 1)

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 𝑎 −1 4
Q.3. Let 𝐴 = 0 𝑏 7 be a matrix with real entries. If the sum and the product
0 0 3
of all the eigenvalues of A are 10 and 30 respectively, then 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 equals
[IIT JAM MA 2014]
(a) 29 (b) 40 (c) 58 (d) 65

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.4. Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 be distinct non-zero real numbers with a+𝑏 = 𝑐 + 𝑑 . Then an
𝑎 𝑏 1
eigen vlaue of the matrix 𝑐 𝑑 1 is [IIT JAM MA 2015]
1 −1 0
(a) 𝑎 + 𝑐 (b) 𝑎 + 𝑏 (c) 𝑎 − 𝑏 (d) 𝑏 − 𝑑

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 0 1−𝑖
Q.5. Let 𝐴 = and 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑇 ⋅ 𝐴.ҧ Then [IIT JAM MA 2015]
−1 − 𝑖 𝑖
(a) An eigenvalue of B is purely imaginary (b) An eigenvalue of A is zero
(c) All eigenvlaues of B are real (d) A has a non-zero real eigenvalue

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 0 1
Q.6. Let 𝑃 = The eigenvectors corresponding to the eigenvalues
−1 0
𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝑖 are respectively. [IIT JAM CA 2007]

1 −1 1 𝑖
(a) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (b) 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑖 𝑖 𝑖 −𝑖
−1 𝑖 𝑖 −1
(c) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (d) 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑖 −𝑖 1 𝑖

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.7. Let P be an 𝑛 × 𝑛 idempotent matrix, that is 𝑃2 = 𝑃. Which of the following is
FALSE ? [IIT JAM CA 2007]
(a) 𝑃𝑇 is idempotent (b) The possible eigenvalues of P are 0 or 1
(c) The nondiagonal entries of P can be zero
(d) There are infinite numbers of 𝑛 × 𝑛 nonsingular matrices that are idempotent

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 1 𝑖
Q.8. Let 𝑃 = Then [IIT JAM CA 2007]
𝑖 −1
(a) P has two linearly independent eigenvectors (b) P has an eigenvector
(c) P is nonsingular
(d) There exists a nonsingular matrix S such that 𝑆 −1 𝑃𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 diagonal matrix.

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 3 0 0 0 0 1
Q.9. Let 𝐴 = 0 1 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃 = 1 1 0 . If 𝐴 = 𝑃−1 𝐷𝑃, then the matrix D
0 1 1 −1 1 0
is equal to [IIT JAM CA 2008]
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
(a) 0 2 0 (b) 0 3 0 (c) 0 1 0 (d) 0 2 0
0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 3

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.10. Let A and B any arbitrary square matrices of order 3. Then AB and BA have
[IIT JAM CA 2008]
(a) the same eigenvalues and the same eigen vectors
(b) the same eigenvalues but may have different eigenvectors
(c) different eigenvalues but the same eigen vectors
(d) different eigenvalues and different eigen vectors

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.11. Let 𝑢 be a unit column vector and 𝐴 = 𝐼 − 2𝑢𝑢𝑇 . Then 𝐴−1 is
[IIT JAM CA 2008]
(a) 𝐼 − 2𝑢𝑢𝑇 (b) 𝐼 + 2𝑢𝑢𝑇 (c) 2𝑢𝑢𝑇 − 𝐼 (d) 4𝑢𝑢𝑇

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.12. Let 𝑃, 𝑀, 𝑁 be 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrices such that M and N are nonsingular . If x is an
eigenvector of P corresponding to the eigenvalue 𝜆, then an eigenvector of
𝑁 −1 𝑀𝑃𝑀−1 𝑁 corresponding to the eigenvalue 𝜆 is [IIT JAM CA 2008]
(a) 𝑀𝑁 −1 𝑥 (b) 𝑀−1 𝑁𝑥
(c) 𝑁𝑀−1 𝑥 (d) 𝑁 −1 𝑀𝑥

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 𝛼
1 0 0− 2
0 1 0− 𝛼
Q.13. Two eigenvalues of the matrix 2 are [IIT JAM CA 2009]
𝛼
0 0 1−
2
0 0 0 𝛼
(a) 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼 (b) 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝛼
1 𝛼 1 𝛼
(c) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − (d) 𝑎𝑛𝑑
2 2 2 2

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 1 1
Q.14. Eigenvectors of the matrix corresponding to the eigenvalues
−1 1
1 + 𝑖 and 1 − 𝑖 are respectively (where 𝑖 = −1) [IIT JAM CA 2010]
−1 𝑖 1 𝑖
(a) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (b) 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑖 1 −𝑖 −1
𝑖 −𝑖 −𝑖 𝑖
(c) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (d) 𝑎𝑛𝑑
1 1 1 1

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.15. Let N be a nilpotent matrix of order 4 with real entries. Then which one of the
following statements is true about eigenvalues of N? [IIT JAM CA 2010]
(a) All eigenvalues are non-zero real numbers
(b) All eigenvalues are purely imaginary
(c) Zero is the only eigenvalue
(d) At least one eigenvlaue is real and at least one eigenvalue has non-zero imaginary
part

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.16. If 𝑝𝑖𝑗 = 1 for 1 ≤ 𝑖, 𝑗 ≤ 𝑚, then the characteristic equation of the matrix 𝑃 =
(𝑝𝑖𝑗 ) is [IIT JAM CA 2011]
(a) 𝜆𝑚 − 𝜆𝑚−1 + 1 = 0 (b) 𝜆𝑚 − 𝑚 = 0
(c) 𝜆𝑚 − 𝑚𝜆𝑚−1 = 0 (d) 𝜆𝑚 + 1 = 0

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 −1 2 2
Q.17. The matrix 2 2 −1 has [IIT JAM CA 2012]
2 −1 2
(a) all positive eigenvalues (b) all negative eigenvalues
(c) some positive eigenvalues and some negative eigenvalues
(d) one zero eigenvalue

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 𝑎 𝑏
Q.18. If the matrix has eigenvalues 1 and 3, then the value of (𝑎, 𝑏) is
𝑏 2
[IIT JAM CA 2012]
(a) 1,2 (b) 2,1 (c) −1,2 (d) −2,1

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 0 0 1
Q.19.The eigenvectors of the matrix 0 0 0 are [IIT JAM CA 2012]
0 0 0
1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
(a) 0 , 1 (b) 0 , 1 , 0 (c) 0 , 1 , 0 (d) 0 , 1 , 1
0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 1
Q.20. Let A be a 3 × 3 matrix whose sum of the diagonal elements is and the
2
1 −1 2
determinant is − . If 1 is an eigenvalue of A, then the eigevalues of 𝐴 are
2
[IIT JAM CA 2012]
1 1
(a) 1,1, 4 (b) , 1,1 (c) 1,1,2 (d) , 1,1
4 2

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 ANSWER KEY
Q ANS Q ANS Q ANS Q ANS

1 C 6 A 11 A 16 D

2 D 7 D 12 D 17 C

3 A 8 B 13 A 18 B

4 B 9 D 14 D 19 A

5 C 10 D 15 C 20 A

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS

1 4 16
Q.1. The largest eigenvalue of the matrix 4 16 1 is
16 1 4
(a) 16 (b) 21 (c) 48 (d) 64 [IIT JAM MA 2016]

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.2. Let I denote the 4 × 4 identity matrix. If the roots of the characteristic
1± 5
polynomial of a 4 × 4 matrix M are ± , then 𝑀8 = [IIT JAM MA 2018]
2
(a) 𝐼 + 𝑀2 (b) 2𝐼 + 𝑀2
(c) 2𝐼 + 3𝑀2 (d) 3𝐼 + 2𝑀2

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.3. Let P be a 4 × 4 matrix with entries from the set of rational numbers. If 2 +
𝑖, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖 = −1, is a root of the characteristic polynomial of P and I is the 4 × 4
identity matrix, then [IIT JAM MA 2019]
(a) 𝑃4 = 4𝑃2 + 9𝐼 (b) 𝑃4 = 4𝑃2 − 9𝐼
(c) 𝑃4 = 2𝑃2 − 9𝐼 (d) 𝑃4 = 2𝑃2 + 9𝐼

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.4. The set of eigenvalues of which one of the following matrices is NOT equal to
1 2
the set of eigenvalues of ? [IIT JAM MA 2019]
4 3
1 4 3 2 3 4 2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 3 4 1 2 1 1 4

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.5. Let M be an 𝑛 × 𝑛(𝑛 ≥ 2) non-zero matrix with 𝑀2 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝛼 ∈ ℝ\ 0 .
Then [IIT JAM MA 2019]
(a) 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝑀 − 𝛼𝐼)
(b) 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of (𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼) and 𝛼𝐼 − 𝑀
(c) – 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝑀 − 𝛼𝐼)
(d) – 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼𝐼 − 𝑀

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.6. Let M be a real 6 × 6 matrix. Let 2 and -1 be two eigenvalues of M. If 𝑀5 =
𝑎𝐼 + 𝑏𝑀 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ, then [IIT JAM MA 2019]
(a) 𝑎 = 10, 𝑏 = 11 (b) 𝑎 = −11, 𝑏 = 10
(c) 𝑎 = −10, 𝑏 = 11 (d) 𝑎 = 10, 𝑏 = −11

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 000 0
Q.7. Let 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾, 𝛿 be the eigenvalues of the matrix 100−2 . Then 𝛼 2 + 𝛽2 +
010 1
001 2
𝛾 2 + 𝛿 2 = ____________. [IIT JAM MA 2019]

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

 2
Q.8.If 𝑦 , 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ ℝ, is an eigenvector corresponding to a real eigenvalue of the
𝑧
0 0 2
matrix 1 0 −4 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑧 − 𝑦 is equal to _______ [IIT JAM MA 2019]
0 1 3

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.9. Let M be a 3 × 3 matrix with real entries such that 𝑀2 = 𝑀 + 2𝐼, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐼
denotes the 3 × 3 identity matrix. If 𝛼, 𝛽 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛾 are eigenvalues of M such that
𝛼𝛽𝛾 = −4, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 is equal to ________ [IIT JAM MA 2019]

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.10. Let M be an 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix with real entries such that 𝑀3 = 𝐼. Suppose that
𝑀𝑣 ≠ 𝑣 for any non zero vector v. then which of the following statements is/are
TRUE? [IIT JM MA 2017]
(a) M has real eigenvalues (b) 𝑀 + 𝑀−1 has real eigenvalues
(c) n is divisible by 2 (d) n is divisible by 3

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.11. If X and Y are 𝑛 × 𝑛 matrices with real entries, then which of the followings
is/are TRUE? [IIT JAM MA 2017]
(a) If 𝑃−1 𝑋𝑃 is diagonal for some real invertible matrix P, then there exists a basis
for ℝ𝑛 consisting of eigenvectors of X
(b) If X is diagonal with distinct diagonal entries and 𝑋𝑌 = 𝑌𝑋, then Y is also
diagonal
(c) If 𝑋 2 is diagonal, then X is diagonal
(d) If X is diagonal and 𝑋𝑌 = 𝑌𝑋 for all 𝑌, then 𝑋 = 𝜆𝐼 for some 𝜆 ∈ ℝ

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.12. Let P,D and A be real square matrices of the same order such that P is
inventible, D is diagonal and 𝐷 = 𝑃𝐴𝑃−1 . If 𝐴𝑛 = 0 for some 𝑛 ∈ ℕ, then show
that 𝐴 = 0. [IIT JAM MA 2012]

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.13. Let M be an 𝑛 × 𝑛 𝑛 ≥ 2 non-zero matrix with 𝑀2 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝛼 ∈ ℝ\ 0 .
Then [IIT JAM MA 2020]
(a) 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀 − 𝛼𝐼
(b) 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼𝐼 − 𝑀
(c) – 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀 − 𝛼𝐼
(d) – 𝛼 is the only eigenvalue of 𝑀 + 𝛼𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼𝐼 − 𝑀

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.14. Let M be a real 6 × 6 matrix. Let 2 and -1 be two eigenvalues of M. If 𝑀5 =
𝑎𝐼 + 𝑏𝑀, where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ, then [IIT JAM MA 2020]
(a) 𝑎 = 10, 𝑏 = 11 (b) 𝑎 = −11, 𝑏 = 10
(c) 𝑎 = −10, 𝑏 = 11 (d) 𝑎 = 10, 𝑏 = −11

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

Q.15. Let 𝑛 > 1 be an integer. Consider the following two statements for an
arbitrary𝑛 × 𝑛 matrix A with complex entries . [IIT JAM MA 2021]
I. If 𝐴𝑘 = 𝐼𝑛 for some integer 𝑘 ≥ 1, then all the eigenvalues of A are 𝑘 𝑡ℎ roots of
unity.
II. If, for some integer 𝑘 ≥ 1, all the eigenvalues of A are 𝑘𝑡ℎ roots of unity,then
𝐴𝑘 = 𝐼𝑛 .
Then
(a) Both I and II are TRUE (b) I is TRUE and II is FALSE
(c) I is FALSE but II is TRUE (d) neither I nor II is TRUE.

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210

ANANT ARYAM CLASSES | 9694457031, 7891122210