Find the eigenvalues of A = [[2, 1], [1, 2]].
Solution
Problem
Find the eigenvalues of A = [[2, 1], [1, 2]].
Step 1: Recall the characteristic equation.
The eigenvalues λ satisfy:
det(A - λI) = 0
Step 2: Form A - λI.
A = [[2, 1], [1, 2]]
Subtract λ from the diagonal entries:
A - λI = [[2 - λ, 1], [1, 2 - λ]]
Step 3: Find the determinant.
det(A - λI) = (2 - λ)(2 - λ) - (1)(1)
So:
(2 - λ)^2 - 1 = 0
Step 4: Expand the expression.
(2 - λ)^2 - 1 = 4 - 4λ + λ^2 - 1
Therefore:
λ^2 - 4λ + 3 = 0
Step 5: Factor the characteristic polynomial.
λ^2 - 4λ + 3 = (λ - 1)(λ - 3)
Step 6: Set each factor equal to zero.
λ - 1 = 0 gives λ = 1.
λ - 3 = 0 gives λ = 3.
Therefore, the eigenvalues are 1 and 3.
Result
λ = 1 and λ = 3