Finding the Eigenvectors given Eigenvalues

eigenvalues-eigenvectorslinear algebramatrices

My matrix is

$$A=\begin{bmatrix}0 & -1\\-1 & 0\end{bmatrix}$$

I used
$$det(\lambda I-A)=0$$

And found my two eigenvalues, $1$ and $-1$.

If I from here try to use $\lambda = -1$ it results in the equations

$$-v_1+v_2=0$$
$$v_1-v_2=0$$

Am I then correct in that I can from this point just state that
$$v_1=v_2$$
and therefore the eigenvector can be expressed as
$$\begin{bmatrix}v_1 \\v_1\end{bmatrix}$$
where I can just pick a value for $v_1$?

Also, how would you express this answer concisely (if my work is correct that is)?

Best Answer

It's correct. You could express the entire eigenspace as $E_{-1}=\{t\cdot\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\end{pmatrix}\mid t\in \Bbb R\}$.

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