Is this matrix diagonalizable and does it have multiple eigenspaces

diagonalizationeigenvalues-eigenvectorslinear algebramatricesvector-spaces

So we want to find the basis for the eigenspace of each eigenvalue λ for some matrix A
.

Through making this question, I have noticed that the basis for the eigenspace of a certain eigenvalue has some sort of connection to the eigenvector of said eigenvalue. Now I'm not sure if they actually equal each other, because I have some trouble when it comes to eigenvalues with a geometric multiplicity of two or more.

Take the following example:

\begin{equation*}
A =
\begin{pmatrix}
0 & -1 & 0 \\
4 & 4 & 0 \\
\
2 & 1 & 2
\end{pmatrix}
\end{equation*}

This matrix has a characteristic polynomial $−λ3+6λ2−12λ+8$. The root of this is $λ=2$, which has an algebraic multiplicity of 3. Then, I am calculating :
$ E_2 : (A – 2I)(x_1,x_2,x_3)=(0, 0, 0) $
After solving it, I found 2 eigenvectors :

$ x_1 * (1, -2, 0) + x_3 * (0, 0, 1) $

I found this two vectors by using 1 pivot and 2 free variables.

The geometric multiplicity is equal to the number of free variables for this eigenvalue.
Since the geometric multiplicity is different of the algebric multiplicity, this matrix is not diagonalizable.

First question : Is this correct ?

Second question : My teacher told me that a matrix is diagonalizable iff :
$\sum_{λ}^{} dim E_λ(A) = n$ with n the dimension of a (n,n) square matrix.
Is it the same rule as the geometric multiplicity ?

Third question : If a matrix has 2 eigenvalues, will it have 2 different eigenspaces ? I have trouble figuring out what is it ?

Best Answer

There are several issues with your question.

Your first sentence mentions “the basis for the eigenspace”, but each eigenspace has infinitely many bases.

Then you talk about “the eigenvector of said eigenvalue”; again, every eigenvalue has infinitely many corresponding eigenvectors.

You say that the characteristic polynomial of $A$ is $-\lambda ^3+6 \lambda ^2-12 \lambda +8$ and that its only root is $2$; that is correct. And those $2$ eigenvectors are indeed eigenvectors. They are linearly independent and they form a basis of the eigenspace corresponding to the eigenvalue $2$.

Now, concerning your questions:

  1. Yes, that is correct.
  2. Yes, since the geometric multiplicity of $\lambda$ is $\dim E_\lambda$.
  3. If a matrix has $k$ eigenvalues, then it has $k$ distinct eigenspaces.
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