[Math] Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of $A$ geometrically.

eigenvalues-eigenvectorslinear algebramatrices

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

Reflection in the $y$-axis.

I can solve this WITHOUT the reflection meaning I can find the eigenvalue and eigenvector of this. However, I don't know what exactly I should be doing with the reflection. Do I just reflect the eigenvector or do I reflect matrix $A$?

EDIT for the comments:
Do I reflect the eigenvector? Let's solve this problem:

\begin{bmatrix}-1- λ & 0 \\
0 & 1 – λ
\end{bmatrix}

λ = -1 or 1.

Therefore: Eigenvalue = -1,1 and Eigenvector using -1 will be:

\begin{bmatrix}1 \\
0
\end{bmatrix}

Do I reflect this eigenvector? Is this what reflection over the Y-axis means? Or Do I only reflect A after plugging in the Eigenvalue for λ?

Best Answer

Observe that $ \begin{bmatrix}-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}1\\ 0 \end{bmatrix}=-1 \begin{bmatrix}1\\ 0 \end{bmatrix} $ and $ \begin{bmatrix}-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}0\\ 1 \end{bmatrix}=1 \begin{bmatrix}0\\ 1 \end{bmatrix} $.

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