[Math] Find the eigenvalues of A and a basis for each eigenspace of A.

eigenvalues-eigenvectorslinear algebramatrices

Let $A$ =
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
-4 & -4 & 0 \\
2 & 2 & 0 \\
2 & 2 & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$
Find the eigenvalues and eigenspaces of $A$

I've got the eigenvalues to be $0$ and $-2$, and I have got the eigenspaces corresponding to the eigenvlues to be

For $0$ = $$
\begin{bmatrix}
-1 \\
1 \\
0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$

For $-2$ = $$
\begin{bmatrix}
-2 \\
1 \\
1 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$

However the solution says the eigenspace for $0$ is $$
\begin{bmatrix}
0 \\
0 \\
1 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$ and $$
\begin{bmatrix}
-1 \\
1 \\
0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
$$

Why is it that?

Best Answer

The eigenspace relative to $0$ can be deduced from the RREF of the matrix, which is $$ \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix} $$ This shows there are two free variables; the only equation is $x_1+x_2=0$, so a basis of the eigenspace is obtained by first choosing $x_2=1$ and $x_3=0$, then $x_2=0$ and $x_3=1$: $$ \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, \qquad \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} $$