[Math] generalized eigenvector example

eigenvalues-eigenvectorsjordan-normal-formlinear algebra

$$A=\left(\begin{matrix}
2 & 1 & 0\\
0 &2 &0\\
0 &-1 &2
\end{matrix}\right)
$$
Want to find the eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and generalized eigenvectors of $A$ and put $A$ in Jordan normal form.

Here is my attempt.

So, the characteristic polynomial is $(2-\lambda)^3=0$. So the eigenvalue is $2$ with multiplicity $3$.
Solving $(A-2I)v=0$ to obtain span$\left\{v_1=\left(\begin{matrix}
1\\
0 \\
0
\end{matrix}\right),
w_1=\left(\begin{matrix}
0\\
0 \\
1
\end{matrix}\right)
\right\}$ is the eigenspace of eigenvalue $\lambda=2$. So there should be one more generalized eigenvector. Using Jordan chain, I need to solve $(A-2I)v_2=v_1$ and $(A-2I)w_2=w_1$. Note that
$$(A-2I)\left(\begin{matrix}
a\\
b \\
c
\end{matrix}\right)=\left(\begin{matrix}
0 & 1 & 0\\
0 &0 &0\\
0 &-1 &0
\end{matrix}\right)
\left(\begin{matrix}
a\\
b \\
c
\end{matrix}\right)
=\left(\begin{matrix}
b\\
0 \\
-b
\end{matrix}\right),
$$
which can't be equal to $v_1$ or $w_1$. Not sure what went wrong….

Best Answer

You know that if you have a vector $$u = \begin{pmatrix} a \\ b \\ c \end{pmatrix}$$ then you have $$(A- 2I)u = \begin{pmatrix} b \\ 0 \\ -b \end{pmatrix} = v$$

You also know that $v$ is an eigenvector of $A$, with eigenvalue 2, since it is in your calculated eigenspace (it can be written as $v = bv_1 - bw_1$).

Hence $u$ will be a generalized eigenvector as long as $b \neq 0$.

If you want to find a transformation matrix that takes your matrix to its Jordan normal form, you can first pick a generalized eigenvector, say $$u = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}$$ and then pick $$u_1 = (A-2I)u = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ -1 \end{pmatrix}$$ as your first eigenvector, and then another vector in the eigenspace, linearly independent of $u_1$, e.g. $$u_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}$$ and then you can form the matrix $$T = \begin{pmatrix} | & | & | \\ u & u_1 & u_2 \\ | & | & | \end{pmatrix}$$ so that $T^{-1}AT = J$ where $J$ is the Jordan normal form of $A$.