[Math] How to find the characteristic polynomial and eigenvalues

characteristic polynomialcompanion-matriceseigenvalues-eigenvectorslinear algebramatrices

For the following matrix, compute

  1. its characteristic polynomial
  2. its eigenvalues

$$A = \begin{bmatrix}0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 2 & -5 & 4\end{bmatrix}$$

So I think I know to find the characteristic polynomial, I have to compute det(A-$\lambda$I) = 0.
Which gives…

$$A-\lambda I = \begin{bmatrix}-\lambda & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -\lambda & 1 \\ 2 & -5 & 4-\lambda\end{bmatrix}$$

$$-\lambda\begin{vmatrix}-\lambda & 1 \\ -5 & 4-\lambda\end{vmatrix} – 1 \begin{vmatrix}0 & 1 \\2 & 4-\lambda\end{vmatrix} $$

After calculating the determinant I get, $-\lambda(-4\lambda + \lambda^{2}+5) +2 = 0 $

What do I do next? I'm completely stuck.

Best Answer

The sum of the entries on each row is always $1$, so $\left(1,\begin{bmatrix} 1\\1\\1\end{bmatrix}\right)$ is an eigenpair.

Since $\det(A)=2$ (easily seen by Laplace expansion on the first row) and $\text{tr}(A)=4$, the other 'two' eigenvalues follow easily.


Actually answering your question, since $$-\lambda(-4\lambda + \lambda^{2}+5) +2 = 0\iff \lambda^3-4\lambda ^2+5\lambda -2=0$$

(I'd rather work with monic polynomials, this equivalence is unnecessary), the rational root theorem says the rational roots, if any, are in $\left\{-2-1,1,2\right\}$, so you can try these and hope for the best.