[Math] Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ matrices over $\mathbb{C}$ then which of the following are true

eigenvalues-eigenvectorsmatrices

Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ matrix over $\mathbb{C}$ such that every non zero vector of $\mathbb{C^n}$ is an eigenvector of $A$. Then,

  1. All eigen values of $A$ are equal.
  2. All eigen values of $A$ are distinct.
  3. $A=\lambda I$ for $\lambda \in \mathbb{C}$ where $I$ is an $n\times n$ identity matrix.
  4. If $\chi_A$ and $m_A$ denote the characteristic polynomial and minimal polynomial respectively, then $\chi_A=m_A$.

Now for $4$, I know that $\chi_A=m_A$ implies the eigen space has dimension $1$, that is all the eigen-values are different. But how can I conclude if every non-zero vectors are eigen-vectors or not if this happens.

Again if $A=\lambda I$ then all the eigen values are same and every non-zero vector is an eigen vector. But I am confused to analyze it properly. Any help please.

Best Answer

HINT: It’s easy to see that if $A=\lambda I$, then every non-zero vector in $\Bbb C^n$ is an eigenvector of $A$ for the eigenvalue $\lambda$, so it’s certainly possible for all of the eigenvalues of $A$ to be equal; this shows you that (2) and (4) are not necessarily true, while (1) and (3) can be true. All that remains is to decide whether (3) must be true (in which case (1) will also be true).

Suppose that $x,y\in\Bbb C^n$, $Ax=\lambda_1x$, and $Ay=\lambda_2y$, where $\lambda_1\ne\lambda_2$. Then

$$A(x+y)=Ax+Ay=\lambda_1x+\lambda_2y\;,$$

and $A(x+y)=\lambda(x+y)$ for some $\lambda\in\Bbb C$, so $\lambda x+\lambda y=\lambda_1x+\lambda_2y$, and therefore

$$(\lambda-\lambda_1)x=(\lambda_2-\lambda)y\;.$$

Observe that at least one of $\lambda-\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2-\lambda$ is non-zero and derive a contradiction, thereby showing that all eigenvalues of $A$ must be equal and hence that (1) must be true.

Now if all of the eigenvalues are equal to $\lambda$, say, so that $Ax=\lambda x$ for each $x\in\Bbb C^n$, then $A-\lambda I=0$ for all $x\in\Bbb C^n$, so what must $A$ be?

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