Compute Determinant of a Matrix Using Linearly Independent Vectors
Let $A$ be a $3 \times 3$ matrix.
Let $\mathbf{x}, \mathbf{y}, \mathbf{z}$ are linearly independent $3$-dimensional vectors. Suppose that we have
\[A\mathbf{x}=\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
0 \\
1
\end{bmatrix}, A\mathbf{y}=\begin{bmatrix}
0 \\
1 \\
0
[…]
How to Find Eigenvalues of a Specific Matrix.
Find all eigenvalues of the following $n \times n$ matrix.
\[
A=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 &1 \\
1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 & 0\\
0 & 1 & \cdots & 0 &0\\
\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \ddots & \vdots \\
0 & […]
For Which Choices of $x$ is the Given Matrix Invertible?
Determine the values of $x$ so that the matrix
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 1 & x \\
1 &x &x \\
x & x & x
\end{bmatrix}\]
is invertible.
For those values of $x$, find the inverse matrix $A^{-1}$.
Solution.
We use the fact that a matrix is invertible […]
Rotation Matrix in Space and its Determinant and Eigenvalues
For a real number $0\leq \theta \leq \pi$, we define the real $3\times 3$ matrix $A$ by
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
\cos\theta & -\sin\theta & 0 \\
\sin\theta &\cos\theta &0 \\
0 & 0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}.\]
(a) Find the determinant of the matrix $A$.
(b) Show that $A$ is an […]
Find All Values of $x$ so that a Matrix is Singular
Let
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & -x & 0 & 0 \\
0 &1 & -x & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & -x \\
0 & 1 & 0 & -1
\end{bmatrix}\]
be a $4\times 4$ matrix. Find all values of $x$ so that the matrix $A$ is singular.
Hint.
Use the fact that a matrix is singular if and only […]
Maximize the Dimension of the Null Space of $A-aI$
Let
\[ A=\begin{bmatrix}
5 & 2 & -1 \\
2 &2 &2 \\
-1 & 2 & 5
\end{bmatrix}.\]
Pick your favorite number $a$. Find the dimension of the null space of the matrix $A-aI$, where $I$ is the $3\times 3$ identity matrix.
Your score of this problem is equal to that […]
Eigenvalues and their Algebraic Multiplicities of a Matrix with a Variable
Determine all eigenvalues and their algebraic multiplicities of the matrix
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & a & 1 \\
a &1 &a \\
1 & a & 1
\end{bmatrix},\]
where $a$ is a real number.
Proof.
To find eigenvalues we first compute the characteristic polynomial of the […]