Idempotent Matrix and its Eigenvalues

Idempotent Matrix Problems and Solutions in Linear Algebra

Problem 176

Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ matrix. We say that $A$ is idempotent if $A^2=A$.

(a) Find a nonzero, nonidentity idempotent matrix.

(b) Show that eigenvalues of an idempotent matrix $A$ is either $0$ or $1$.

(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Final Exam Problem)
 
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Proof.

(a) Nonzero, nonidentity idempotent matrix

Let $A=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1\\
0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}$. Then $A$ is a nonzero, nonidentity matrix and $A$ is idempotent since we have
\[A^2=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1\\
0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1\\
0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1\\
0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}=A.\]

(b) Eigenvalues of an idempotent matrix $A$ is either $0$ or $1$

Let $\lambda$ be an eigenvalue of the idempotent matrix $A$ and let $\mathbf{x}$ be an eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue $\lambda$.
Namely we have
\[A\mathbf{x}=\lambda \mathbf{x}, \mathbf{x}\neq \mathbf{0}. \tag{*} \] Then we compute $A^2\mathbf{x}$ in two ways.
First, since $A$ is idempotent we have $A^2=A$ and thus we have
\[A^2\mathbf{x}=A\mathbf{x}\stackrel{(*)}{=} \lambda \mathbf{x}.\]


Next, we compute as follows.
\begin{align*}
A^2\mathbf{x}=A(A\mathbf{x})\stackrel{(*)}{=}A(\lambda \mathbf{x})=\lambda (A\mathbf{x})\stackrel{(*)}{=}\lambda (\lambda \mathbf{x})=\lambda^2\mathbf{x}.
\end{align*}

Comparing these two computations, we obtain
\[\lambda \mathbf{x}=\lambda^2 \mathbf{x}.\] Since $\mathbf{x}$ is a nonzero vector (because $\mathbf{x}$ is an eigenvector), we must have
\[\lambda=\lambda^2.\] Hence solving $\lambda(\lambda-1)=0$, the possible values for $\lambda$ is either $0$ or $1$.
Thus, the idempotent matrix $A$ only have eigenvalues $0$ or $1$.

Final Exam Problems and Solution. (Linear Algebra Math 2568 at the Ohio State University)

This problem is one of the final exam problems of Linear Algebra course at the Ohio State University (Math 2568).

The other problems can be found from the links below.

  1. Find All the Eigenvalues of 4 by 4 Matrix
  2. Find a Basis of the Eigenspace Corresponding to a Given Eigenvalue
  3. Diagonalize a 2 by 2 Matrix if Diagonalizable
  4. Find an Orthonormal Basis of the Range of a Linear Transformation
  5. The Product of Two Nonsingular Matrices is Nonsingular
  6. Determine Whether Given Subsets in ℝ4 R 4 are Subspaces or Not
  7. Find a Basis of the Vector Space of Polynomials of Degree 2 or Less Among Given Polynomials
  8. Find Values of $a , b , c$ such that the Given Matrix is Diagonalizable
  9. Idempotent Matrix and its Eigenvalues
  10. Diagonalize the 3 by 3 Matrix Whose Entries are All One
  11. Given the Characteristic Polynomial, Find the Rank of the Matrix
  12. Compute $A^{10}\mathbf{v}$ Using Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of the Matrix $A$
  13. Determine Whether There Exists a Nonsingular Matrix Satisfying $A^4=ABA^2+2A^3$

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7 Responses

  1. 01/04/2017

    […] Since $A$ has three distinct eigenvalues, $A$ is diagonalizable. (Or, algebraic multiplicities are the same as geometric multiplicities.) Since the matrix $A$ has $0$ as an eigenvalue. Thus $A$ is not invertible. If $A$ is idempotent matrix, then the eigenvalues of $A$ is either $0$ or $1$. Thus $A$ is not an idempotent matrix. (For a proof of this fact, see the post Eigenvalues of an idempotent matrix.) […]

  2. 05/25/2017

    […] only possible eigenvalues of an idempotent matrix are $0$ or $1$. (For a proof, see the post “Idempotent matrix and its eigenvalues“.) Let [E_0={mathbf{x}in R^n mid Amathbf{x}=mathbf{0}} text{ and } […]

  3. 08/02/2017

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  5. 09/13/2017

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  7. 10/16/2017

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