If Matrices Commute $AB=BA$, then They Share a Common Eigenvector
Problem 608
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ matrices and assume that they commute: $AB=BA$.
Then prove that the matrices $A$ and $B$ share at least one common eigenvector.
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ matrices and assume that they commute: $AB=BA$.
Then prove that the matrices $A$ and $B$ share at least one common eigenvector.
Let $\lambda$ be an eigenvalue of $n\times n$ matrices $A$ and $B$ corresponding to the same eigenvector $\mathbf{x}$.
(a) Show that $2\lambda$ is an eigenvalue of $A+B$ corresponding to $\mathbf{x}$.
(b) Show that $\lambda^2$ is an eigenvalue of $AB$ corresponding to $\mathbf{x}$.
(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Final Exam Problem)
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Let $A$ and $B$ be an $n \times n$ matrices.
Suppose that all the eigenvalues of $A$ are distinct and the matrices $A$ and $B$ commute, that is $AB=BA$.
Then prove that each eigenvector of $A$ is an eigenvector of $B$.
(It could be that each eigenvector is an eigenvector for distinct eigenvalues.)
Add to solve laterLet $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ matrices.
Suppose that these matrices have a common eigenvector $\mathbf{x}$.
Show that $\det(AB-BA)=0$.
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