silemus.

9Eigenvalues of a 2×22\times 2 matrix

Find the eigenvalues of A=[6−2−29]\displaystyle A = \begin{bmatrix}6 & -2\\-2 & 9\end{bmatrix}.

Form A − λI by subtracting λ from each diagonal entry, set its determinant to 0, giving λ² − 15λ + 50 = 0. Factoring, (λ−5)(λ−10)=0, so the eigenvalues are λ = 5 and λ = 10. Check: 5+10 = 15 = trace(A) = 6+9.

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