# Inverse matrix's eigenvalue?

It's from the book "linear algebra and its application" by gilbert strang, page 260.

$(I-A)^{-1}$=$I+A+A^{2}+A^{3}$+...

Nonnegative matrix A has the largest eigenvalue $\lambda_{1}$<1.

Then, the book says, $(I-A)^{-1}$ has the same eigenvector, with eigenvalue $\frac{1}{1-\lambda_{1}}$.

Why? Is there any other formulas between inverse matrix and eigenvalue that I don't know?

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If you are looking at a single eigenvector $v$ only, with eigenvalue $\lambda$, then $A$ just acts as the scalar $\lambda$, and any reasonable expression in $A$ acts on $v$ as the same expression in $\lambda$. This works for expressions $I-A$ (really $1-A$, so it acts as $1-\lambda$), its inverse $(I-A)^{-1}$, in fact for any rational function of $A$ (if well defined; this is where you need $\lambda_1<1$) and even for $\exp A$.

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A matrix $A$ has an eigenvalue $\lambda$ if and only if $A^{-1}$ has eigenvalue $\lambda^{-1}$. To see this, note that $$A\mathbf{v} = \lambda\mathbf{v} \implies A^{-1}A\mathbf{v} = \lambda A^{-1}\mathbf{v}\implies A^{-1}\mathbf{v} = \frac{1}{\lambda}\mathbf{v}$$

If your matrix $A$ has eigenvalue $\lambda$, then $I-A$ has eigenvalue $1 - \lambda$ and therefore $(I-A)^{-1}$ has eigenvalue $\frac{1}{1-\lambda}$.

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OMG! That's brilliant! Thanks a lot. –  email Nov 15 '12 at 10:51
One more question! How can I show that I-A has an eigenvalue 1-$\lambda_{1}$? –  email Nov 15 '12 at 10:55
Let $\mathbf{v}$ be an eigenvector of $A$ under $\lambda$. Then $$(I-A)\mathbf{v} = I\mathbf{v} - A\mathbf{v} = \mathbf{v} - \lambda\mathbf{v} = (1-\lambda)\mathbf{v}$$ –  EuYu Nov 15 '12 at 10:59
Let $\vec{v}$ be an eigenvector of $A$ Then $(I-A)\vec{v}=I\vec{v}-A\vec{v}=\vec{v}-\lambda\vec{v}=(1-\lambda)\vec{v}$ –  Jorge Nov 15 '12 at 10:59
Why I can't accept your answer? The box keeps saying me to wait in 6 minutes. –  email Nov 15 '12 at 11:06