# matrix with Eigenvalue 1,2,3

Can anyone tell me a $3\times3$ matrix that has eigenvalues $1,2,3$ ( or any matrix with integer eigenvalues)?

I need to show the classroom how to calculate eigenvectors using Gauss-Jordan method. So diagonal elements just won't do it.

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Conjugate your nice diagonal matrix by any invertible matrix, preferably one from $GL(n,\Bbb Z)$. Or you could successively conjugate by small transvections until you find the result looks sufficiently scambled. –  Marc van Leeuwen Mar 12 '14 at 12:14

Here it is$$\begin{pmatrix}5&2&-2\\2&5&-2\\-2&-2&5 \end{pmatrix}$$ and $$\begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\0&2&-2\\1&0&3 \end{pmatrix}$$

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@shashank here it is with 3,3,9 eigenvalues –  Sameh Shenawy Mar 12 '14 at 8:51
Thanks. Can you tell me another with unique eigenvalues too. –  Shashank Mar 12 '14 at 8:52
@Shashank here it is with 1 –  Sameh Shenawy Mar 12 '14 at 8:57
non-unique. and also where are you finding them? –  Shashank Mar 12 '14 at 9:00
i google it@Shashank –  Sameh Shenawy Mar 12 '14 at 9:01

For any $d_1, d_2, d_3$, the diagonal matrix $$D = \begin{bmatrix} d_1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & d_2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & d_3 \end{bmatrix}$$ has eigenvalues $d_1, d_2, d_3$. If you take any invertible matrix $P$, then $$A = P D P^{-1}$$ has the same eigenvalues as $D$, and the columns of $P$ are the corresponding eigenvectors.

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$$\begin{pmatrix} 1&0&0\\ 0&2&0\\ 0&0&3 \end{pmatrix}$$ This is a matrix with eigenvalues as required.

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Hint: you can use \begin{pmatrix}\end{pmatrix} environment to typeset matrices. –  TZakrevskiy Mar 12 '14 at 8:30
@Shashank You can construct a square matrix with any eigenvalues you like by placing them along the diagonal, then "dress it up" by performing row operations to fill in non-diagonal elements. (In many applications, we often want to go the other way, reducing a square matrix to its "diagonalized" form in order to read off the eigenvalues. Such a matrix has many convenient uses.) –  RecklessReckoner Mar 12 '14 at 8:32
Well...i know that.I think I should have been clearer on the question. I need to show the classroom how to calculate eigen vectors using Gauss-Jordan method. So diagonal elements just won't do it. –  Shashank Mar 12 '14 at 8:33

General recipe: start by choosing desired eigenvalues $\lambda_i$ and desired eigenvectors $v_i$ orthogonal to one another. Then form matrices

$$D=\begin{pmatrix} \lambda_1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & \lambda_2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \lambda_3 \end{pmatrix} \qquad V=\begin{pmatrix} \vert & \vert & \vert \\ v_1 & v_2 & v_3 \\ \vert & \vert & \vert \end{pmatrix}$$

Using these, you can compute $M=V\cdot D\cdot V^{-1}$ which will have the desired eigenvectors and eigenvalues.

If you want $M$ itself to be integral as well, use the adjugate matrix instead of the inverse: $M = V\cdot D\cdot \operatorname{adj}(V)$. The resulting matrix will have integral eigenvalues, but not neccessarily the ones you specified but a common multiple thereof. The common factor is $\det(V)$.

I tend to tune my eigenvectors by playing around until I have $\det(V)=\pm 1$. At that point, $V^{-1}=\pm V^T$ will be integral as well, and I can rely on the given eigenvalues. But this playing around may take some time, so if any integral eigenvalues will do, using the adjugate will likely be faster.

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(this is for $3 \times 3$ matrix example, but this method easily generalizes) Pick any set of $3$ orthonormal vectors $u,v,w$ so $u^Tu=v^Tv=w^Tw=1$ whereas $u^Tv=0$, $u^Tw=0$, $v^Tw=0$. Pick your favorite eigenvalues $a,b,c$ and write $$A = auu^T+bvv^T+cww^T.$$ If your orthonormal basis has normalization by $\sqrt{3}$ then just pick an e-value which has $3$ as a factor and the pesky fractions vanish and you can easily verify $u,v,w$ are e-vectors with e-values $a,b,c$ respective. To make this method quick you probably want to pick a favorite orthonormal basis and calculate the rank one $uu^T$, $vv^T$ and $ww^T$ matrices carefully for repeated use. I should have done this years ago. Basically, we're just reverse-engineering the spectral theorem.

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