# QR-algorithm - convergence property

If $A\in \mathbb R^{n \times m}$ and $A = A^\top$ and if $\vert \lambda_1 \vert >\vert \lambda_2 \vert >\cdots>\vert \lambda_n \vert >0$ then $\lim\limits_{k\to \infty} Q_k = I$, $\lim\limits_{k\to \infty} R_k = \mathrm{diag}(\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n)$ and $(A_{k})_{i,j} = O\left(\left(\dfrac{\vert \lambda_{i} \vert}{\vert \lambda_{j} \vert}\right)^k\right)$ for $i > j$.

Okay. I find it hard to understand the last part:

$(A_{k})_{i,j} = O\left(\left(\dfrac{\vert \lambda_{i} \vert}{\vert \lambda_{j} \vert}\right)^k\right)$ for $i > j$.

Is there someone who can explain what it means?

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Your acceptance rate is rather low, especially considering that some of your questions received several quite detailed answers. Please take into account that accepting answers not only acknowledges the work others have put into answering your questions, but also marks the questions as answered so they don't keep floating around and being revisited as unanswered questions. –  joriki Nov 1 '11 at 18:52
Regarding the present question, the top part seems to indicate that you know how to use $\TeX$ here. Has it escaped your notice that the second part is mangled? You will generally find that people are willing to invest time into answering your questions if they get the impression that you're willing to invest time into them yourself. –  joriki Nov 1 '11 at 18:53

It's more or less just explaining the convergence rate of the QR algorithm. Remember that the endgame for the QR algorithm is to construct the Schur decomposition, $\mathbf A=\mathbf Q\mathbf T\mathbf Q^\top$, where $\mathbf T$ is triangular and $\mathbf Q$ is orthogonal. In the case you're considering, $\mathbf A$ is symmetric ($\mathbf A=\mathbf A^\top$), and thus $\mathbf T$ is the diagonal matrix of eigenvalues.