Exercise · ZW-CHARACTERISTIC-POLYNOMIAL-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Find the characteristic polynomial of the rotation \(A=\begin{pmatrix}0&-1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}\).

Choose one option.

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  • B. \(\lambda^2+1\)

Explanation

\(\det\begin{pmatrix}-\lambda&-1\\1&-\lambda\end{pmatrix}=\lambda^2+1\), which has no real roots: the rotation has no real eigenvalues.

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Review the concept: Characteristic polynomial

The characteristic polynomial \(p_A\) of a square matrix \(A\) is the determinant of the matrix minus a multiple \(\lambda I\) of the identity \(I\), viewed as a polynomial in the variable \(\lambda\).

\[p_A(\lambda)=\det(A-\lambda I)\]

More practice problems: characteristic polynomial

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