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Exercise 1663Linear algebra › Eigenvalues and diagonalisationL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Diagonalizing a 3×3 matrix

#diagonalization#eigenspaces#change of basis

Statement

Diagonalize
A=(211121112).A = \begin{pmatrix} 2 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix}.

Hint

Use the eigenvalues 4,1,14,1,1 found earlier. Find a basis of each eigenspace and form the matrix PP.

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Solution

Eigenspaces.
- E4=ker⁡(A−4I)E_4 = \ker(A-4I) has dimension 11, spanned by v1=(1,1,1)v_1=(1,1,1).
- E1=ker⁡(A−I)E_1 = \ker(A-I) has dimension 22, spanned by v2=(1,−1,0)v_2=(1,-1,0) and v3=(1,0,−1)v_3=(1,0,-1).

Diagonalization.
P=(1111−1010−1),D=(400010001).P = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & -1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}, \qquad D = \begin{pmatrix} 4 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}.
The columns of PP are linearly independent, so PP is invertible and A=PDP−1A=PDP^{-1}.

Conclusion. AA is diagonalizable with eigenvalues 4,1,14,1,1.