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Exercise 1765Linear algebra › Matrices and linear systemsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Diagonalizing a 3×3 matrix

#diagonalization#eigenvalues#eigenvectors

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 an eigenvector for each, and check that the eigenspace for λ=1\lambda=1 has dimension 22.

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Solution

Eigenvalue 44. Eigenvector v1=(1,1,1)v_1 = (1,1,1).

Eigenspace for λ=1\lambda=1.
A−I=(111111111).A - I = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}.
The kernel 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}.
Since the columns of PP are linearly independent, PP is invertible and A=PDP−1A = PDP^{-1}.

Conclusion. AA is diagonalizable. Moreover,
Ak=P(4k00010001)P−1.A^k = P\begin{pmatrix} 4^k & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}P^{-1}.