Eigenvalues / Eigenvectors relationship to Matrix Entries Values

In summary, the conversation discusses the search for a theorem in Linear Algebra or Spectral Theory that describes the relationship between a matrix's entries and its eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The Gershgorin circle theorem and Perron-Frobenius theorem are suggested as potential references. The topic of unstable eigensystems is also brought up, with hermitian matrices being an exception. The conversation then delves into the specific problem of using the SGWT on a non-normalized Laplacian matrix and the desire to demonstrate the dependence of its eigenvalues on its entries. The Schur-Horn theorem is mentioned as a potential lead for further research.
  • #1
jorgejgleandro
3
0
Hi, folks

I have had a hard time to find out whether or not there is a theorem in Linear Algebra or Spectral Theory that makes any strong statement about the relationship between the entries of a Matrix and its Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors.

Indeed, I would like to know how is the dependence between a matrix entries and its eigenvalues / eigenvectors. It could be something describing:
- what are the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix whose entries are less than 1 and greater than 0.
- what are the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix whose entries modulus are less than 1
- what are the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix whose entries goes to infinity

I'm studying spectral decomposition of matrices and would like to predict what will happen with the eigenvectors, given a diferent set of values for the Matrix entries.

I would appreciate any valuable reference with hints on that.

Regards,
 
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  • #3
AlephZero said:
This might be less than you hoped for, but it's a useful result: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gershgorin_circle_theorem

Thanks, AlephZero.
I've just had a quick glimpse over it and suspect it looks like being far more than I expect, indeed. However, among the links for similar theorems at the bottom of that page, there is the Perron–Frobenius theorem, which appears to be a good clue towards the right track.

I'm going to look into these theorems and return, in case they don't suit my needs.

Regards.
 
  • #4
One interesting property of matrix eigenproblems is that a small change in the matrix entries can sometimes cause a large change in the eigenvectors and eigenvalues. Then we say that the eigensystem is unstable. What I mean is that the eigenvalues of, say, matrices
##\left[\begin{smallmatrix}1&2\\3&4\end{smallmatrix}\right]## and ##\left[\begin{smallmatrix}1&2.01\\3&4\end{smallmatrix}\right]##
are not necessarily close to each other. It can be shown that eigensystems with hermitian matrices are stable, though.
 
  • #5
hilbert2 said:
One interesting property of matrix eigenproblems is that a small change in the matrix entries can sometimes cause a large change in the eigenvectors and eigenvalues. Then we say that the eigensystem is unstable. What I mean is that the eigenvalues of, say, matrices
##\left[\begin{smallmatrix}1&2\\3&4\end{smallmatrix}\right]## and ##\left[\begin{smallmatrix}1&2.01\\3&4\end{smallmatrix}\right]##
are not necessarily close to each other. It can be shown that eigensystems with hermitian matrices are stable, though.

Yeah, I'm after something like you've described, Hilbert2.

Let me describe the big picture of the question for which I've been looking for an answer.

Given a non-normalized Laplacian matrix L of a Graph (this matrix is a symmetric real-valued matrix - a special case of Hermitian matrices), which are known to have real eigenvalues and an orthonormal set of eigenvectors, I want to carry out a wavelet analysis on it through the SGWT of [Hammond et al, 2009]. After its spectral decomposition, it's possible to use the Functional Calculus to evaluate a kernel g([itex]\lambda[/itex] * t) in the spectral domain on every L eigenvalue.

I wish I could analytically demonstrate how the Spectral Graph Wavelet Transform values depend on the L matrix entries. However, I think it's necessary to show how the L eigenvalues depend on the L entries beforehand.

Regards
 
  • #6
The first idea that came to mind while reading your post was the Schur-Horn theorem. I'm not sure if it helps, but perhaps related literature will help guide you to what you need.
 

Related to Eigenvalues / Eigenvectors relationship to Matrix Entries Values

1. What are eigenvalues and eigenvectors?

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are concepts in linear algebra that are used to understand the behavior of linear transformations. Eigenvalues are scalar values that represent the scaling factor of the eigenvectors when the transformation is applied.

2. How are eigenvalues and eigenvectors related to matrix entries values?

The eigenvalues of a matrix are the values that satisfy the equation (A-λI)x=0, where A is the matrix, λ is the eigenvalue, and x is the eigenvector. The eigenvectors are the corresponding vectors that are scaled by the eigenvalues when the matrix transformation is applied.

3. What is the significance of eigenvalues and eigenvectors in linear algebra?

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are important in linear algebra because they help us understand the behavior of linear transformations. They also have applications in fields such as physics, engineering, and computer science.

4. Can a matrix have more than one eigenvalue and eigenvector?

Yes, a matrix can have multiple eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors. The number of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix is equal to its dimension.

5. How are eigenvalues and eigenvectors useful in solving systems of linear equations?

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors can be used to diagonalize a matrix, which simplifies the process of solving systems of linear equations. This is because when a matrix is diagonalized, the system of equations can be solved separately for each eigenvalue and eigenvector pair.

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