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Jordan

The document discusses the Jordan normal form of 2x2 matrices, stating that any such matrix A can be expressed as A = SBS^(-1) where B is in one of two specific forms. It outlines the characteristic polynomial, eigenvalues, and conditions for diagonalizability based on the trace and determinant of A. Additionally, it provides a method for finding the Jordan normal form when A is not diagonalizable, involving the construction of matrices D and N.

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55 views4 pages

Jordan

The document discusses the Jordan normal form of 2x2 matrices, stating that any such matrix A can be expressed as A = SBS^(-1) where B is in one of two specific forms. It outlines the characteristic polynomial, eigenvalues, and conditions for diagonalizability based on the trace and determinant of A. Additionally, it provides a method for finding the Jordan normal form when A is not diagonalizable, involving the construction of matrices D and N.

Uploaded by

warkliye7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jordan Normal form of 2 × 2 matrices

Theorem: Let A be a 2 × 2 matrix. Then exists an


invertible matrix S such that A = SBS −1, where B
has one of the following forms:
 
λ1 0
1. B =
0 λ2
 
λ 1
2. B =
0 λ

The matrix B is called the Jordan normal form of A.


Formula: The characteristic polynomial pA(X) of A
is given by

pA(X) = X 2 − XtrA + det A.

The eigenvalues of A are given by


p
tr(A) ± (trA)2 − 4 det A
λ= .
2
Case 1: (trA)2 6= 4 det A

In this case, the eigenvalues are distinct, and the matrix


is diagonalizable. If (trA)2 > 4 det A, the eigenvalues
are real; otherwise they are complex.

Case 2: (trA)2 = 4 det A.

In this case, there is a unique eigenvalue, namely


λ = 1/2(trA), and there are two subcases.

Case 2a: A is already diagonal: A = λI.

Case 2b: A is not diagonal.

In this case A is not diagonalizable. To find S as in


the theorem, we proceed as follows. Let N = A − λI.
Then N has zero as its unique eigenvalue.

Lemma: Let N be a 2×2 matrix whose only eigenvalue


is 0. Then N 2 = 0.
Proof: The characteristic polynomial pN (X) of N
must be X 2, since 0 is its only
 root. Thus trN =
a b
det N = 0. If N = , then a + d = 0 and
c d

– Typeset by FoilTEX – 2
ad = bd, so
 2   2

a + bc ab + bd a + ad ab + bd
N2 = =
ac + cd bc + d2 ac + cd ad + d2
   
a(a + d) b(a + d) 0 0
= = .
c(a + d) d(a + d) 0 0

At this point, we can already conclude the following


Corollary: Let A be a 2 × 2 matrix which is not
diagonalizable. Then there exist matrices D and N ,
where D is diagonal and N is nilpotent, with A =
D + N.
To find the Jordan normal form we proceed as follows.
Since A is not diagonal, N is not zero, so one of its
columns is not zero.
Subcase:
  If the second column is not zero, let v2 =
0
. Note that v1 := N v2 is the second column of
1
N.
 
1
Subcase: If the second column is zero, let v2 = .
0

– Typeset by FoilTEX – 3
Then v1 := N v2 is the first column of N , which is not
zero.

In either case, let S be the matrix obtained by


concatenating the columns v1 and v2. Note that
N v1 = N 2v2 = 0, and since v1 = N v2 6= 0, it follows
that v2 is not a multiple of v1. ThenS is invertible,

0 1
and it is easy to check that N S = S . From
0 0
this it follows that
 
0 1
N =S S −1
0 0

and hence that


 
λ 1
A=S S −1
0 λ

– Typeset by FoilTEX – 4

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