Example 2: Powers of a matrix
Compute A5, where
| A = |  |
-1 | 2 | -1 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | |
|
Solution:
p(
) = (-1)3 (
+1) (
-1) (
-2) (upper triangular matrix => eigenvalues lie on the main diagonal)
= - (
3 - 2
2 -
+ 2 )
= -
3 + 2
2 +
- 2
-A matrix satisfies its characteristic equation:
=> -A3 + 2A2 + A - 2I = 0 <=> A3 = 2A2 + A - 2I | ·A
=> A4 = 2A3 + A2 - 2A | Substitute
A3 = 2A2 + A - 2I
= 2(2A2 + A - 2I) + A2 - 2A = 5A2 - 4I
=> A5 = 5A3 - 4A |
Substitute
A3 = 2A2 + A - 2I
= 5(2A2 + A - 2I) - 4A = 10A2 +A - 10I
| = 10 |  |
-1 | 2 | -1 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | |
|
 |
-1 | 2 | -1 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | |
|
| + |  |
-1 | 2 | -1 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | |
|
| - 10 |  |
1 | 0 | 0 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | |
|
| = |  |
10 | 0 | 10 |  |
| 0 | 10 | 30 |
| 0 | 0 | 40 | |
|
| + |  |
-1 | 2 | -1 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | |
|
| - |  |
10 | 0 | 0 |  |
| 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 10 | |
|
| = |  |
-1 | 2 | 9 |  |
| 0 | 1 | 31 |
| 0 | 0 | 32 | |
|
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