Eigenvectors of $n^{th}$ root of identity matrix












2














Let $A^n=I,$ where $A$ is $ntimes n,$ and assume that $A^kneq I,$ for all $1leq k<n.$ Since its characteristic polynomial is $x^n-1$, the distinct $n^{th}$ roots of unity are its eigenvalues,



Thus there are a full set of linearly independent eigenvectors.




  • What do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is orthogonal, what do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is real, can one say anything more?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
    – Alex R.
    Nov 25 at 4:24






  • 2




    They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Nov 25 at 7:56










  • The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
    – I like Serena
    Nov 25 at 11:25










  • Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
    – kodlu
    Nov 25 at 11:50
















2














Let $A^n=I,$ where $A$ is $ntimes n,$ and assume that $A^kneq I,$ for all $1leq k<n.$ Since its characteristic polynomial is $x^n-1$, the distinct $n^{th}$ roots of unity are its eigenvalues,



Thus there are a full set of linearly independent eigenvectors.




  • What do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is orthogonal, what do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is real, can one say anything more?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
    – Alex R.
    Nov 25 at 4:24






  • 2




    They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Nov 25 at 7:56










  • The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
    – I like Serena
    Nov 25 at 11:25










  • Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
    – kodlu
    Nov 25 at 11:50














2












2








2







Let $A^n=I,$ where $A$ is $ntimes n,$ and assume that $A^kneq I,$ for all $1leq k<n.$ Since its characteristic polynomial is $x^n-1$, the distinct $n^{th}$ roots of unity are its eigenvalues,



Thus there are a full set of linearly independent eigenvectors.




  • What do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is orthogonal, what do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is real, can one say anything more?










share|cite|improve this question















Let $A^n=I,$ where $A$ is $ntimes n,$ and assume that $A^kneq I,$ for all $1leq k<n.$ Since its characteristic polynomial is $x^n-1$, the distinct $n^{th}$ roots of unity are its eigenvalues,



Thus there are a full set of linearly independent eigenvectors.




  • What do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is orthogonal, what do they look like?

  • If we assume $A$ is real, can one say anything more?







linear-algebra eigenvalues-eigenvectors






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Nov 25 at 11:49

























asked Nov 25 at 4:19









kodlu

3,380716




3,380716












  • Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
    – Alex R.
    Nov 25 at 4:24






  • 2




    They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Nov 25 at 7:56










  • The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
    – I like Serena
    Nov 25 at 11:25










  • Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
    – kodlu
    Nov 25 at 11:50


















  • Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
    – Alex R.
    Nov 25 at 4:24






  • 2




    They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Nov 25 at 7:56










  • The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
    – I like Serena
    Nov 25 at 11:25










  • Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
    – kodlu
    Nov 25 at 11:50
















Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
– Alex R.
Nov 25 at 4:24




Hint: since the eigenvalues are distinct it follows the eigenvectors are linearly independent and $A$ is diagonalizable. So write $A=USU^*$.
– Alex R.
Nov 25 at 4:24




2




2




They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
– Qiaochu Yuan
Nov 25 at 7:56




They can look like anything in general, in the sense that they can literally be any basis of the underlying vector space.
– Qiaochu Yuan
Nov 25 at 7:56












The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
– I like Serena
Nov 25 at 11:25




The roots are not necessarily distinct. For that you need that $A^{n-1}ne I$.
– I like Serena
Nov 25 at 11:25












Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
– kodlu
Nov 25 at 11:50




Please see edit, thanks for the comment.
– kodlu
Nov 25 at 11:50















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