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Eigenvalues and eigenvectors - MATLAB eig

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eig
Syntax
e = eig(A)

example

[V,D] = eig(A)

example

[V,D,W] = eig(A)

example

e = eig(A,B)

example

[V,D] = eig(A,B)

example

[V,D,W] = eig(A,B)
[ ___ ] = eig(A,balanceOption)

example

[ ___ ] = eig(A,B,algorithm)

example

[ ___ ] = eig( ___ ,eigvalOption)

example

Description
e = eig(A) returns a column vector containing the eigenvalues of square matrix A.

example

[V,D] = eig(A) returns diagonal matrix D of eigenvalues and matrix V whose columns are the
corresponding right eigenvectors, so that A*V = V*D.

example

[V,D,W] = eig(A) also returns full matrix W whose columns are the corresponding left eigenvectors, so that
W'*A = D*W'.

example

The eigenvalue problem is to determine the solution to the equation Av = v, where A is an n-by-n matrix, v is
a column vector of length n, and is a scalar. The values of that satisfy the equation are the eigenvalues.
The corresponding values of v that satisfy the equation are the right eigenvectors. The left eigenvectors, w,
satisfy the equation w'A = w'.
e = eig(A,B) returns a column vector containing the generalized eigenvalues of square matrices A and B.

example

[V,D] = eig(A,B) returns diagonal matrix D of generalized eigenvalues and full matrix V whose columns are
the corresponding right eigenvectors, so that A*V = B*V*D.

example

[V,D,W] = eig(A,B) also returns full matrix W whose columns are the corresponding left eigenvectors, so
that W'*A = D*W'*B.
The generalized eigenvalue problem is to determine the solution to the equation Av = Bv, where A and B are
n-by-n matrices, v is a column vector of length n, and is a scalar. The values of that satisfy the equation
are the generalized eigenvalues. The corresponding values of v are the generalized right eigenvectors. The
left eigenvectors, w, satisfy the equation w'A = w'B.
[ ___ ] = eig(A,balanceOption), where balanceOption is 'nobalance', disables the preliminary
balancing step in the algorithm. The default for balanceOption is 'balance', which enables balancing. The
eig function can return any of the output arguments in previous syntaxes.

example

[ ___ ] = eig(A,B,algorithm), where algorithm is 'chol', uses the Cholesky factorization of B to


compute the generalized eigenvalues. The default for algorithm depends on the properties of A and B, but is
generally 'qz', which uses the QZ algorithm.

example

If A is Hermitian and B is Hermitian positive definite, then the default for algorithm is 'chol'.
[ ___ ] = eig( ___ ,eigvalOption) returns the eigenvalues in the form specified by eigvalOption using
any of the input or output arguments in previous syntaxes. Specify eigvalOption as 'vector' to return the
eigenvalues in a column vector or as 'matrix' to return the eigenvalues in a diagonal matrix.

example

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Examples

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Eigenvalues of Matrix
Use gallery to create a symmetric positive definite matrix.
A = gallery('lehmer',4)
A =
1.0000
0.5000
0.3333
0.2500
0.5000
1.0000
0.6667
0.5000
0.3333
0.6667
1.0000
0.7500
0.2500
0.5000
0.7500
1.0000
Calculate the eigenvalues of A. The result is a column vector.
e = eig(A)
e =
0.2078
0.4078
0.8482
2.5362
Alternatively, use eigvalOption to return the eigenvalues in a diagonal matrix.
D = eig(A,'matrix')
D =
0.2078
0
0
0

0
0.4078
0
0

0
0
0.8482
0

0
0
0
2.5362

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Matrix


Use gallery to create a circulant matrix.
A = gallery('circul',3)
A =
1
2
3
3
1
2
2
3
1
Calculate the eigenvalues and right eigenvectors of A.
[V,D] = eig(A)
V =
-0.5774 + 0.0000i
-0.5774 + 0.0000i
-0.5774 + 0.0000i

0.2887 - 0.5000i
-0.5774 + 0.0000i
0.2887 + 0.5000i

0.2887 + 0.5000i
-0.5774 + 0.0000i
0.2887 - 0.5000i

0.0000 + 0.0000i
-1.5000 + 0.8660i
0.0000 + 0.0000i

0.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 + 0.0000i
-1.5000 - 0.8660i

D =
6.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 + 0.0000i

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Verify that the results satisfy A*V = V*D.


A*V - V*D
ans =
1.0e-14 *
-0.2665 + 0.0000i -0.0444 + 0.0222i -0.0444 - 0.0222i
0.0888 + 0.0000i
0.0111 + 0.0777i
0.0111 - 0.0777i
-0.0444 + 0.0000i -0.0111 + 0.0833i -0.0111 - 0.0833i
Ideally, the eigenvalue decomposition satisfies the relationship. Since eig performs the decomposition using floating-point
computations, then A*V can, at best, approach V*D. In other words, A*V - V*D is close to, but not exactly, 0.

Eigenvalues of a Matrix Whose Elements Differ Dramatically in Scale


A = [ 3.0
-2.0
-eps/4
-0.5

-2.0
4.0
eps/2
-0.5

-0.9
1.0
-1.0
0.1

2*eps;
-eps;
0;
1.0];

Calculate the eigenvalues and right eigenvectors using the default (balancing) behavior.
[VB,DB] = eig(A)
VB =
0.6153
-0.7881
-0.0000
0.0189

-0.4176
-0.3261
-0.0000
0.8481

-0.0000
-0.0000
-0.0000
1.0000

-0.1437
0.1264
-0.9196
0.3432

DB =
5.5616
0
0
0
0
1.4384
0
0
0
0
1.0000
0
0
0
0
-1.0000
Verify that the results satisfy A*VB = VB*DB.
A*VB - VB*DB
ans =
0.0000
0.0000
-0.0000
0.0000
0
-0.0000
0.0000
-0.0000
0.0000
-0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0
0.0000
0.0000
0.6031
This result does not satisfy A*VB = VB*DB. Ideally, the eigenvalue decomposition satisfies this relationship. Since eig
performs the decomposition using floating-point computations, then A*V can, at best, approach V*D. In other words, A*V V*D is close to, but not exactly, 0.
Now, try calculating the eigenvalues and right eigenvectors without the balancing step.
[VN,DN] = eig(A,'nobalance')

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VN =
0.6153
-0.7881
-0.0000
0.0189

-0.4176
-0.3261
-0.0000
0.8481

-0.0000
0
-0.0000
-1.0000

-0.1528
0.1345
-0.9781
0.0443

DN =
5.5616
0
0
0
0
1.4384
0
0
0
0
1.0000
0
0
0
0
-1.0000
Verify that the results satisfy A*VN = VN*DN.
A*VN - VN*DN
ans =
1.0e-14 *
-0.1776
-0.0111
-0.0559
-0.0167
0.3553
0.1055
0.0336
-0.0194
0.0017
0.0002
0.0007
0
0.0264
-0.0222
0.0222
0.0097
A*VN - VN*DN is much closer to 0, so the 'nobalance' option produces more accurate results in this case.

Left Eigenvectors
Create a 3-by-3 matrix.
A = [1 7 3; 2 9 12; 5 22 7];
Calculate the right eigenvectors, V, the eigenvalues, D, and the left eigenvectors, W.
[V,D,W] = eig(A)
V =
-0.2610
-0.5870
-0.7663

-0.9734
0.2281
-0.0198

0.1891
-0.5816
0.7912

0
-0.5789
0

0
0
-7.9759

D =
25.5548
0
0

W =
-0.1791
-0.9587
-0.1881
-0.8127
0.0649
-0.7477
-0.5545
0.2768
0.6368
Verify that the results satisfy W'*A = D*W'.

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W'*A - D*W'
ans =
1.0e-13 *
-0.0444
-0.1066
-0.0888
-0.0011
0.0442
0.0333
0
0.0266
0.0178
Ideally, the eigenvalue decomposition satisfies the relationship. Since eig performs the decomposition using floating-point
computations, then W'*A can, at best, approach D*W'. In other words, W'*A - D*W' is close to, but not exactly, 0.

Eigenvalues of Nondiagonalizable (Defective) Matrix


Create a 3-by-3 matrix.
A = [3 1 0; 0 3 1; 0 0 3];
Calculate the eigenvalues and right eigenvectors of A.
[V,D] = eig(A)
V =
1.0000
0
0

-1.0000
0.0000
0

1.0000
-0.0000
0.0000

D =
3
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
A has repeated eigenvalues and the eigenvectors are not independent. This means that A is not diagonalizable and is,
therefore, defective.
Verify that V and D satisfy the equation, A*V = V*D, even though A is defective.
A*V - V*D
ans =
1.0e-15 *
0
0.8882
-0.8882
0
0
0.0000
0
0
0
Ideally, the eigenvalue decomposition satisfies the relationship. Since eig performs the decomposition using floating-point
computations, then A*V can, at best, approach V*D. In other words, A*V - V*D is close to, but not exactly, 0.

Generalized Eigenvalues
Create two matrices, A and B, then solve the generalized eigenvalue problem for the eigenvalues and right eigenvectors of
the pair (A,B).
A = [1/sqrt(2) 0; 0 1];
B = [0 1; -1/sqrt(2) 0];
[V,D]=eig(A,B)

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V =
1.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 - 0.7071i

1.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 + 0.7071i

D =
0.0000 + 1.0000i
0.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 + 0.0000i
0.0000 - 1.0000i
Verify that the results satisfy A*V = B*V*D.
A*V - B*V*D
ans =
0
0
0
0
The residual error A*V - B*V*D is exactly zero.

Generalized Eigenvalues Using QZ Algorithm for Badly Conditioned Matrices


Create a badly conditioned symmetric matrix containing values close to machine precision.
format long e
A = diag([10^-16, 10^-15])
A =
1.000000000000000e-16
0
0
1.000000000000000e-15
Calculate the generalized eigenvalues and a set of right eigenvectors using the default algorithm. In this case, the default
algorithm is 'chol'.
[V1,D1] = eig(A,A)
V1 =
1.000000000000000e+08
0

0
3.162277660168380e+07

D1 =
9.999999999999999e-01
0
0
1.000000000000000e+00
Now, calculate the generalized eigenvalues and a set of right eigenvectors using the 'qz' algorithm.
[V2,D2] = eig(A,A,'qz')
V2 =
1
0

0
1

D2 =
1
0
0
1
Check how well the 'chol' result satisfies A*V1 = A*V1*D1.

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format short
A*V1 - A*V1*D1
ans =
1.0e-23 *
0.1654
0
0
-0.6617
Now, check how well the 'qz' result satisfies A*V2 = A*V2*D2.
A*V2 - A*V2*D2
ans =
0
0
0
0
When both matrices are symmetric, eig uses the 'chol' algorithm by default. In this case, the QZ algorithm returns more
accurate results.

Generalized Eigenvalues Where One Matrix is Singular


Create a 2-by-2 identity matrix, A, and a singular matrix, B.
A = eye(2);
B = [3 6; 4 8];
Try to calculate the generalized eigenvalues of the matrix, B-1A.
[V,D] = eig(B\A)
Warning: Matrix is singular to working precision.
Error using eig
Input to EIG must not contain NaN or Inf.
Now calculate the generalized eigenvalues and right eigenvectors by passing both matrices to the eig function.
[V,D] = eig(A,B)
V =
-0.7500
-1.0000

-1.0000
0.5000

D =
0.0909
0
0
Inf
It is better to pass both matrices separately, and let eig choose the best algorithm to solve the problem. In this case,
eig(A,B) returned a set of eigenvectors and at least one real eigenvalue, even though B is not invertible.
Verify Av = Bv for the first eigenvalue and the first eigenvector.
eigval = D(1,1);
eigvec = V(:,1);
A*eigvec - eigval*B*eigvec

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ans =
1.0e-15 *
0.1110
0.2220
Ideally, the eigenvalue decomposition satisfies the relationship. Since the decomposition is performed using floating-point
computations, then A*eigvec can, at best, approach eigval*B*eigvec, as it does in this case.

Input Arguments

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A Input matrix
square matrix
Input matrix, specified as a real or complex square matrix.
Data Types: double | single
Complex Number Support: Yes

B Generalized eigenvalue problem input matrix


square matrix
Generalized eigenvalue problem input matrix, specified as a square matrix of real or complex values. B must be the same
size as A.
Data Types: double | single
Complex Number Support: Yes

balanceOption Balance option


'balance' (default) | 'nobalance'
Balance option, specified as one of two strings: 'balance', which enables a preliminary balancing step, or 'nobalance'
which disables it. In most cases, the balancing step improves the conditioning of A to produce more accurate results.
However, there are cases in which balancing produces incorrect results. Specify 'nobalance' when A contains values
whose scale differs dramatically. For example, if A contains nonzero integers, as well as very small (near zero) values,
then the balancing step might scale the small values to make them as significant as the integers and produce inaccurate
results.
'balance' is the default behavior. For more information about balancing, see balance.
Data Types: char

algorithm Generalized eigenvalue algorithm


'chol' | 'qz'
Generalized eigenvalue algorithm, specified as 'chol' or 'qz', which selects the algorithm to use for calculating the
generalized eigenvalues of a pair.
algorithm

Description

'chol'

Computes the generalized eigenvalues of A and B using the Cholesky factorization


of B.

'qz'

Uses the QZ algorithm, also known as the generalized Schur decomposition. This
algorithm ignores the symmetry of A and B.

In general, the two algorithms return the same result. The QZ algorithm can be more stable for certain problems, such as
those involving badly conditioned matrices.

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When you omit the algorithm argument, the eig function selects an algorithm based on the properties of A and B. It uses
the 'chol' algorithm for symmetric (Hermitian) A and symmetric (Hermitian) positive definite B. Otherwise, it uses the
'qz' algorithm.
Regardless of the algorithm you specify, the eig function always uses the QZ algorithm when A or B are not symmetric.

eigvalOption Eigenvalue option


'vector' | 'matrix'
Eigenvalue option, specified as 'vector' or 'matrix'. This option allows you to specify whether the eigenvalues are
returned in a column vector or a diagonal matrix. The default behavior varies according to the number of outputs
specified:

If you specify one output, such as e = eig(A), then the eigenvalues are returned as a column vector by default.

If you specify two or three outputs, such as [V,D] = eig(A), then the eigenvalues are returned as a diagonal matrix,
D, by default.

Example: D = eig(A,'matrix') returns a diagonal matrix of eigenvalues with the one output syntax.
Data Types: char

Output Arguments

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e Eigenvalues (returned as vector)


column vector
Eigenvalues, returned as a column vector containing the eigenvalues (or generalized eigenvalues of a pair) with
multiplicity.

When A is real and symmetric or complex Hermitian, the values of e that satisfy Av = v are real.

When A is real and skew-symmetric or skew-Hermitian, the values of e that satisfy Av = v are purely imaginary or
zero.

V Right eigenvectors
square matrix
Right eigenvectors, returned as a square matrix whose columns are the right eigenvectors of A or generalized right
eigenvectors of the pair, (A,B). The form and normalization of V depends on the combination of input arguments:

[V,D] = eig(A) returns matrix V, whose columns are the right eigenvectors of A such that A*V = V*D. The
eigenvectors in V are normalized so that the 2-norm of each is 1.
If A is real symmetric, then the right eigenvectors, V, are orthonormal.

[V,D] = eig(A,'nobalance') also returns matrix V. However, the 2-norm of each eigenvector is not necessarily 1.

[V,D] = eig(A,B) and [V,D] = eig(A,B,algorithm) returns V as a matrix whose columns are the generalized
right eigenvectors that satisfy A*V = B*V*D. The 2-norm of each eigenvector is not necessarily 1. In this case, D
contains the generalized eigenvalues of the pair, (A,B), along the main diagonal.
If A is symmetric and B is symmetric positive definite, then the eigenvectors in V are normalized so that the B-norm of
each is 1.

D Eigenvalues (returned as matrix)


diagonal matrix
Eigenvalues, returned as a diagonal matrix with the eigenvalues of A on the main diagonal or the eigenvalues of the pair,
(A,B), with multiplicity, on the main diagonal.

When A is real and symmetric or complex Hermitian, the values of D that satisfy Av = v are real.

When A is real and skew-symmetric or skew-Hermitian, the values of D that satisfy Av = v are purely imaginary or

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zero.

W Left eigenvectors
square matrix
Left eigenvectors, returned as a square matrix whose columns are the left eigenvectors of A or generalized left
eigenvectors of the pair, (A,B). The form and normalization of W depends on the combination of input arguments:

[V,D,W] = eig(A) returns matrix W, whose columns are the left eigenvectors of A such that W'*A = D*W'. The
eigenvectors in W are normalized so that the 2-norm of each is 1. If A is symmetric, then W is the same as V.

[V,D,W] = eig(A,'nobalance') also returns matrix W. However, the 2-norm of each eigenvector is not necessarily
1.

[V,D,W] = eig(A,B) and [V,D,W] = eig(A,B,algorithm) returns W as a matrix whose columns are the
generalized left eigenvectors that satisfy W'*A = D*W'*B. The 2-norm of each eigenvector is not necessarily 1. In this
case, D contains the generalized eigenvalues of the pair, (A,B), along the main diagonal.
If A and B are symmetric, then W is the same as V.

More About

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Tips

The eig function can calculate the eigenvalues of sparse matrices that are real and symmetric. To calculate the
eigenvectors of a sparse matrix, or to calculate the eigenvalues of a sparse matrix that is not real and symmetric, use
the eigs function.

See Also
balance | condeig | eigs | hess | qz | schur

Introduced before R2006a

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