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Characteristic Polynomial of a Matrix

Tool to calculate the characteristic polynomial of a matrix. The characteristic polynomial of a matrix M is computed as the determinant of (X.I-M).

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Characteristic Polynomial of a Matrix -

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# Characteristic Polynomial of a Matrix

## Characteristic Polynomial Calculator

 Definition used P(x) = det(M-Ix) P(x) = det(Ix-M)

## Matrix from Characteristic Polynomial Finder

### 2x2 Matrix Calculator

 Matrix Values Real Numbers Real or Complex Numbers Integers Positive (or Null >=0) Numbers Strictly Positive Numbers (>0)

### What is the characteristic polynomial for a matrix? (Definition)

The characteristic polynomial (or sometimes secular function) $P$ of a square matrix $M$ of size $n \times n$ is the polynomial defined by $$P_M(x) = \det(M - x.I_n) \tag{1}$$ or $$P_M(x) = \det(x.I_n - M) \tag{2}$$ with $I_n$ the identity matrix of size $n$ (and det the matrix determinant).

The 2 possible values $(1)$ and $(2)$ give opposite results, but since the polynomial is used to find roots, the sign does not matter.

The equation $P = 0$ is called the characteristic equation of the matrix.

### Why calculating the characteristic polynomial of a matrix?

The characteristic polynomial $P$ of a matrix, as its name indicates, characterizes a matrix, it allows in particular to calculate the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors.

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial of a diagonal matrix?

If $M$ is a diagonal matrix with $\lambda_1, \lambda_2, \ldots, \lambda_n$ as diagonal elements, then the computation is simplified and $$P_M(x) = (x-\lambda_1)(x-\lambda_2)\ldots(x-\lambda_n)$$

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial of a triangualr matrix?

If $M$ is a triangular matrix with $\lambda_1, \lambda_2, \ldots, \lambda_n$ as diagonal elements, then as for diagonal matrix, the computation is simplified and $$P_M(x) = (x-\lambda_1)(x-\lambda_2)\ldots(x-\lambda_n)$$

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial for a 2x2 matrix?

The calculation of the characteristic polynomial of a square matrix of order 2 can be calculated with the determinant of the matrix $[ x.I_2 - M ]$ as $$P_M(x) = \det [ x.I_2 - M ]$$

The polynomial can also be written with another formula using the trace of the matrix $M$ (noted Tr): $$P_{M_2}(x) = \det( x.I_2 - M ) = x^2 - \operatorname{Tr}(M)x+ \det(M)$$

Example: $$M=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix} \\ \Rightarrow x.I_n - M = \begin{bmatrix} x & 0 \\ 0 & x \end{bmatrix} - \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} x-1 & -2 \\ -3 & x-4 \end{bmatrix} \\ \Rightarrow \det(x.I_n - M) = (x-1)(x-4)-((-2)\times(-3)) \\ \Rightarrow P_M(x) = x^2-5x-2$$

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial for a 3x3 matrix?

Calculation of the characteristic polynomial of a square 3x3 matrix can be calculated with the determinant of the matrix $[ x.I_3 - M ]$ as $$P_M(x) = \det [ x.I_3 - M ]$$

Example: $$M = \begin{bmatrix} a & b & c \\ d & e & f \\ g & h & i \end{bmatrix}$$ $$[ x.I_3 - M ] = x \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} - M = \begin{bmatrix} x-a & -b & -c \\ -d & x-e & -f \\ -g & -h & x-i \end{bmatrix}$$ $$P_M(x) = \det [ x.I_3 - M ] = -a e i+a e x+a f h+a i x-a x^2+b d i-b d x-b f g-c d h+c e g-c g x+e i x-e x^2-f h x-i x^2+x^3$$

It is also possible to use another formula with the Trace of the matrix $M$ (noted Tr): $$P_{M_3}(x) = -x^3 + \operatorname{Tr}(M)x^2 + \frac{1}{2} \left( \operatorname{Tr}^2(M) - \operatorname{Tr}(M^2) \right) x + \frac{1}{6} \left( \operatorname{Tr}^3(M) + 2\operatorname{Tr}(M^3) - 3\operatorname{Tr}(M)\operatorname{Tr}(M^2) \right)$$

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial for a 4x4 matrix?

Calculation of the characteristic polynomial of an order 4 square matrix can be calculated with the determinant of the matrix $[ x.I_4 - M ]$ as $$P_M(x) = \det [ x.I_4 - M ]$$

Example: $$M = \begin{bmatrix} a & b & c & d \\ e & f & g & h \\ i & j & k & l \\ m & n & o & p \end{bmatrix}$$ $$[ x.I_4 - M ] = x \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} - M = \begin{bmatrix} x-a & b & c & d \\ e & x-f & g & h \\ i & j & x-k & l \\ m & n & o & x-p \end{bmatrix}$$ $$P_M(x) = \det [ x.I_4 - M ] = a f k p-a f k x-a f l o-a f p x+a f x^2-a g j p+a g j x+a g l n+a h j o-a h k n+a h n x-a k p x+a k x^2+a l o x+a p x^2-a x^3-b e k p+b e k x+b e l o+b e p x-b e x^2+b g i p-b g i x-b g l m-b h i o+b h k m-b h m x+c e j p-c e j x-c e l n-c f i p+c f i x+c f l m+c h i n-c h j m+c i p x-c i x^2-c l m x-d e j o+d e k n-d e n x+d f i o-d f k m+d f m x-d g i n+d g j m-d i o x+d k m x-d m x^2-f k p x+f k x^2+f l o x+f p x^2-f x^3+g j p x-g j x^2-g l n x-h j o x+h k n x-h n x^2+k p x^2-k x^3-l o x^2-p x^3+x^4$$

### Is there multiple characteristic polynomials for a matrix?

The characteristic polynomial is unique for a given matrix. There is only one way to calculate it and it has only one result.

On the other hand, two different matrices can give the same characteristic polynomial.

### How to calculate the characteristic polynomial for a transpose matrix?

A matrix $M$ and its matrix transpose $M^T$ have the same characteristic polynomial.

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