# Math Help - help with eigenvalue proof

1. ## help with eigenvalue proof

Show that if 0 < θ < π then the matrix $B=\left(\begin{array}{cc}cos\theta&-sin\theta\\sin\theta&cos\theta\end{array}\right)$
has no real eigenvalues and consequently no eigenvectors.

2. Originally Posted by chuckienz
Show that if 0 < θ < π then the matrix $B=\left(\begin{array}{cc}cos\theta&-sin\theta\\sin\theta&cos\theta\end{array}\right)$
has no real eigenvalues and consequently no eigenvectors.
$\left(\begin{array}{cc}cos\theta -\lambda &-sin\theta\\sin\theta&cos\theta -\lambda \end{array}\right)$

So we take the determinate of the above matrix to get

$(\cos(\theta)-\lambda)^2+\sin^2(\theta)=0$

$\cos^2(\theta)-2\lambda \cos(\theta)+\lambda^2+\sin^2(\theta)=0$

$\lambda^2-2\cos(\theta) \lambda+1=0$

This will only have real solutions if the discriminate is posative

So the discriminate of this quadratic is

$(-2\cos(\theta))^2-4(1)(1)=4\cos^{2}(\theta)-4=4(\cos^2(\theta)-1)$

This is negative for $0< \theta < \pi$

So the equation have no Real solutions

3. FYI, its eigenvalues are $e^{i\pi}~,~ e^{-i\pi}$

4. Originally Posted by Moo
FYI, its eigenvalues are $e^{i\pi}~,~ e^{-i\pi}$
$e^{i\pi}=-1=e^{-i\pi} \in \mathbb{R}$

5. Originally Posted by Gamma
$e^{i\pi}=-1=e^{-i\pi} \in \mathbb{R}$
I meant theta

$e^{i\theta}~,~ e^{-i\theta}$

6. ahhh! Okay, I should have realized that is what you meant. Sorry