MTH165

Lecture-9

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem
Unit 1: Linear Algebra

(Book: Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Jain and Iyengar, Chapter-3)

Topic:

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem

Learning Outcomes:

1. Verification of Cayley-Hamilton Theorem.

2. Using Cayley-Hamilton Theorem to Find the Inverse of a matrix.

Cayley-Hamilton Theorem:

Definition: Every square matrix A satisfies its own characteristic equation.

For instance, let 𝐴 be a square matrix of order 3.

The characteristic equation is: 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0

⟹ 𝜆3 + 𝑎𝜆2 + 𝑏𝜆 + 𝑐 = 0 (1)

By Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, matrix A must satisfy characteristic equ. (1)

i.e. ⟹ 𝐴3 + 𝑎𝐴2 + 𝑏𝐴 + 𝑐𝐼 = 0
Finding Inverse using Cayley-Hamilton Theorem:

Since 𝐴3 + 𝑎𝐴2 + 𝑏𝐴 + 𝑐𝐼 = 0
⟹ 𝑐𝐼 = − 𝐴3 + 𝑎𝐴2 + 𝑏𝐴

1 3
⟹ 𝐼 = − 𝐴 + 𝑎𝐴2 + 𝑏𝐴
𝑐
Pre-multiplying both sides by 𝐴−1 , we get:

−1
1 −1
⟹ 𝐴 𝐼=− 𝐴 𝐴3 + 𝑎𝐴2 + 𝑏𝐴
𝑐

−1
1 2
⟹𝐴 = − 𝐴 + 𝑎𝐴 + 𝑏𝐼
𝑐
 1 4
Problem 1. Verify Cayley-Hamilton Theorem for matrix 𝐴 = . If
3 2
possible, find 𝐴−1 .

Solution. The characteristic equation is: 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0

1 4 1 0
⟹ −𝜆 =0
3 2 0 1
1 4 𝜆 0
⟹ − =0
3 2 0 𝜆
1−𝜆 4
⟹ =0
3 2−𝜆
 1−𝜆 4
⟹ =0
3 2−𝜆
⟹ 1 − 𝜆 2 − 𝜆 − 12 = 0
⟹ 2 − 𝜆 − 2𝜆 + 𝜆2 − 12 = 0

⟹ 𝜆2 − 3𝜆 − 10 = 0 (1)

By Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, matrix A must satisfy characteristic equ. (1)

i.e. ⟹ 𝐴2 − 3𝐴 − 10𝐼 = 0 (2)

 1 4 1 4 1 + 12 4+8 13 12
Here 𝐴2 = 𝐴. 𝐴 = = =
3 2 3 2 3+6 12 + 4 9 16
From equation (2):

L.H.S. 𝐴2 − 3𝐴 − 10𝐼

13 12 1 4 1 0
= −3 − 10
9 16 3 2 0 1

13 − 3 − 10 12 − 12 − 0
=
9−9−0 16 − 6 − 10

0 0
= = 0 R.H.S.
0 0
Hence, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem is verified.
To find 𝑨−𝟏 :

From equation (2): 𝐴2 − 3𝐴 − 10𝐼 = 0

⟹ 10𝐼 = 𝐴2 − 3𝐴
1
⟹𝐼= 10
𝐴2 − 3𝐴

Pre-multiplying both sides by 𝐴−1 , we get:

1
𝐴−1 𝐼 = 𝐴−1 𝐴2 − 3𝐴
10

1
⟹ 𝐴−1 = 10 𝐴 − 3𝐼
 −1 1
⟹𝐴 = 𝐴 − 3𝐼
10

−1 1 1 4 1 0
⟹𝐴 = −3
10 3 2 0 1

−1 1 1−3 4−0
⟹𝐴 =
10 3−0 2−3

−1 1 −2 4
⟹𝐴 =
10 3 −1
* We calculated the inverse of the same matrix in Lecture-6 using
Gauss-Jordan method (Slides 4-5).
 Polling Question

𝟒 𝟔
Can we find the inverse of matrix: 𝑨 =
𝟐 𝟑
(A)Yes

(B) No
 1 1
Problem 2. Verify Cayley-Hamilton Theorem for matrix 𝐴 = . If
−1 1
possible, find 𝐴−1 .

Solution. The characteristic equation is: 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0

1 1 1 0
⟹ −𝜆 =0
−1 1 0 1
1 1 𝜆 0
⟹ − =0
−1 1 0 𝜆
1−𝜆 1
⟹ =0
−1 1−𝜆
 1−𝜆 1
⟹ =0
−1 1−𝜆
⟹ 1−𝜆 1−𝜆 +1 = 0
⟹ 1 − 𝜆 − 𝜆 + 𝜆2 + 1 = 0

⟹ 𝜆2 − 2𝜆 + 2 = 0 (1)

By Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, matrix A must satisfy characteristic equ. (1)

i.e. ⟹ 𝐴2 − 2𝐴 + 2𝐼 = 0 (2)
 1 1 1 1 1−1 1+1 0 2
Here 𝐴2 = 𝐴. 𝐴 = = =
−1 1 −1 1 −1 − 1 −1 + 1 −2 0
From equation (2):

L.H.S. 𝐴2 − 2𝐴 + 2𝐼

0 2 1 1 1 0
= −2 +2
−2 0 −1 1 0 1

0−2+2 2−2+0
=
−2 + 2 + 0 0−2+2

0 0
= = 0 R.H.S.
0 0
Hence, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem is verified.
To find 𝑨−𝟏 :

From equation (2): 𝐴2 − 2𝐴 + 2𝐼 = 0

⟹ 2𝐼 = −𝐴2 + 2𝐴
1
⟹𝐼= 2
−𝐴2 + 2𝐴

Pre-multiplying both sides by 𝐴−1 , we get:

1
𝐴−1 𝐼 = 𝐴−1 −𝐴2 + 2𝐴
2

−1 1
⟹𝐴 = 10
−𝐴 + 2𝐼
 −1 1
⟹𝐴 = −𝐴 + 2𝐼
2

−1 1 1 1 1 0
⟹𝐴 = − +2
2 −1 1 0 1

−1 1 −1 + 2 −1 + 0
⟹𝐴 =
2 1 + 0 −1 + 2

−1 1 1 −1
⟹𝐴 =
2 1 1
 1 2
Problem 3. Verify Cayley-Hamilton Theorem for matrix 𝐴 = . If
3 6
possible, find 𝐴−1 .

Solution. The characteristic equation is: 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0

1 2 1 0
⟹ −𝜆 =0
3 6 0 1
1 2 𝜆 0
⟹ − =0
3 6 0 𝜆
1−𝜆 2
⟹ =0
3 6−𝜆
 1−𝜆 2
⟹ =0
3 6−𝜆
⟹ 1−𝜆 6−𝜆 −6 = 0
⟹ 6 − 𝜆 − 6𝜆 + 𝜆2 − 6 = 0

⟹ 𝜆2 − 7𝜆 = 0 (1)

By Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, matrix A must satisfy characteristic equ. (1)

i.e. ⟹ 𝐴2 − 7𝐴 = 0 (2)
 1 2 1 2 1+6 2 + 12 7 14
Here 𝐴2 = 𝐴. 𝐴 = = =
3 6 3 6 3 + 18 6 + 36 21 42
From equation (2):

L.H.S. 𝐴2 − 7𝐴

7 14 1 2
= −7
21 42 3 6

7−7 14 − 14
=
21 − 21 42 − 42

0 0
= = 0 R.H.S.
0 0
Hence, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem is verified.
To find 𝑨−𝟏 :

From equation (2): 𝐴2 − 7𝐴 = 0

We can not find 𝐴−1 as there is no constant term in characteristic equation.

Constant term in Characteristic equation corresponds to determinant of matrix A.

1 2
i.e. 𝐴 = =6−6=0
3 6

−1 −𝟏 𝒂𝒅𝒋 𝑨
So, A is a singular matrix and 𝐴 does not exist. 𝑨 = 𝑨
 1 0 0
Problem 4. Verify Cayley-Hamilton Theorem for matrix 𝐴 = 0 2 1.
2 0 3
If possible, find 𝐴−1 .

Solution. The characteristic equation is: 𝐴 − 𝜆𝐼 = 0

1 0 0 1 0 0
⟹ 0 2 1 −𝜆 0 1 0 =0
2 0 3 0 0 1
 1−𝜆 0 0
⟹ 0 2−𝜆 1 =0
2 0 3−𝜆
⟹ 1−𝜆 2−𝜆 3−𝜆 =0
⟹ 1 − 𝜆 6 − 5𝜆 + 𝜆2 = 0
⟹ 6 − 11𝜆 + 6𝜆2 − 𝜆3 = 0

⟹ 𝜆3 − 6𝜆2 + 11𝜆 − 6 = 0 (1)

By Cayley-Hamilton Theorem, matrix A must satisfy characteristic equ. (1)
i.e. ⟹ 𝐴3 − 6𝐴2 + 11𝐴 − 6𝐼 = 0 (2)
Try to verify the theorem yourself.
To find 𝑨−𝟏 :
From equation (2): 𝐴3 − 6𝐴2 + 11𝐴 − 6𝐼 = 0
⟹ 6𝐼 = 𝐴3 − 6𝐴2 + 11𝐴
1
⟹𝐼= 𝐴3 − 6𝐴2 + 11𝐴
6

Pre-multiplying both sides by 𝐴−1 , we get:

1
𝐴−1 𝐼 = 6 𝐴−1 𝐴3 − 6𝐴2 + 11𝐴

−1 1
⟹𝐴 = 6
𝐴2 − 6𝐴 + 11𝐼

Try it yourself.
 Polling Question

We can find 𝑨−𝟏 when:

(A) there is no constant term in characteristic equation.

(B) there is a constant term in characteristic equation.