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Vectors shared by two different eigenspaces

Question

A matrix BB of size n×nn\times n has two eigenvalues λ1≠λ2\lambda_1\ne\lambda_2, with eigenspaces Eλ1E_{\lambda_1} and Eλ2E_{\lambda_2}. How many vectors lie in Eλ1∩Eλ2E_{\lambda_1}\cap E_{\lambda_2}? Answer −1-1 if there are infinitely many.

Short answer

11. A common vector vv satisfies λ1v=Bv=λ2v\lambda_1v=Bv=\lambda_2v, so (λ1−λ2)v=0(\lambda_1-\lambda_2)v=0 and therefore v=0v=0. The intersection is just the zero vector.

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