1 Matrices

Please refer to the hand written notes that were distributed in class.

Here is the formula for the roots of a cubic equation [very useful (theoretically) for finding

the eigenvalues of a 3 × 3 Hermitian matrix [real eigenvalues]):

x3 + I1 x2 + I2 x + I3 = 0
I1 I1 2π I1 4π
x1 = − + 2A cos α ; x2 = − + 2A cos(α + ) ; x3 = − + 2A cos(α + )
3 3 3 3 3
I1 π
xi = − + 2A cos[α + 2(i − 1) ]
sµ3 3
¶2
I1 I2
A= −
3 3
¡ I1 ¢3 ¡ I1 ¢
−2 3 + 3 I2 − I3
cos 3α =
2A3

example:

(x + 1)(x − 2)(x − 3) = 0 → x3 − 4x2 + x + 6 →

p
I1 = −4 , I2 = +1 , I3 = +6 → A= 16/9 − 3/9 = 1.201850425
3
1 −1 −2(−4/3) − 4/3 − 6
α = cos [ 3
] = 46.10211375o → →
3 2(1.201850425)
x1 = 3 , x2 = 2 , x3 = −1