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08:56
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A: Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a reflection about a plane

StackTDYou could find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors algebraically, i.e. calculate the eigenvalues as the roots of the characteristic polynomial and solve a linear, homogeneous system per eigenvalue to find the corresponding eigenvector(s). Here however, they want you to use the geometrical interpreta...

b) I mean intuitively, I feel like the eigen value should just be -1. I am just not sure how to reason it out... Is it because that an eigen value shuld satisfy $\textbf{A}v=\lambda v$ ? So if I want the two normals to be equal to each other, $\lambda$ must equal 1? c) Well I feel like I would get another vector with opposite coordinates but I am not sure...
@FutureMathperson You are right: you expect to find $-1$ in that case because the vector is mapped to its opposite vector. An eigenvector satisfies $\textbf{A}v=\lambda v$ and through reasoning, you find that for a normal $\bf n$, you have $T(\bf n)=- \bf n$ so... ($v = \bf n$ and $\lambda = -1$).
I see you corrected the matrix so I'll delete that part of my answer.
Yes sorry. I forgot to mention that part. Wolfram alpha tells me that the other two eigenvectors are both equal to 1. I'm trying to reason out why though? I feel like reflecting a vector would reverse the sign somehow...
Have you read through my answer? Most vectors you reflect are not mapped to a vector parallel to the initial vector, but to some other vector. However, there are a few special cases: consider vectors normal to the plane (part b) and vectors lying in the plane (part c). After reflection, they end up being b) flipped, c) unchanged - you see?
@FutureMathperson I added a bit more detail in my answer.
Ohh! I see. So the eigen value would just be 1 because any point on the plane would end up mapping to itself so to find a scalar multiple, the eigen value would simply be 1.
08:56
@FutureMathperson Indeed, for part c! So the only vectors which are mapped to scalar multiples (parallel to itself) after reflection about a plane are normal vectors ($\lambda = -1$; part b) and vectors in the plane ($\lambda = 1$; part c).
For part d, there is only 1 possible normal to a plane so there is only 1 linearly vector one there. Since I am spanning $\mathbb{R^3}$, would I have 3 linearly independent vectors in total?
Yes: 1 for the normal and since a plane is two-dimensional, 2 in the plane; makes 3 in total.
How would that help with the eigenspace though? As far as I know, the eigenspace is space generated by the eigenvectors corresponding to the same eigenvalue. Wouldn't the eigen space just be $\text{span{-1,1,1}}$?
Yeah the conversation was becoming long.
Hi there. The eigenspace corresponding to an eigenvalue is the set of all eigenvectors with that eigenvalue. Now parts b and c should've led you to finding out that the only two eigenvalues are -1 (corresponding eigenvectors are normal to the plane) and 1 (corresponding eigenvectors are in the plane).
You give the eigenspaces as subsets spanned by linearly independent eigenvectors; for b (normal vectors, eigenvalue -1) this is the set spanned by 1 normal; take e.g. (1,2,-1) - do you agree?
Yes I agree.
08:59
Then for the eigenspace corresponding to eigenvalue 1, you expect the space to be two-dimensional (since a plane is two-dimensional).
That means you need to find two linearly independent vectors lying in the plane. Once you have found two, the subset spanned by these two form the eigenspace
It's it 3 dimensional since I am working with 3 variables?
Easy picks are:
- take y = 0, then clearly (1,0,1) is in the plane;
- take z = 0, then clearly (-2,1,0) is in the plane.

Note that (1,0,1) and (-2,1,0) are linearly independent so they span the eigenspace corresponding to eigenvalue 1.
Also for the normal, I get the opposite signs from you, i.e. (-1,-2,1). Is it because the eigen value is -1?
'The' normal is not unique, any (non-zero) scalar multiply of (1,2,-1) is a normal to the plane, so (-1,-2,1) and (5,10,-5) are all normals.
Note that (1,2,-1) is mapped to (-1,-2,1) and vice versa :-)
you can pick any to span the eigenspace
Yes that makes sense. Thank you very much!
09:15
Alright, you're welcome!

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