Eigenvalue
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A scalar λ, such that there exists a non-zero vector x (a corresponding eigenvector) for which the image of x under a given linear transformation A is equal to the image of x under multiplication by λ; i.e. Ax=λx.
"In the extension, one associates eigenvalues, sets of scalars, with arrays of matrices by considering the singularity of linear combinations of the matrices in the various rows, involving the same coefficients in each case. Attention to this area was called in the early 1920's by R. D. Carmichael, who pointed out in addition the enormous variety of mixed eigenvalue problems with several parameters."
- 2 (mathematics) any number such that a given square matrix minus that number times the identity matrix has a zero determinant wordnet
Example
More examples"In the extension, one associates eigenvalues, sets of scalars, with arrays of matrices by considering the singularity of linear combinations of the matrices in the various rows, involving the same coefficients in each case. Attention to this area was called in the early 1920's by R. D. Carmichael, who pointed out in addition the enormous variety of mixed eigenvalue problems with several parameters."
Etymology
From eigen- + value. Partial calque of German Eigenwert.
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.