JAYPEE INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LINEAR ALGEBRA
Course Code: 24B21MA212
BSc Computer Science
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Topic: Understanding EigenValues and Eigenvectors
Team Members:
1. Ashmit Tomar 23203011
2. Himanshi Saini 23203016
3. Shivansh Saraswat 23203014
4. Vaibhav Suryavanshi 23203009
5. Aadi Sharma 23203022
Under Supervision of: Dr. Gaurav Aggarwal
Introduction
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are fundamental concepts in linear
algebra, used to analyze linear transformations. They're widely
applied in physics, computer science, machine learning, and
more.These concepts might sound complex at first, but they’re
actually very useful in solving real-world problems and simplifying big
systems of equations.
In mathematics, especially in linear algebra, eigenvalues and
eigenvectors help us understand how matrices behave when they
transform vectors. These concepts might sound complex at first, but
they’re actually very useful in solving real-world problems and
simplifying big systems of equations.
Imagine you apply a transformation (like rotation, reflection, or
scaling) to a shape. Most of the directions in that shape will change.
But there are some special directions—called eigenvectors—that
stay pointing in the same direction. These directions are only
stretched or shrunk by a certain amount, which is called the
eigenvalue.
For example, if we think of a matrix as a machine that changes the
size and direction of things, the eigenvectors are the inputs that
come out in the same direction, just scaled up or down.
Mathematical Defination :
For a square matrix A, a non-zero vector v is called an eigenvector if:
A.v = λv
Where:
● A is an n×n matrix
● v is a non-zero vector
● λ (lambda) is the eigenvalue corresponding to v
3. How to Find Them :
Step 1 :
Characteristics equation
det(A−λI)=0
Solve this system to get the eigenvalues.
Step 2 :
Plug each eigenvalue into :
(A−λI)v=0
Solve this equation to give eigenvectors.
4. Geometric Interpretation
Eigenvectors are directions that remain unchanged (up to scaling) after
applying a matrix transformation.
Example: A rotation matrix rotates most vectors, but the eigenvector (if it
exists) stays along its direction.
5. Applications of Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors (with
Real-Life Examples)
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are used in many real-world situations
where systems need to be simplified, analyzed, or understood in terms of
their most important features. Below are some important applications,
along with examples to show how they are used in practice.
1. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) – Data Reduction
Use:
PCA is a technique used in machine learning and data science to reduce
large datasets with many variables into smaller sets while preserving
important patterns.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● It finds the eigenvectors of the data’s covariance matrix.
● The eigenvectors (called principal components) show
the directions of maximum variance in the data.
● The eigenvalues tell how much variation is in each direction.
Real-Life Example:
A face recognition system takes pictures (which have thousands of pixels).
PCA reduces the number of variables (pixels) while keeping the important
parts of the image. This helps in faster and more accurate recognition.
2. Google PageRank Algorithm
Use:
Google uses eigenvectors to rank web pages in its search engine.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● The web is modeled as a network (a matrix of links between pages).
● The algorithm finds the eigenvector of this matrix corresponding
to the largest eigenvalue.
● This eigenvector shows the importance of each page based on
how many other important pages link to it.
Real-Life Example:
When you search for “best books for exams,” Google ranks pages partly
based on PageRank—so you get the most important and trusted pages
first.
3. Vibration Analysis in Engineering
Use:
In mechanical and civil engineering, eigenvalues help determine the
natural frequencies at which structures (like bridges or buildings) vibrate.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● Engineers set up equations for systems and find the eigenvalues
of the system matrix.
● These eigenvalues represent the frequencies at which the
system naturally vibrates.
Real-Life Example:
Before constructing a skyscraper or a bridge, engineers calculate its
vibration modes. If an earthquake or wind hits at a matching frequency
(resonance), the building can collapse. Knowing the eigenvalues helps
avoid such designs.
4. Stability of Dynamical Systems
Use:
In systems like population models, electric circuits, or chemical
reactions, eigenvalues are used to determine whether the system will
settle down or explode over time.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● The sign of the eigenvalues (positive or negative) tells whether
the system grows or stabilizes.
● Complex eigenvalues also indicate oscillations.
Real-Life Example:
In biology, scientists study how populations (like predator and prey) interact
over time. If the eigenvalues show stability, the system will reach a balance.
If not, one population may go extinct.
5. Image Compression (SVD Method)
Use:
Eigenvectors are part of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), a
method used to compress images.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● An image matrix is broken down into parts using SVD.
● The most important parts (largest singular values related
to eigenvalues) are kept.
● This reduces file size while keeping quality.
Real-Life Example:
JPEG and other photo formats use concepts related to eigenvectors to
shrink image sizes—helping websites load faster and saving storage on
your phone.
6. Quantum Mechanics
Use:
In quantum physics, observable properties (like energy, position) are
calculated using operators (which are like matrices). The values we can
measure are the eigenvalues of these operators.
How it uses eigenvalues:
● Solving the equation gives eigenvalues (possible
measurement outcomes).
● Eigenvectors represent the states of the system.
Real-Life Example:
In the hydrogen atom, the allowed energy levels are eigenvalues of a
quantum energy operator. These determine the colors of light emitted by
atoms (like in neon signs).
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors Application in Tech :
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors may come from mathematics, but they
have become powerful tools in modern technology. They help in
simplifying complex problems, extracting meaningful information, and
improving the efficiency of algorithms. Here's why they matter so much in
tech today:
1. Data Compression
● What it does: Reduces the size of files (like images, audio,
and video) without losing important information.
● How eigenvectors help: In techniques like SVD (Singular Value
Decomposition), they help identify the most important parts of
data.
● Real-world example: JPEG image compression uses concepts
based on eigenvalues to shrink file sizes while keeping image
quality.
2. Machine Learning & AI
● What it does: Finds patterns in large datasets to make decisions
or predictions.
● How eigenvectors help: In Principal Component Analysis
(PCA), they are used to reduce dimensions in data, making learning
faster and models easier to understand.
● Real-world example: Face recognition systems reduce thousands
of pixels into a few key features using PCA.
3. Search Engines (Google PageRank)
● What it does: Ranks websites based on their importance.
● How eigenvectors help: The PageRank algorithm uses
eigenvectors to figure out which pages are most influential.
● Real-world example: Every time you search on Google,
eigenvectors are behind the scenes helping sort millions of
web pages.
4. Engineering and Robotics
● What it does: Analyzes how systems behave under force, motion,
or stress.
● How eigenvalues help: They help identify natural frequencies of
structures, ensuring buildings, robots, or machines operate safely
and efficiently.
● Real-world example: Eigenvalues help predict whether a bridge
can withstand wind or vibrations from traffic.
5. Finance and Risk Analysis
● What it does: Analyzes how different assets (stocks, bonds,
etc.) behave together.
● How eigenvalues help: They help understand correlation
between assets and identify hidden risks.
● Real-world example: Investors use eigenvalues to build
safer portfolios with better returns.
6. Cybersecurity & Cryptography
● What it does: Protects data from unauthorized access.
● How eigenvectors help: Some encryption techniques involve
matrices where eigenvalues are part of encoding and decoding
data.
● Real-world example: Cryptographic algorithms use linear
algebra, including eigen concepts, to ensure data security.
Light Python Illustration :
import numpy as np
A = np.array([[4, 2], [1, 3]])
eigenvalues, eigenvectors = np.linalg.eig(A)
print("Eigenvalues:", eigenvalues)
print("Eigenvectors:\n", eigenvectors)
Conclusion
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are powerful concepts in linear algebra that
go far beyond theoretical mathematics. They offer a deep understanding of
how matrices act on vectors and reveal important properties of systems—
such as stability, direction, and scale.
In this project, we explored:
● The mathematical meaning of eigenvalues and eigenvectors,
● Methods to calculate them,
● Their geometric interpretation, and
● Most importantly, their real-world applications across fields
like machine learning, engineering, image processing, and
more.
We also included a few simple Python examples to show how easily
these concepts can be implemented using modern computational tools.
Although this is primarily a mathematics project, it highlights the
importance of applying math in practical technology and science problems.
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors serve as a perfect example of how abstract
mathematical ideas can have a huge impact in real life, from making
search engines work smarter to keeping buildings safe, compressing
images, and predicting data patterns.
In essence:
Understanding eigenvalues and eigenvectors helps us understand
systems more deeply, analyze data more efficiently, and solve real-life
problems more effectively.
