Trivia ForgePlay free →

Which property of the characteristic polynomial ensures that a square matrix $A$ and its transpose $A^T$ have the same eigenvalues?

Show answer

Determinant invariance under transposition

Since $\det(A - \lambda I) = \det((A - \lambda I)^T) = \det(A^T - \lambda I)$, the characteristic polynomials are identical. However, the eigenvectors of $A$ and $A^T$ are generally different.

Also asked as:
  • What property of the determinant explains why a square matrix and its transpose share the same characteristic polynomial and eigenvalues?

Would you remember this in 6 months?

Trivia Forge uses spaced repetition so facts stick. Free, no signup needed.

Turn on Linear Algebra practice →

More Linear Algebra trivia

See all 145 →