Since the row reduced echelon form of A has rank 3, which is the number of columns, the kernel of A is {0} . Thus, Az=0 implies z=0 . Since z=x−y , we have x−y=0 , so x=y .
Here the polynomial has degree at most two: a2 may be zero. If the three points are collinear, the unique interpolant is a line, so a polynomial of degree exactly two need not exist.
Let the three points be (x1,y1),(x2,y2),(x3,y3) . Since x1,x2,x3 are all distinct, we want to show that there exists a unique set of constants a0,a1,a2 such that the quadratic curve y=a0+a1x+a2x2 passes through these three points. This means we have the following system of equations:
The matrix A is a Vandermonde matrix. The determinant of A is given by
det(A)=(x2−x1)(x3−x1)(x3−x2)
Since x1,x2,x3 are all distinct, det(A)=0 . Thus, the matrix A is invertible, and there is a unique solution for x=A−1b . This means there is a unique set of constants a0,a1,a2 such that the quadratic curve y=a0+a1x+a2x2 passes through the three points (x1,y1),(x2,y2),(x3,y3) .
Let λ be an eigenvalue of A , and let v be the corresponding eigenvector. Then Av=λv .
We want to show that λ is also an eigenvalue of B−1AB .
Let w=B−1v . Since B is invertible, B−1v=0 if v=0 . Thus w is a non-zero vector.
Then
(B−1AB)w=B−1AB(B−1v)=B−1Av=λB−1v=λw.
This shows that λ is an eigenvalue of B−1AB .
Suppose λ is an eigenvalue of B−1AB . Then there exists v=0 such that B−1ABv=λv .
Multiply both sides by B from the left. B(B−1ABv)=B(λv) , so ABv=λBv .
Let w=Bv . Since B is invertible and v=0 , Bv=0 . Thus, w=0 . Therefore Aw=λw . This means λ is an eigenvalue of A .
Therefore, the eigenvalues of A and B−1AB are the same.