Unit 1: Number and Algebra

Topic 1.15: Eigenvalues & eigenvectors (HL only) Questions

Practice 12 exam-style questions for IB Math AI SL Topic 1.15. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.

11 mark
2026
In a transition (Markov) matrix, the long-run steady state is the eigenvector for:
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21 mark
2026
To find the eigenvalues of a 2×2 matrix A you solve:
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31 mark
2026
If Av = λv with v ≠ 0, then v is called:
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41 mark
2026
The eigenvalues of the diagonal matrix [[6, 0], [0, −2]] are:
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5Find3 marks
2026
The matrix A = [[2, 0], [3, -1]] has eigenvalues 2 and −1. Find an eigenvector for λ = 2.
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6Interpret1 mark
2026
Interpret what this says about repeatedly applying the matrix to a vector.
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71 mark
2026
For a diagonalised A = PDP⁻¹ with D = [[1, 0], [0, 0.3]], the matrix Dⁿ as n → ∞ tends to:
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8Find3 marks
2026
Find the eigenvalues of A = [[4, 1], [2, 3]].
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9Write down3 marks
2026
A = [[5, 4], [2, 3]] has eigenvalues 1 and 7 with eigenvectors (1, −1) and (2, 1) respectively. Write down P and D for A = PDP⁻¹, then state D².
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10Find5 marks
2026
Customers each month stay with brand X or switch to brand Y by the transition matrix T = [[0.9, 0.2], [0.1, 0.8]]. (a) Show that λ = 1 is an eigenvalue. (b) Find the long-run market share of brand X.
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11Find4 marks
2026
A predator–prey model updates populations each season by M = [[1.2, −0.2], [0.3, 0.9]]. Find the eigenvalues of M, giving answers to 3 s.f.
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12Find4 marks
2026
A page-rank style network has matrix A = [[0, 0.5], [1, 0.5]] with eigenvalues 1 and −0.5. The corresponding eigenvectors are (1, 2) and (1, −1). Find the long-run distribution and comment on the role of the eigenvalue −0.5.
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