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It is well known that eigenvalues for real symmetric matrices are the same for matrices $A$ and its transpose $A^\dagger$.

This made me wonder: Can I say the same about the singular values of a rectangular matrix? So basically, are the eigenvalues of $B B^\dagger$ the same as those of $B^\dagger B$?

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    Oh, okay then. Sorry about that.2011-03-31

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Both eigenvalues and singular values are invariant to matrix transpose no matter a matrix is square or rectangular.

The definition of eigenvalues of $A$ (must be square) is the $\lambda$ makes $\det(\lambda I-A)=0$ For $A^T$, $\det(\lambda I-A^T)=0$ is equivalent to $\det(\lambda I-A)=0$ since the determinant is invariant to matrix transpose. However, transpose does changes the eigenvectors.

It can also be demonstrated using Singular Value Decomposition. A matrix $A$ no matter square or rectangular can be decomposed as $A=U\Sigma V^T$ Its transpose can be decomposed as $A^T=V \Sigma^T U^T$. The transpose changes the singular vectors. But the singular values are persevered.

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    ... which I've now convinced myself must be true because the elements on the diagonal stay the same under transpose, and adding/subtracing $I$ can only affect those. Still this comment may help someone else understand ;)2018-01-29