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How could we prove that

If $\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\lambda_3,\cdots \lambda_n $ are the eigenvalues of a non-singular square matrix $A$ then eigenvalues of adj $\space A$ are $\frac {\det A}{\lambda_1},\frac {\det A}{\lambda_2},\frac {\det A}{\lambda_3},\cdots \frac {\det A}{\lambda_n}$.

I stumbled upon this property while solving a MCQ type question, in the solution there is no proof, I was just wondering if anybody could show me how to prove this one.

Thanks,

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    @Didier:That's cogent, i am putting it right now:)2012-01-18

2 Answers 2

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As Davide answer shows, using the identity $adj(A)=\det(A)A^{-1}$ this problem can be reduced to showing that the eigenvalues of $A^{-1}$ are exactly the inverses of the ones of $A$.

This is intuitively obvious, since $Ax=\lambda x \Rightarrow \frac{1}{\lambda}x = A^{-1}x$, but there could be issues with the multiplicities.

To formally prove it, note that

$\det(\lambda I -A^{-1}) = \frac{\det(A) \det(\lambda I -A^{-1})}{\det(A)}= \frac{\lambda^n \det(A- \frac{1}{\lambda}I)}{\det(A)} \,.$

This way you can relate the characteristic polynomials of $A$ and $A^{-1}$.

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    This is more clear and neat, I got it just by reading once. Than$k$s :)2012-01-18
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The key is the identity $\operatorname{adj} A\cdot A=\det A \cdot I_n$, and since $A$ is not singular we have $\operatorname{adj} A=\det(A)\cdot A^{-1}$. The eigenvalues of $A^{-1}$ are the respective inverses of the eigenvalues of $A$ with the same algebraic multiplicity as @N. S. showed.

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    Ok, what I took for adjoint is in fact the matrix $C$. So I will edit my answer in order to be conform with your link.2012-01-18