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Matrix eigenvectors in R and MatLab

Mikael  -

The matrix PA9900 is not a symmetric matrix.  Eigen() will
automatically detect this.  help("eigen") says explicitly:

"For `eigen( , symmetric = FALSE)' the choice of length of
the eigenvectors is not defined by LINPACK.  In all other
cases the vectors are normalized to unit length."

In the example you give, the eigenvectors from R are clearly
NOT normalized to unit length, while those from Matlab are.
Even after normalizing them, the R eigenvectors will differ
by order and sign from the Matlab ones.  (Compare R column 3
with Matlab column 2.)  Have to look at the EISPACK source
documentation to see whether it's returning right eigenvectors
or left eigenvectors for an asymmetric matix.

-  tom blackwell  -  u michigan medical school  -  ann arbor  -
On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Mikael Niva wrote: