Actually, the matrix is somewhat arbitrary

Algebra Level 5

Let A A be a 3 × 3 3 \times 3 matrix with values given below

( x 2017 2015 2016 y 2014 2018 2019 z ) \begin{pmatrix} x&-2017&2015\\ -2016&y&2014 \\ 2018&2019&z\end{pmatrix}

for real numbers x x , y y , and z z such that x 2 + 2 y 2 + 3 z 2 = 1 x^2 + 2y^2 + 3z^2 = 1 .

Suppose the maximum possible value of [ ln [ det ( e A ) ] ] 2 \Big[ \ln [\text{det} (e^A)] \Big]^2 is of the form p q \frac{p}{q} , for coprime positive integers p p and q q .

Determine p + q p+q .


The answer is 17.

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1 solution

Aareyan Manzoor
May 21, 2017

so the key to solving this problem is to write the matrix in terms of its eigenvectors, i.e A = S Λ S 1 A=S\Lambda S^{-1} we know we can expontiate it e A = S e Λ S 1 d e t ( e A ) = d e t ( S e Λ S 1 ) e^A=S e^\Lambda S^{-1}\to det(e^A)=det(Se^\Lambda S^{-1}) since the determinant is multiplicative d e t ( e A ) = d e t ( S S 1 ) d e t ( e Λ ) = d e t ( e Λ ) det(e^A)=det(SS^{-1})det(e^\Lambda)=det(e^\Lambda) remember that Λ \Lambda is a diagonal matrix, and d e t ( d i a g o n a l ) = p i v o t s det(diagonal)= \prod pivots , so d e t ( e Λ ) = e λ 1 × e λ 2 × e λ 3 ln ( d e t ( e A ) ) = λ 1 + λ 2 + λ 3 det(e^\Lambda)=e^{\lambda_1}\times e^{\lambda_2}\times e^{\lambda_3}\to \ln(det(e^A))=\lambda_1+\lambda_2+\lambda_3 we know the sum of the eigenvalues is the trace of the matrix, or λ 1 + λ 2 + λ 3 = x + y + z \lambda_1+\lambda_2+\lambda_3=x+y+z by cauchy swarz we have ( 1 + 1 2 + 1 3 ) ( x 2 + 2 y 2 + 3 z 2 ) ( x + y + z ) 2 11 6 ( x + y + z ) 2 = ln 2 ( d e t ( e A ) ) \left(1+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}\right)(x^2+2y^2+3z^2)\geq (x+y+z)^2 \to \boxed{\dfrac{11}{6}}\geq (x+y+z)^2=\ln^2 (det(e^A))

Nice solution! No need to get intimidated by how complex the matrix would be if it is converted to its matrix exponential. Thanks!

However, to further simplify your solution, one could easily arrive at the optimization part of the problem by using the fact that

det ( e A ) = e tr ( A ) \text{det}(e^A) = e^{\text{tr}(A)}

where tr ( A ) \text{tr}(A) represents the trace of a matrix, or the sum of its diagonal elements. From here we immediately arrive at solving the inequality. :)

Efren Medallo - 4 years ago

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actually i did do that, but added in the prove for that identity. nice problem btw! it was great practice after recently learning some linear algebra.

Aareyan Manzoor - 4 years ago

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Thanks! It feels great to hear that. I'll keep the problems coming!

Efren Medallo - 4 years ago

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