Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

eigenvector

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.94 in modern English

Syllables
eigen-vec-tor
IPA
17
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A vector that is only scaled (not rotated out of its span) under a particular linear transformation; a left or right eigenvector depending on context; (more formally) given a linear transformation A, a vector x such that Ax=λx [or xA=λx] for some scalar λ (called the eigenvalue).

noun

A right eigenvector; given a matrix A, the eigenvector of the transformation "left-side multiplication by A."

Example Sentences

Etymology

From eigen- + vector, a partial calque of German Eigenvektor. The prefix eigen- (also used in eigenvalue) was first used in 1904, by David Hilbert, and was possibly inspired by a related usage by Hermann von Helmholtz.

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

left eigenvector right eigenvector Mathworld article on eigenvectors

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

What does eigenvector mean?
A vector that is only scaled (not rotated out of its span) under a particular linear transformation; a left or right eigenvector depending on context; (more formally) given a linear transformation A, a vector x such that Ax=λx [or xA=λx] for some scalar λ (called the eigenvalue).
Where does eigenvector come from?
From eigen- + vector, a partial calque of German Eigenvektor. The prefix eigen- (also used in eigenvalue) was first used in 1904, by David Hilbert, and was possibly inspired by a related usage by Hermann von Helmholtz.

How to pronounce eigenvector

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