Eigencircles

A geometric view on 2x2 matrices: how scaling and rotation combine, how eigencircles encode that behaviour, and how eigenvalues and eigenvectors can be read from the construction.

What this subsite contains

The eigencircle approach rewrites a linear transformation in terms of the pair \((s,\theta)\): a scaling factor and a rotation angle. Looking at the full set of such pairs produces a circle that captures the geometry of the matrix.

This local version is now structured as a compact overview page, a readable book view, and a separate figures page for the interactive applet and derived plots.

Eigencircle of a matrix
Eigencircle of a matrix, relating rotation and scaling in one geometric object.

Start here

  • Book: the full derivation and discussion.
  • Figures: the GeoGebra construction and reference plot.
  • Main site chapter: the larger linear-transformations context.

Why this matters

Instead of treating eigenvalues as purely algebraic output, the eigencircle view gives a direct visual interpretation of how a matrix acts on vectors across the plane.

That makes the relationship between vectors, images, rotation, scaling, and special directions much easier to inspect.