# Small error on symbolic eigenvalue of $2\times2$ matrix

I have some computation where I specifically define a 2x2 matrix to have a specific eigenvector v associated with an eigenvalue g, and a second eigenvalue l :

$Assumptions = r > 1 && g > 0 && r \[Element] Reals && g \[Element] Reals; v = {r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2], 1}; Mat[l_, t_] := {{t, (g - t) (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2])}, {(t - l)/(r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]), g + l - t}}; Simplify[Mat[l, t].v]  The output of this is, as expected : {g (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]), g}  Thus, given that the trace is l+g and g is an eigenvalue, the problem should be solved. However, when I ask the eigenvalues of this, I get: {1/2 (g + l - Sqrt[(g - l)^2 (-1 + 2 r (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))]/(-r + Sqrt[-1 + r^2])), 1/2 (g + l + Sqrt[-(g - l)^2 (1 + 2 r (-r + Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))]/(-r + Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))}  EDIT : As pointed out by Roman, this is a simple problem of Mathematica not being able to simplify the expression Sqrt[ (-1 + 2 r (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))]/(-r + Sqrt[-1 + r^2])  to -1 for r > 1. Still interested in knowing why it is so, but not a linear algebra issue. • A few days ago there was a similar Mathematica question 199009 "How to simplify (square) roots in expressions?" involving Sqrt[u+v*Sqrt[w]]. The answers there may help you here. – Somos Jun 5 at 11:33 • Mathematica seems to ignore the identity (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))]/(r + Sqrt[-1 + r^2])==1 – Ulrich Neumann Jun 5 at 12:10 ## 1 Answer just as extended comment: The plot Plot[Sqrt[(-1 + 2 r (r - Sqrt[-1 + r^2]))]/(-r +Sqrt[-1 + r^2]), {r, -5, 5}]  makes no problems (MMA v11.0.1)! Please clarify your question • The problem is that per assumptions we have$r>1$but Mathematica refuses to simplify this expression to$-1\$. – Roman Jun 5 at 11:17
• I used much larger r (e.g. in [1, 500]). It is a numerical approximation issue, not surprising and just a symptom of not having simplified to -1. – AFanthomme Jun 5 at 11:30
• The plot is made without assumptions, MMA seems to have no problems. – Ulrich Neumann Jun 5 at 12:08