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I'm trying to diagonalize a certain 2 x 2 matrix, but Mathematica refuses to find the eigenvectors. In particular, when I input 

Eigenvectors[{{1.8741*10^7 + 1.40161*10^6 B, 2.79374*10^7}, 
              {2.79374*10^7, -3.1235*10^7 - 1.40161*10^6 B}}]

(B is a parameter). I receive the error

Eigenvectors::eivec0: Unable to find all eigenvectors

and the bogus output 

{{0, 0}, {0, 0}}

On the other hand, Mathematica has no problem with the eigenvalues, for some reason. Can someone help me figure out what's going on here?

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    $\begingroup$ Eigenvectors[{{18741000 + 1401610 B, 27937400}, {27937400, -31235000 - 1401610 B}}]. First section of the doumentation... $\endgroup$
    – ciao
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 8:15
  • $\begingroup$ @rasher Where is it written that Power shoudln't be used with Eigenvectors? $\endgroup$
    – Öskå
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 9:41
  • $\begingroup$ @Öskå: First item, details (at least for v9 docs): "Eigenvectors finds numerical eigenvectors if m contains approximate real or complex numbers. " - does't like mix of symbolic & inexact. $\endgroup$
    – ciao
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 9:50
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    $\begingroup$ I guess I'm not good enough in English to understand that it doesn't like the mix :) $\endgroup$
    – Öskå
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 9:57
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ @Öskå It's a NKE (a New Kind of English) $\endgroup$
    – Dr. belisarius
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 11:43

1 Answer 1

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Although the documentation could be clearer on this point, Eigenvectors doesn't like to work symbolically on a matrix containing elements with approximate numbers. The solution is to Rationalize the matrix.

data = {{1.8741*10^7 + 1.40161*10^6 B, 2.79374*10^7}, 
        {2.79374*10^7, -3.1235*10^7 - 1.40161*10^6 B}};
Eigenvectors[Rationalize[data]] // Column

eigenvectors

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