Business I / Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Practice question · Multiple choice

Two phone carriers trade customers monthly by a fixed transition matrix. Whatever the starting split, shares always drift to 60/40 and stay. In eigen-language, (0.6,0.4)(0.6, 0.4) is…

Hints
  1. Steady means: multiplied by the matrix, unchanged.
  2. Mv=1vMv = 1\cdot v.
Show the answer

C. The eigenvector of eigenvalue 1

Why

"Drifts there and stays" is precisely Mv=vMv = v: eigenvalue 1, eigenvector = the long-run market share. The drift from any start is the dominant eigenvector asserting itself over the fading ones.

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