Mathematica and the power method
Tilak de Alwis · International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology · 1993
In this article, we will show how to use the software package Mathematica to understand the power method in linear algebra or numerical analysis. The power method enables one to find the eigenvalue with the largest absolute value of a given matrix, and a corresponding eigenvector. We will also discuss the importance of the underlying assumptions of the power method, and will give specific examples to illustrate what could go wrong if those assumptions are not satisfied. In the process, we will also discover a conjecture, and prove it mathematically at the end.