characteristic equation

[ kar-ik-tuh-ris-tik i-kwey-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

noun
  1. Mathematics.

    • the characteristic polynomial of a given matrix, equated to zero.

    • Also called aux·il·ia·ry e·qua·tion [awg-zil-yuh-ree i-kwey-zhuhn, -shuhn, -zil uh-] /ɔgˈzɪl yə ri ɪˈkweɪ ʒən, -ʃən, -ˈzɪl ə-/ . an equation with one variable and equated to zero, which is derived from a given linear differential equation and in which the coefficient and power of the variable in each term correspond to the coefficient and order of a derivative in the original equation.

Origin of characteristic equation

1
First recorded in 1920–25

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