How to obtain the sum of squared eigenvalues without finding the eigenvalues?

How to obtain sum of square of eigenvalues without finding eigenvalues of a matrix?


Solution 1:

The eigenvalues of $A^2$ are the squares of the eigenvalues of $A$. The sum of the eigenvalues of any matrix (with algebraic multiplicity) is the trace. So the sum of the squares of the eigenvalues of $A$ (with algebraic multiplicity) is the trace of $A^2$.

Solution 2:

Trace of a Matrix is the sum of its Eigenvalues

Proof that the Trace of a Matrix is the sum of its Eigenvalues