Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / ia / Paper 1 / 7A / a / Solution

An eigenvalue $\lambda$ is a scalar for which $\ker (A-\lambda I)$ contains a nonzero vector; that kernel is its eigenspace. The characteristic polynomial has degree $n$, so the fundamental theorem of algebra supplies at least one complex root and hence an eigenvalue. Its eigenspace dimension can be any integer from $1$ to $n$.