Eigenvalue equations for the S𝓏 operator in a spin-1/2 system: S𝓏|+> = +ħ/2|+> S𝓏|-> = -ħ/2|-> Matrix form of an operator: S𝓏 ≐ ( a b ) ( c d ) Eigenvalue equations in matrix form: ( a b )( 1 ) = +ħ/2 ( 1 ) ( c d )( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( a b )( 0 ) = -ħ/2 ( 0 ) ( c d )( 1 ) ( 1 ) Can show with matrix multiplication operations that S𝓏 ≐ ħ/2 ( 1 0 ) ( 0 -1 ) Some Properties: An operator is always diagonal in its own basis. Eigenvectors are unit vectirs in their own basis. S𝓏 ≐ ħ/2 ( 1 0 ) |+> = ( 1 ) |-> = ( 0 ) ( 0 -1 ) ( 0 ) ( 1 ) Diagonalizing an Operator Diagonize a matrix --> find the eigenvalues and eigenvector S𝓍 ≐ ħ/2 ( 0 1 ) ( 1 0 ) (1) 1⁄2 ⁵⁄ₐ