SUMMARY

Inverse iteration, if applied to a symmetric positive definite matrix, is shown to generate a sequence of iterates with monotonously decreasing Rayleigh quotients. We present sharp bounds from above and from below which highlight inverse iteration as a descent scheme for the Rayleigh quotient. Such estimates provide the background for the analysis of the behavior of the Rayleigh quotient in certain approximate variants of inverse iteration. key words: Symmetric eigenvalue problem; Inverse iteration; Rayleigh quotient. 1