Extremal inverse eigenvalue problem for bordered diagonal matrices (Q2459970)

The authors consider the problem of constructing a real symmetric ``arrow'' matrix (that is a matrix whose only nonzero elements are in the first row or column or on the diagonal) from the maximal and minimal eigenvalues of all of its leading principal submatrices. Their results include necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such a matrix and sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique nonnegative matrix with these properties. They also correct a related result recently announced by \textit{J. Peng, X.-Y. Hu} and \textit{L. Zhang} [Linear Algebra Appl. 416, No. 2--3, 336--347 (2006; Zbl 1097.65053)].