if( Math.abs(c.y - 0) < 1e-8 ) {
// test using the characteristic equation
Matrix temp = Matrix.createIdentity(A.columnCount());
temp.scale(c.x);
temp.sub(a);
double det = temp.determinant();
// extremely crude test. given perfect data this is probably considered a failure... However,
// its hard to tell what a good test value actually is.
assertEquals(0, det, 0.1);
}