An n × n defective matrix always has fewer than n distinct eigenvalues, since distinct eigenvalues always have linearly independent eigenvectors.
ɐn ˈɛn tˈaɪmz ˈɛn dᵻfˈɛktɪv mˈeɪtɹɪks ˈɔːlweɪz hɐz fjˈuːɚ ðɐn ˈɛn dɪstˈɪŋkt ˈaɪdʒənvˌæljuːz, sˈɪns dɪstˈɪŋkt ˈaɪdʒənvˌæljuːz ˈɔːlweɪz hæv lˈɪnɪɹli ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt ˈaɪdʒənvˌɛktɚz.