On lower bounds of eigenvalues for self adjoint operators

For the eigenvalue problem of $Au = \lambda u$ where A is considered as a semi-bounded self-adjoint operator on a Hilbert space, we are used to apply two complentary methods finding upper bounds and lower bounds to the eigenvalues. The most popular method for finding upper bounds may be the Rayleigh-Ritz method which was developed in the 19th century while a method for computing lower bounds may be the method of intermediate eigenvalue problems which has been developed since 1950's. In the method of intermediate eigenvalue problems (IEP), we consider the original operator eigenvalue problem as a perturbation of a simpler, resolvable, self-adjoint eigenvalue problem, called a base problem, that gives rough lower bounds.