We show that the uncertainty relation as expressed in the Robertson-Schrodinger generalized form can be used to detect the mixedness of three-level quantum systems in terms of measureable expectation values of suitably chosen observables when prior knowledge about the basis of the given state is known. In particular, we demonstrate the existence of observables for which the generalized uncertainty relation is satisfied as an equality for pure states and a strict inequality for mixed states corresponding to single as well as bipartite sytems of qutrits. Examples of such observables are found for which the magnitude of uncertainty is proportional to the linear entropy of the system, thereby providing a method for measuring mixedness.
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