Questions tagged [matrices]

For any topic related to matrices. This includes: systems of linear equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors (diagonalization, triangularization), determinant, trace, characteristic polynomial, adjugate and adjoint, transpose, Jordan normal form, matrix algorithms (e.g. LU, Gauss elimination, SVD, QR), invariant factors, quadratic forms, etc. For questions specifically concerning matrix equations, use the (matrix-equations) tag.

A matrix is a rectangular array of elements, usually numbers or variables, arranged in rows and columns. A matrix with $m$ rows and $n$ columns has $m \times n$ elements and is called an $m$ by $n$ matrix. Matrices are a part of .

Matrices can be added and subtracted. Furthermore, if they have compatible shapes, they can be multiplied. More precisely, given two matrices $A$ and $B$, the matrix $AB$ is defined when the number of columns of $A$ is equal to the number of rows of $B$. In particular, given a natural number $n$, any two matrices $A$ and $B$ with $n$ columns and $n$ rows can be multiplied in both ways (that is, both $AB$ and $BA$ exist).


For questions specifically concerning matrix equations, use the tag.

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Are there any properties of the diag operator?

Let $u$ and $v$ be a column vector of same dimension. 1.) Can anyone give some properties about the operations of function, such as $\text{diag}(u)+\text{diag}(v)=\text{diag}(u+v)$? 2.) Is there any mathematical representation to express the…
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Is there a matrix $C$ that can make $AB$ return the same result as $BA$ where $C$ is based on $B$?

I am given an arbitrary matrix $A$ that I will be multiplying by a rotational matrix $B$ ( both $4\times4$ ) Is there any matrix $C$, based only on manipulation of matrix $B$, that when doing $A(BC)$ will produce the same result as $BA$? $BA =…
David W
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Let $A, B$ be square matrices of equal size ($n \times n$) and $A^2 + B =A^2B$. Prove that $AB=BA$

I need help with solving the problem about square matrices of equal size. I know that if $A + B = AB$, then $AB = BA$, but I can't prove this one. Please advise how to solve or think about this. Thanks in advance )
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Rank of a matrix.

Let a non-zero column matrix $A_{m\times 1}$ be multiplied with a non-zero row matrix $B_{1\times n}$ to get a matrix $X_{m\times n}$ . Then how to find rank of $X$?
ABC
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Matrix decomposition into two arbitrary sized matrices

Given a matrix $A$ of dimensions $m\times{}n$, I am interested in decomposing $A$ into the product $BC$ where $B$ is a $m\times{}p$ matrix and $C$ is a $p\times{}n$ matrix. What are the methods to perform such a decomposition? What are the possible…
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What is the signature of a matrix?

Thank you very much! Some webpages say that the signature of a symmetric real matrix is an integer which equals to the number of positive eigenvalues minus the number of negative ones. However, I am confused by one problem (Problem 4.1.23, Sp81 on…
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Pivots, determinant and eigenvalues

In symmetric matrices, Product of pivots = determinant of that matrix Determinant of the matrix = Product of eigenvalues Therefore the product of eigenvalues = product of pivots. Do any or all of the above apply to matrices that are not…
Leo
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Question on Wiki proof of Vandermonde matrix

On this page, https://proofwiki.org/wiki/Vandermonde_Determinant#Proof_3, I understand how they are creating the $n-1$ degree polynomial $P(x)$ by calculating the determinant based on the final row. I understand how they find the $n-1$ zeroes of…
Harshal
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Minimum Elementary row/column transformations to find Inverse of given Matric

While working out some elementary transformation to find Inverse of matrix, it get in my mind, what is the minimum number of elementary transformations needed to find the inverse of a matrix? Editor's note: see Finding the inverse of a matrix…
pde
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What is the sufficient and necessary condition for $U$ and $V$ to be the same in the SVD?

As we know, SVD decomposites any matrix $M$ into the form: $$M=U\Sigma V^*,$$ where $U$ and $V$ are normally different. In here Wikipedia says that a matrix A is normal if and only if $U=V$. But in the very same article, it raised an example of a…
xzhu
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A quantitative measure of rank of a matrix

The rank of a matrix is only defined as integers. Is there some other criteria that is more quantitative. E.g. $$A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1\\ 1 & 0\\ \end{bmatrix} $$ $$B= \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1\\ 1 & 0.999\\ \end{bmatrix} $$ $A$ is "better ranked"…
aiao
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An example of a $4×4$ matrix $A$ such that $A\not= I$, $A^2\not=I$, ..., $A^5 = I$

How do I go about solving this? I went for tutoring and the tutor said I am trying to get to an Identity matrix so I should start with an identity matrix and mix the values around till I get a solution. I have worked on this for 2 hours now and…
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Finding inverse of a $3\times3$ matrix

I am given a $3 \times3$ matrix and am asked to find the inverse using elementary row operations. I know how they work, but have no idea of which steps to apply first, followed by which steps. First, the matrices: $$\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & -3\\ 2 &…
bryan.blackbee
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Need to find matrix formulation

I have a $B$ matrix: $B = B_{ij}$ I need to find closed matrix formulation of: $$\sum_i \sum_j \sum_m \sum_n B_{ij} B_{jm} B_{mn} B_{ni}$$ But I am so confused! Edit by Henrik: Originally, it was asked to express $$\sum_i \sum_j \sum_m \sum_n …
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Nearest commuting matrix

The space of matrices that commute with a given matrix $A\in \mathbb{C}^{n\times n}$ is a subspace of the vector space of all matrices $\mathbb{C}^{n\times n}$. There must exist a projection operator upon this subspace, some $P_A$ such…
Wouter
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