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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How to calculate only the first row of $B$ square matrix in $AB=I$ without evaluating the whole one?

I am dealing with the following matrix equation. $$AB= I.$$ All are square matrices. $A$ is a known tridiagonal matrix, $I$ is identity matrix. Since $B$ is unusually large, I wonder if it is possible to find out the first row of $B$ matrix without…
Joy
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A question regarding $\,3 \times 4$ matrices

Good day, I'm currently studying for an exam and need to learn about matrices too. Well, since I'm not good at English I'll just write what I've done so far. Below is a photo showing the full sheet of paper with the steps I did so far. The thing I'm…
beta
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Lower bound for the trace of product of two symmetric matrices

i am stuck on finding a lower bound of $tr(XY)$ of two symmetric matrices in $M_{n}(\mathbb{R})$. I know that it holds $tr(XY)=tr(YX)$ and thus $tr(XY-YX)=0$ and i can remember, that XY-YX is also symmetric. I know that it holds $tr(XY)\leq…
zitoxas
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Proving that in this matrix, if the product of each column is the same, so is the product of each row

Consider an $n \times n$ matrix of $2n$ distinct numbers $a_1,a_2, \dots, a_n, b_1, b_2, \dots, b_n$, such that the number at the intersection of the $i$th row and the $j$th column is $a_i + b_j$: $$ \left( {\begin{array}{cc} {a_1 + b_1} & a_1 + b_2…
Gerard
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If $X$ is a singular matrix, then is $X'X$ singular?

If $X$ is a singular matrix, then is $X'X$ singular? And why? (' means transpose) Thanks in advance!
Ian
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How show that if Matrix A is not square, it cannot have an inverse.

How to show that if How A is not square, it cannot have an inverse. Why is the the case and how can I prove it?
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Help with linear equations and matrices (with working)

I know this question is a little long, but please take the time to help me! A company makes three blends of fruit drink: Orange Delight (which is 50% orange juice and 50% apple juice); Tropical Sunshine (50% orange juice, 30% mango juice and 20%…
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Always solving systems of linear equations wrong - what do I do wrong?

Dear ladies and gentlemen, over time I noticed I (and other) again and again have problems solving "systems of linear equations". It seems depending of the steps one chooses, we get different results!! How can that be? Should one not always get the…
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The eigenvector of Laplacian matrix plus a rank one matrix

Denote $L=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} 1 & -1 & 0\\ -1 & 2 & -1\\ 0 & -1 & 1 \end{array}\right]$ and $M=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} 1\\ & 0\\ & & 0 \end{array}\right]$. It's well known that $L$ is the Laplacian matrix of a path of length 3. Is there…
user96212
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Generating consecutive numbers from matrix multiplication.

I'm new to matrix multiplication and was trying to generate a sequence of consecutive numbers from the product of two $2 \times 2$ matrices and noticed this pattern. Let $$ A = \begin{pmatrix} n & n+1 \\ n+2 & n-1 \end{pmatrix}, \quad B =…
vengy
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What's this theorem?

While reading an old book, I came across this theorem: Neither name nor proof was given, can somebody provide some further information about this throrem? Thanks.
JSCB
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Norm upper bound on difference of inverted matrices

I feel like I have seen this bound before but no longer can recall its source: Suppose $A, B$ are square matrices with $||A^{-1} (A-B) || < 1$, i.e. their perturbation is relatively minimal. Then, what is an upper bound on $|| A^{-1} - B^{-1}…
C. Kang
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The rank of a matrix

The original question is: Show that the matrix $\Omega^{-1/2}X(X'\Omega^{-1}X)^{-1}X'\Omega^{-1/2}$, where $X$ is an $n\times p$ matrix and $\Omega^{-1}=\Omega^{-1/2}\Omega^{-1/2}$, is idempotent. What is its rank? The first part is easy to show.…
Ian
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Name for this matrix operation?

Suppose two matrices have the same number of rows. I want to perform an operation of element-wise product between all possible column pairs between the two matrices. For example, if $A = \left[{\begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{array}}\right],…
bluepole
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Is there meaning for $\bf uv^T$?

Let $\bf{u,v}$ be two column vector in $\mathbb R^n$, which can be represented by $n\times1$ matrix. $\bf u^T v$ is the inner product of $\bf u,v$, then is there meaning for $\bf uv^T$, which is a $n\times n$ matrix? Thanks.
JSCB
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