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.

55954 questions
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Matrix with only positive entries whose inverse has only positive entries

I'm looking for a class of matrices such that if it contains a matrix with only positive entries then the inverse of said matrix also has only positive entries. I imagine an example of such a class would be the class of orthogonal matrices where the…
Qtip
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minimal operations to solve a tridiagonal matrix

$ A \in \mathbb{R}^{n x n} $ of a tridiagonal matrix and $b \in \mathbb{R}^{n}$ What is the least number of arithmetic statements as a function of n to solve $A*x = b$? $$ \left( \begin{matrix} a_{1,1} & a_{1,2} & 0 & \ldots & 0\\ a_{2,1} & …
corium
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What is crossMatrix and what does it do?

I read a code about 3x3 matrix related calculation, and there is no comment for all the code. There is a crossMatrix function, which, I don't understand. It is defined as: void Matrix3x3::v31xv31_crossMatrix(Vector inV, double diag, Matrix3x3…
ChrisZZ
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What is the best way to explain why Matrix Multiplication is not commutative?

I have a question asking me why matrix multiplication isn't commutative. I'm not exactly sure what's the best way to explain this without simply saying "it's obvious". $AB \not= BA$ because the steps to multiply the values are different going one…
Si Random
  • 911
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How to solve for unknown variables in a matrix?

How do I solve this problem? Ideally, I think $$a^2-4=1$$ is the best option to solve for a I set the entire expression equal to 1. Then to solve for b I just put $b=1$. Is this right? I feel like that's really wrong. So update I got this I…
Si Random
  • 911
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Householder QR derivation

Im looking at the Householder operation, does anyone know how this guy got from the first equation to the second? $$\forall x, Px = x - \frac{2v(x^Tv)}{v^Yv} \implies P = I-\frac{2vv^T}{v^Tv}$$ I know this is probably very simple but I am very new…
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Adding constants to matrices

So I'm a high school student currently studying the chapter matrices (which is interesting but confusing in its own way). And recently I came across a problem that involved passing a matrix through a quadratic function. I understood the squaring and…
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Find the minimum positive integer $n$ and the matrix $A^{2020}$

Let $A=a\begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1\\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$ $(a>0)$ and $I=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0\\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$ satisfy $A^4+I=\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0\\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}$ Find $a$ For this I can do. I saw $a=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ Find the minimum…
user790977
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Matrix Multiplication - Why Rows $\cdot$ Columns = Columns?

I'm nearing the end of my first year of Calculus and am pretty confident in the parts of it I've learned, yet I still don't have a good understanding of matrices, which seem like they should be easier to understand and work with. They were never…
mowwwalker
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Elementary explanation of determinant

I am teaching 9th graders about matrices and looking for an explanation of what a determinant is. All of the explanations I find are too complex! Is there someone that can give a 9th grade level explanation??
Teri
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are normal subgroups of $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ also normal under the action of integer matrices in $GL(2, \mathbb{Q})$?

Ie, if $\Gamma\subseteq\text{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ is a normal subgroup, and $\alpha\in\text{GL}_2(\mathbb{Q})\cap M_2(\mathbb{Z})$, then is $\alpha\Gamma = \Gamma\alpha$? (if necessary we can assume $\alpha$ has positive determinant). will
oxeimon
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How to check whether it is possible to solve this problem?

We have a matrix with numbers. We can add $1$ to any selected element and this action adds $1$ to elements according to some function, which I'll call the $X$-function. For instance, $1$ could be added to all elements in the same row and all…
Robotex
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What are the dimensions of the product of two matrices?

A simple question is a (5x2)*(2x5) = a (5x5) matrix?
edprog
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Matrices - given $AB$, how to find determinant of $BA$ ??

Let A$_{3×2}$ and B$_{2×3}$ be matrices such that their product $AB$ is $$AB=\begin{pmatrix} 8&2 & -2\\ 2&5&4 \\ -2&4&5 \\ \end{pmatrix}$$ And $BA$ is nonsingular Find the determinant of $BA$. I have no idea , how to solve this type of…
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Square matrix multiplication when raised to a power

Is there any way to evaluate an expression that involves a matrix to power $n$, multiplied with some constant $D$:$$D\begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix}^{n} $$ I can obviously do it if this power wasn't there but with it in place I am…
user63407