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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Commutator of generalized Gell-Mann matrices

Is there an explicit formula for commutator of generalized Gell-Mann matrices? For example, pauli matrices (generalized Gell-Mann in dimensions $ d = 2 $): $$ [\sigma_a, \sigma_b] = 2 i \varepsilon_{abc} \sigma_c $$
user582108
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Combining Matrices?

Let’s say there are two matrices $A$ and $B$ where $$A=\begin{bmatrix}a&b\\b&a\end{bmatrix}$$ $$B=\begin{bmatrix}c&d\\d&c\end{bmatrix}$$ $A$ and $B$ together make up a third matrix $C$…
UpTide
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What $h$ and $k$ would make this system have infinitely many solutions?

If there are an infinite number of solutions to the system $$\left|\begin{array}{cc|c} -5 & 6 & h\\ -8 & k & -7\end{array}\right|$$ then what do $h$ and $k$ equal? I know that for a system to have infinity many solutions then both of the rows must…
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Difference between matrix mapping and matrix multiplication

My textbook says that a matrix mapping is a function f: $\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}^m$ such that $f(\vec{x}) = A\vec{x}$ where $A$ is an $m \times n$ matrix So how is a result of a matrix mapping different from multiplying a matrix by a vector? Is…
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Does such a operator exist?

I have been looking for a matrix multiplier that is similar to a tensor product. The best way I can define the product is with the following example: Suppose $A=\left[\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 2\\ 3 & 4 \end{array}\right]$, and…
Pareto
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Reducing a matrix to reduced row echelon form without introducing fractions

I've been trying to figure out how to reduce this matrix without introducing fractions in the intermediate stages but can't figure out how to do it. $$\begin{bmatrix}2&1&3\\ 0&-2&-29\\ 3&4&5\end{bmatrix}$$
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Spectral decomposition of some special matrix

Let $A_{n\times n} = aI+bJ$, where $I$ is the identity matrix and $J$ is the matrix of all ones. Is it possible to find the expression of $A^{1/2}$ such that $A^{1/2}A^{1/2} = A$? In particular $A = I_{n\times n} -…
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Power of a special case of the Leslie matrix

For $a_1,\ldots,a_n \in \mathbb{R}$ I got the following $n \times n$ Matrix $$ B=\begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 & a_n \\ a_{1} & 0 & \cdots & 0 & 0\\ 0 & a_{2} & \cdots & 0 & 0\\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots \\ 0 & 0 & \cdots &…
Ronaldinho
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Similar matrices - find a matrix $T$

The matrices $A=\begin{pmatrix}5 & -3 \\ 4 & -2\end{pmatrix}$ and $B=\begin{pmatrix}-1 & 1\\-6 & 4\end{pmatrix}$ are similar. By knowing that similar matrices have the same eigenvalues, find a matrix $T$ such that $A=TBT^{-1}.$ any idea or proof is…
Iuli
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Characterize triangular matrices by its eigenvalues?

For a triangular matrix, its diagonal entries are eigenvalues repeated with algebraic multiplicities. I wonder if the reverse is true. In other words, a matrix whose diagonal entries are eigenvalues repeated with algebraic multiplicities must be…
Tim
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Characterize unitary matrices by their eigenvalues and/or eigenvectors?

Every eigenvalue of a unitary matrix has absolute value 1. I was wondering whether a matrix whose eigenvalues all have absolute value 1 must be unitary? Thanks!
Tim
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Limits within determinants of Increasingly large matricies

Consider an n*n Matrix called A, where the elements within A are either 1 or 0. As n approaches Infinity, What percent of the possible matrices have det(A)=0?
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A $3\times 3$ matrix to the power of $n$.

I can't find a formula for : $$ A =\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 2 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 3 \\ \end{pmatrix}^n $$ I tried to separate $A = I + J$ with $J$ nilpotent but I didn't success. Can you give me a…
user327260
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How to show that $A^3+A=0 \Rightarrow \text{Trace}(A)=0$ when $A$ is a real matrix

If $A\in M_n(\mathbb{R})$, and satisfies $$A^3+A=0$$how to show that$$\text{Trace}(A)=0$$ thanks
Laura
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Matrices which never map vectors onto orthogonal vectors

Clearly, there are matrices $M$ for which there exists a vector $v$ such that $\langle v,Mv \rangle=0$ but $M v\ne 0$. In fact, a $90^{\circ}$ rotation in $2D$ has this property for all $v$: $$v^T \left[\begin{matrix}0 & 1 \\ -1 &…
Wouter
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