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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Is a matrix multiplied with its transpose something special?

In my math lectures, we talked about the Gram-Determinant where a matrix times its transpose are multiplied together. Is $A A^\mathrm T$ something special for any matrix $A$?
91
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Given this transformation matrix, how do I decompose it into translation, rotation and scale matrices?

I have this problem from my Graphics course. Given this transformation matrix: $$\begin{pmatrix} -2 &-1& 2\\ -2 &1& -1\\ 0 &0& 1\\ \end{pmatrix}$$ I need to extract translation, rotation and scale matrices. I've also have the answer (which is…
metavers
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Matrices: left inverse is also right inverse?

If $A$ and $B$ are square matrices, and $AB=I$, then I think it is also true that $BA=I$. In fact, this Wikipedia page says that this "follows from the associativity of matrix multiplication". I assume there's a nice simple one-line proof, but can't…
bubba
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What is the usefulness of matrices?

I have matrices for my syllabus but I don't know where they find their use. I even asked my teacher but she also has no answer. Can anyone please tell me where they are used? And please also give me an example of how they are used?
Pranit Bauva
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52
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5 answers

How many rows and columns are in an m x n matrix?

A simple question: By definition, does an m x n matrix have m rows and n columns, or is it vice versa?
50
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9 answers

Sum of all elements in a matrix

The trace is the sum of the elements on the diagonal of a matrix. Is there a similar operation for the sum of all the elements in a matrix?
35
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5 answers

Convert vector into diagonal matrix

Given a vector $[x_1,x_2,x_3, \dots, x_n]^T$, is it possible to obtain a diagonal matrix, $ \left[\begin{array}{c c c c c} x_1 & 0 & 0 & \dots & 0\\ 0 & x_2 & 0 & \dots & 0\\ 0 & 0 & x_3 & \dots & 0\\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ 0…
30
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Why do the $n \times n$ non-singular matrices form an “open” set?

Why is the set of $n\times n$ real, non-singular matrices an  open subset of the set of all $n\times n$ real matrices? I don’t quite understand what ”open” means in this context. Thank you.
ono
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What kind of matrix is this and why does this happen?

So I was studying Markov chains and I came across this matrix \begin{align*}P=\left( \begin{array}{ccccc} 0 & \frac{1}{4} & \frac{3}{4} & 0 & 0\\ \frac{1}{4} & 0 & 0 & \frac{1}{4} & \frac{1}{2}\\ \frac{1}{2} & 0 & 0 &…
thesmallprint
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A matrix to the power of zero gives identity matrix even if it doesn't have an inverse?

If one matrix whose determinant is equal to 0 which means it doesn't have an inverse. Then how is possible to find the value of the matrix to the power of 0 equal to identity matrix when multiplying the original matrix with something undefined? Is…
24
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3 answers

Multiplying by a $1\times 1$ matrix?

For matrix multiplication to work, you have to multiply an $m \times n$ matrix by an $n \times p$ matrix, so we have $$\bigg(m \times n\bigg)\bigg( n\times p \bigg).$$ But what about a $1 \times 1$ matrix? Is this just a scalar? But every matrix…
user26069
24
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3 answers

Checkboard matrix, brand new or old?

Ok so what I found was a square matrix of order $n×n$ where $n$ follows $2m+1$ and $m$ is a natural number the pattern these matrices follow is as follows: for a $3×3$ matrix: $$ A = \left( \begin{array}{ccc} b & a & c \\ a & a+b+c & a \\ c & a & b…
22
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4 answers

How to calculate square matrix to power n?

I have a matrix of non-negative numbers, say $A$. (1) How do we calculate $A^n$? (2) How can we calculate $A^n$ using usual matrix exponential trick to do it fast ? Edit 1 Also theres another property of matrix A that its diagonals consists always…
21
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Inverse of $A^{-1}+B^{-1}$

If $A, B$ and $A + B$ are all $n × n$ invertible matrices. Prove that $A^{−1} + B^{−1}$ is invertible and the inverse is $A(A + B) ^{−1}B$. I am afraid I am really stuck on this one, and I haven't really tried much because I don't know what to…
Luke
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How is the column space of a matrix A orthogonal to its nullspace?

How do you show that the column space of a matrix A is orthogonal to its nullspace?
user7087
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