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Matrices

Matrices are a powerful mathematical tool that simplifies solving systems of linear equations. They represent coefficients in linear systems and are used in spreadsheet programs, science, economics, and more. Matrices can represent physical transformations like rotation. Key concepts introduced are: matrix definition as a rectangular array of numbers, order/size as the number of rows and columns, common operations like addition and multiplication which have specific rules, and special types of matrices like identity and diagonal matrices. The chapter will cover matrix fundamentals including transpose, determinants, and inverses.

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Ojasvi Associates
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97 views

Matrices

Matrices are a powerful mathematical tool that simplifies solving systems of linear equations. They represent coefficients in linear systems and are used in spreadsheet programs, science, economics, and more. Matrices can represent physical transformations like rotation. Key concepts introduced are: matrix definition as a rectangular array of numbers, order/size as the number of rows and columns, common operations like addition and multiplication which have specific rules, and special types of matrices like identity and diagonal matrices. The chapter will cover matrix fundamentals including transpose, determinants, and inverses.

Uploaded by

Ojasvi Associates
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION TO MATRICES

Matrices are one of the most powerful tools in Mathematics. This Mathematical tool simplifies our
work to a great extent when compared with other straight forward methods. The evolution of concept of Matrices is the result of an
attempt to obtain compact and simple methods of solving system of linear equations. Matrices are not only used as a representation
of the coefficients in system of linear equations, but utility of Matrices far exceeds that use. Matrix notation and operations are used
in electronic spreadsheet programs for personal computer, which in turn is used in different areas of business and science like
budgeting, sales projection, cost estimation, analyzing the result of an experiment etc. In addition, Matrices can represent many
physical operations such as magnification, rotation and reflection through a plane mathematically. Matrices are also used in
cryptography. This mathematical tool is not only used in certain branches of sciences, but also in genetics, economics, sociology,
modern psychology and industrial management. In this chapter, we shall find it interesting to become acquainted with the
fundamentals of Matrix and Matrix algebra.

Definition:
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers (or other suitable objects) arranged into rows and columns enclosed by parenthesis   or 
 . The numbers are called the elements or the entries of the matrix. Matrices are usually named using capital letters and elements are
shown in small letters of alphabets.
Order of a Matrix:
A matrix having m rows and n columns is called a matrix of order or size or dimension mn or simply mn matrix (read as an m by n
matrix).

Operations on Matrices:
We shall introduce certain operations on matrices, namely,

Addition (+) of matrices;

Subtraction (-) of matrices,

Scalar (constant) multiplication

Multiplication (*) of matrices.

1. Addition and Subtraction of matrices


Addition and subtraction can only be done if the matrices being used are of the same dimensions. These operations are done
with the corresponding elements of the matrices involved.

Examples:
2. Scalar Multiplication
Scalar multiplication can be done on any matrix since it is simply applying the distributive property – multiply each element of the
matrix by the number before the matrix.

Examples:

3. Multiplication of Matrices
Multiplication can only be performed if the number of columns of the first matrix equals the number of rows of the second matrix.

Examples:
Equality of Matrices:

Examples:

Special Type of Matrices

Zero Matrix (Null matrix)

Column Matrix (Column Vector)

Row Matrix (Row Vector)

Square Matrix

Diagonal Matrix

Unit Matrix (Identity Matrix)

Transpose of a Matrix:
Symmetric and Skew- Symmetric Matrices

The Determinant of a Matrix:


Inverse of a Matrix

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