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Introduction To Matrices

A matrix is an array of numbers with a specified number of rows and columns. The document defines different types of matrices such as row matrices, column matrices, square matrices, zero matrices, and identity matrices. It also explains how to label the entries of a matrix using (i,j) notation and defines the transpose of a matrix.

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JEYA MARIE CARANAY
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22 views

Introduction To Matrices

A matrix is an array of numbers with a specified number of rows and columns. The document defines different types of matrices such as row matrices, column matrices, square matrices, zero matrices, and identity matrices. It also explains how to label the entries of a matrix using (i,j) notation and defines the transpose of a matrix.

Uploaded by

JEYA MARIE CARANAY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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An introduction to matrices

Jackie Nicholas
Mathematics Learning Centre
University of Sydney

c 2010 University of Sydney


What is a matrix?

A matrix is an array of numbers.


 
4 −1 3 0
1 −2 9 −1

The size of the matrix is determined by its number of rows and


number of columns.

The matrix above is a 2 by 4 matrix. That is, it has 2 rows and 4


columns. We write this as 2 × 4.
Row and column matrices

A matrix with only one row is called a row matrix or row vector.
 
4 −1 3 0

A matrix with only one column is called a column matrix or column


vector.  
4
 −1 
 
 3 
0
Square matrices and zero matrices

A matrix with the same number of rows and columns is called a


square matrix.
 
4 −1 3
 −1 0 −1  is a 3 × 3 square matrix.
1 3 −2

If we have a matrix where every entry is zero, this matrix is called


a zero matrix.
 
0 0 0 0
 0 0 0 0  is the 3 × 4 zero matrix.
0 0 0 0
Identity matrices

A square matrix which has 1’s on the diagonal and 0’s everywhere
else is called an identity matrix.
 
1 0 0
 0 1 0  is the 3 × 3 identity matrix.
0 0 1
 
1 0 0 0
 0 1 0 0 

 0
 is the 4 × 4 identity matrix.
0 1 0 
0 0 0 1
Labelling entries of a matrix

Consider the following matrix which we shall call A.


 
1 0 −1 6
A= 7 1 0 −2  is a 3 × 4 matrix.
0 3 1 0

The (i , j)th entry of A is the entry in the ith row and the jth
column of A.

For example, the (3, 2)th entry of A is 3.

We often refer to the (i , j)th entry of A as aij .


The transpose of a matrix
 
1 0 −1 6
Consider the following matrix A =  7 1 0 −2  .
0 3 1 0
0
We define the transpose of A, A , as the matrix whose (i , j)th
entry is the (j, i )th entry of A.
0
The (2, 3)th entry of A is the (3, 2)th entry of A, ie 3.
So,  
1 7 0
0  0 1 3 
A =  −1
.
0 1 
6 −2 0
0
Notice that while A is a 3 × 4 matrix, A is a 4 × 3 matrix, and the
0
rows of A are the columns of A .

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