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9 votes
3 answers
409 views

Determinant of a block matrix with many $-1$'s

For an array $(n_1,...,n_k)$ of non-negative integers and non-zero reals $a_1,...,a_k$, define a block matrix $M$ of size $n=n_1+\cdots+n_k$ as follows: The main diagonal has blocks of sizes $n_i$ and ...
Wolfgang's user avatar
  • 13.4k
9 votes
1 answer
847 views

Maximizing a ratio of determinants

Let $D\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$ be a diagonal positive definite matrix s.t. $D\leq I$ ($I$ denotes the $n$-dim. identity matrix) and let $\alpha$ be a strictly positive real number. Consider the ...
Ludwig's user avatar
  • 2,712
8 votes
3 answers
5k views

Determinant of a specific $4 \times 4$ symmetric matrix

In a recent research work, I have come across the following nice identity, where the entries $a,b,x$ belong to an arbitrary commutative unital ring: $$\begin{vmatrix} 2 & a & b & ab-x \\ ...
Clément de Seguins Pazzis's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
595 views

Jensen-like inequality for random matrix: $\Bbb E[\det X^2]\ge\det\Bbb E[X^2]$

Let $X\in M_n(\Bbb R)$ be a random matrix with iid elements following a continuous distribution. What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for $$\Bbb E[\det X^2]\ge\det\Bbb E[X^2]$$ to hold? Is ...
TheSimpliFire's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
3k views

Some Hankel Determinants

After invoking a recursion relation for Hankel determinants in my answer to a (mostly unrelated) question, I started wondering what else I could use this recursion for, and stumbled upon some results ...
Steven Landsburg's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
321 views

"Almost Hankelized" numerical Vandermonde

One of the more utilized determinant is that of Vandermonde's $$\begin{vmatrix} 1&x_1&x_1^2&\dots&x_1^{n-1}\\ 1&x_2&x_2^2&\dots&x_2^{n-1}\\ \ldots&\ldots&\...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

Geometric interpretation of the Desnanot–Jacobi Identity

Given a square $n\times n$ matrix $M$, let $M_i^j$ denote the $(n-1)\times(n-1)$ matrix obtained from M by omitting the $i$-th row and $j$-th column of $M$. The Desnanot–Jacobi Identity states $$\det(...
cfarns's user avatar
  • 81
8 votes
1 answer
726 views

A direct proof of a property of symmetric 2x2-determinants

Let $f(a,b,c)=\det\begin{pmatrix}a &b\\ b& c\end{pmatrix}\in\mathbb{R}[a,b,c]$ be the determinant of a $2 \times 2$ real symmetric matrix. Let $f(x_i,y_i,z_i)\geq 0$, $x_i\geq 0$, $z_i\geq 0$ ...
Dima Pasechnik's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Determine if a matrix is unimodular

Is deciding if an integer square matrix has determinant $\pm 1$ faster that calculating the determinant of the matrix?
Mark Bell's user avatar
  • 3,165
8 votes
2 answers
796 views

generalizations of Vandermonde matrix to high dimensions

Let $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n\in\mathbb{R} $ or $\mathbb{C}$. By the non-degeneracy of Vandermonde matrix the maps $$ f: \mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R}^n,$$ $$ x\longmapsto (1,x,x^2,\cdots,x^{n-1})...
Quan's user avatar
  • 519
8 votes
0 answers
176 views

Nonzero subdeterminants conjecture: has anybody seen this anywhere?

I already posted this question on Mathematics StackExchange. A user there suggested that I rather post it on mathoverflow, since it is a research question. So here it is. Let $m\geq2$, $n\geq1$ be ...
chizhek's user avatar
  • 291
8 votes
0 answers
492 views

Strange determinant inequality $\det(C+ xA) \det(C-xA) \le (\det C)^2$

Let $A$ be an all-one $3$-by-$3$ matrix, let $C$ be a $3$-by-$3$ matrix, and let $x$ be a real number. How might one prove the following inequality? $$\det(C+ xA) \det(C-xA) \le (\det C)^2$$
Martin's user avatar
  • 99
7 votes
5 answers
1k views

How to calculate one Cauchy type determinant

As we know, a Cauchy determinant of size n admits the following explicit formula: $$\det \left(\frac{1}{x _i+y _j}\right) _{1\le i,j \le n}=\frac{\prod _{1\le i < j\le n} (x _j-x _i)(y _j-y _i)}{\...
cd14's user avatar
  • 113
7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Generalized Cauchy-Binet sum over a fixed subset of indices

I originally posted this on math.stackexchange, but it quickly got buried. I removed it not too long after, thinking of rewriting it for MO, but I didn’t have a chance to post it until now. Apologies ...
j.c.'s user avatar
  • 13.6k
7 votes
1 answer
248 views

The determinant of a $4\times4$ matrix associated to some specific polynomial as follow

Let $f\in \mathbb{R}[x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4]$ defined by $$f_a(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)=\prod_{1\leqslant i<j\leqslant4}(x_i-x_j)^{2a_{ij}}$$ where $a=(a_{12},a_{13},a_{14},a_{23},a_{24},a_{34})\in \mathbb{N}^6$. ...
user173856's user avatar
  • 1,997
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Determinant of correlation matrix of autoregressive model

I wonder if there is a paper that can point out how to compute the determinant of a $d \times d$ autoregressive correlation matrix of the form $$R = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & r & \cdots & r^{d-...
Nikolayevich's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Block matrices and their determinants

For $n\in\Bbb{N}$, define three matrices $A_n(x,y), B_n$ and $M_n$ as follows: (a) the $n\times n$ tridiagonal matrix $A_n(x,y)$ with main diagonal all $y$'s, superdiagonal all $x$'s and subdiagonal ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Determinant of some covariance matrix (Gaussian kernel process)

Let $x_1,\dots,x_p$ be $p$ points in $\mathbb{R}^n$ ($n\geq 2$) with $x_1=0$. Consider the symmetric matrix $M(x)=(m_{ij}(x))_{1\leq i,j\leq p}$ where $m_{ij}(x) = \exp(-\frac{1}{2}\Vert x_i - x_j\...
user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
141 views

A generalization of matrix minors to non-integer values

I am interested to know if there exist a notion of $k$-minors of a real square matrix, for non-integer positive values of $k$ One approach I thought of was to use the fact that the $k$-minors are (...
Asaf Shachar's user avatar
  • 6,741
6 votes
1 answer
886 views

One question on block-circulant matrices

Circulant matrices are very useful in digital image processing. I found the general formula for determinant of circulant matrix. But I think it is not suitable for block-circulant matrices. For ...
user369335's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
340 views

Characteristic polynomial of checker matrix

For every integer $n > 0$, let $C_n$ be the $4n \times 4n$ matrix having $1$'s in all positions $(i, j)$ such that $i - j$ is even, $3$'s in the two diagonals determined by $|i - j| = 2n + 1$, and $...
MargeL's user avatar
  • 63
6 votes
2 answers
738 views

Probability of a large random integer Matrix to have zero determinant

Suppose we have a matrix $A \in \{0,1\}^{n \times n}$ where $$A_{ij} = \begin{cases} 1 & \text{with probability} \quad p\\ 0 &\text{with probability} \quad 1-p\end{cases}$$ I would like to ...
Hipstpaka's user avatar
  • 355
6 votes
3 answers
251 views

How many $40$-vertex cubic bipartite graphs have determinant $\pm 3$?

To get some feel for the size of a particular computation, I would like to know the approximate number of (pairwise-nonisomorphic) cubic bipartite graphs on $40$ vertices whose bipartite adjacency ...
Gordon Royle's user avatar
  • 12.7k
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is there a formula for the determinant of a block matrix of this kind?

I am looking for an expression that gives the determinant of a matrix of the form \begin{bmatrix} A & B & 0 & \dots & 0 & C \\ B & A & B & & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & ...
ZingyMcGhee's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
194 views

Values of a pair of determinants

Let $\mathbf{x} = (x_0, x_1, x_2), \mathbf{y} = (y_0, y_1, y_2)$ be vectors over a field $\mathbb{F}$ of characteristic zero. Define the function $\displaystyle S(\mathbf{x}, \mathbf{y}) = x_2 (y_0^2 -...
Stanley Yao Xiao's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
954 views

Proving that the kernel of this matrix is of dimension 2

(Edit : see at the bottom of the question for an additional surprising possible hint.) Using a computational software program, I found that the kernel of the following matrix is of dimension 2 when $...
anderstood's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
392 views

Divisibility properties of minors of matrices

Let $A$ be an $m\times n$ matrix with integer entries. Let $d_i(A)$ be the greatest common divisor of all $i\times i$ minors of $A$, and define $d_0(A)=1$. Whenever $i\leq j$, one has that $d_i(A)$ ...
Joel Louwsma's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
375 views

Monomial base change and the Vandermonde

Denote the falling factorials by $(x)_k=x(x-1)\cdots(x-k+1)$. The Vandermonde determinant is given by $\det\left[x_i^{j-1}\right]_1^n=\prod_{i<j}(x_j-x_i)$. It is well-known that in as much as ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
4k views

Determinant of block tridiagonal matrices

Is there a formula to compute the determinant of block tridiagonal matrices when the determinants of the involved matrices are known? In particular, I am interested in the case $$A = \begin{pmatrix} ...
Martin's user avatar
  • 1,101
5 votes
2 answers
312 views

minimum-maximum entries matrix

Let $M(n)$ be an $n\times n$ matrix in the variables $x_1,\dots,x_n$ with entries $$M_{i,j}(n)=\frac{x_{\max(i,j)}}{x_{\min(i,j)}}, \qquad 1\leq i,j\leq n.$$ I'm interested in the following: ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Iterated calculation of determinants

Given a $4 \times 4$ matrix $S$ over a commutative ring $R$. I want to consider it as a $2\times 2$ matrix over $M_2(R)$. Lets say $S=\left(\begin{array}{cc} A&B \\\ C&D\end{array}\right)$ ...
HenrikRüping's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
335 views

Determinant of a certain Toeplitz matrix

Compute the following determinant \begin{vmatrix} x & 1 & 2 & 3 & \cdots & n-1 & n\\ 1 & x & 1 & 2 & \cdots & n-2 & n-1\\ 2 & 1 & x & 1 &...
LogicNotFound's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
203 views

dyadically recursive matrices: Part I

Introduce the $2^{n-1}\times 2^{n-1}$ matrix $B_n$ recursively as follows: $B_1(b_1)=\begin{pmatrix} b_1\end{pmatrix}$ and $$B_n(b_1,\dots,b_n)=\begin{pmatrix} B_{n-1}(b_1,\dots,b_{n-1})& b_nJ_{n-...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Determinant of non-symmetric sum of matrices

Given three real, symmetric matrices $A\succ0$ and $B$, $C⪰ 0$. How can it be shown that: $$\det(A^2+AB+AC) \leq \det(A^2 +BA +AC+BC) ? \qquad (\star)$$ Where $A^2$ is symmetric and positive ...
user34406's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Generalizations of Oppenheim's inequality

The well-known Oppenheim inequality says that for two positive definite matrices $A,B$ it holds that $\det(A \circ B) \geq (\prod{a_{ii}})\det(B)$. There has been a lot of beautiful work done ...
Felix Goldberg's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
420 views

Maximum determinant of binary matrices with special properties

Let $A$ be an $n$-by-$n$ binary matrix (all elements are in $\{0,1\}$). It is known that the determinant of $A$ is bounded by $O(n^{n/2} / 2^n)$. I am looking for tighter upper bounds for matrices ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
335 views

Determinant of the "quantum" version of the group $\mathbb{Z}_n$

Let $[0]_q:=0$ and $[n]_q:=\frac{1-q^n}{1-q}=1+q+\cdots+q^{n-1}$, for $n\geq1$. Question. Is there a closed formula (with proof) for the determinant of the matrix of $(i,j)$-entries $$[i+j\bmod n]...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
8k views

Proving a determinant = 0

The two most elementary ways to prove an N x N matrix's determinant = 0 are: A) Find a row or column that equals the 0 vector. B) Find a linear combination of rows or columns that equals the 0 ...
Curt Monash's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
417 views

Log determinant of quadratic form

I am reading a paper Cook and Forzani - Likelihood-Based Sufficient Dimension Reduction where the author uses the following result from matrix analysis but does not explain why it is true nor provide ...
lmn2609's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
2 answers
540 views

How to compute a more general version of Vandermonde / Cauchy double alternant determinant

Consider some variables $\{X_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$, $\{Y_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$, and $\{W_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$. Does anyone know how to compute the following determinant? $$ \det ~ \left(\frac{W_j^{i-1}}{...
Ahmadreza Momeni's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
447 views

Determinant of Hankel matrix with $a_n=(n!)^2$

Consider a Hankel matrix of the form $H_n(a_0(n))=\begin{pmatrix} a_0(n) & (1!)^2 & (2!)^2 & \cdots & (n!)^2\\ (1!)^2 & (2!)^2 & (3!)^2& \cdots & ((n+1)!)^2\\ (2!)^2 &...
fs98's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
0 answers
315 views

Is there a matrix with this specific quadratic determinant?

We have $\det M=(a+b)(c+d)$ where $M=\begin{bmatrix} a& 0& -1& 0\\ 0& c& 0& -1\\ b& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& d& 0& 1 \end{bmatrix}$ and $\det M'=(a'+b')(c'+d')$...
Turbo's user avatar
  • 13.9k
5 votes
0 answers
620 views

Is there a method to simultaneously block-diagonalize a set of group matrices?

Assume that you are explicitly given the representation matrices of a group. How does one go about finding that common basis which will find the irreducible components of all of them simultaneously? ...
user6818's user avatar
  • 1,893
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Detecting if a polynomial is a Pfaffian

Given an explicit polynomial, is there any kind of trick/algorithm to check whether it is a pfaffian of a matrix with linear entries? The pfaffian can be defined as $\sqrt{{\rm det}(A) } $ when $A$ ...
IMeasy's user avatar
  • 3,779
4 votes
5 answers
4k views

About adding a negative definite rank-1 matrix to a symmetric matrix

If $B$ is a symmetric matrix then how do its eigenvalues compare to the eigenvalues of $B - vv^T$? ( where $v$ is a vector of the same dimension as $B$) I guess that the eigenvalues of $B - vv^T$ ...
user6818's user avatar
  • 1,893
4 votes
2 answers
288 views

Prove that there is a diagonal matrix $D$ with entries equal to $\pm 1$ such that $\det(A+D) \neq 0$ [closed]

I recently saw the following problem on an entrance exam: Let $A$ be a square matrix. Prove that there is a diagonal matrix $D$ whose diagonal entries are either $+1$ or $-1$ such that $\det(A+D) \...
user50190's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
369 views

Determinant in terms of certain $2\times 2$ minors

Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ matrix with entries $a_{i,j}$. Define an $(n-1)\times(n-1)$ matrix $B$ with entries $b_{i,j}=a_{1,1}a_{i+1,j+1}-a_{1,j+1}a_{i+1,1}$. Then $\det(B)=a_{1,1}^{n-2}\det(A)$. I ...
Joel Louwsma's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
242 views

Hankel determinant of incomplete gamma functions

I have some expressions that involve Hankel determinants of incomplete gamma functions. They are of the ($r \times r$ form) I'd like to evaluate these determinants. Elementary operations help, but ...
searp's user avatar
  • 41
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Determinant involving traceless unitary hermitian matrices

Let $S$ be the set of complex $N\times N$ matrices that are traceless, unitary and hermitian. A friend asked me the following question, motivated by a problem in condensed matter physics: Is it ...
thedude's user avatar
  • 1,549
4 votes
2 answers
203 views

Results of invertibility of a matrix involving the Szego kernel

In the context of reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces, the Szego kernel is the function $k(z_i,z_j)=\frac{1}{1-z_j\overline{z_j}}$. Given $2n$ points $\{z_1,\ldots,z_n\},\{w_1,\ldots,w_n\}\in\mathbb{D}\...
GBA's user avatar
  • 167