All Questions
Tagged with determinants matrices
179 questions
63
votes
7
answers
9k
views
How to prove this determinant is positive?
Given matrices
$$A_i= \biggl(\begin{matrix}
0 & B_i \\
B_i^T & 0
\end{matrix} \biggr)$$
where $B_i$ are real matrices and $i=1,2,\ldots,N$, how to prove the following?
$$\det \big( I + e^...
- 845
53
votes
7
answers
51k
views
Determinant of sum of positive definite matrices
Say $A$ and $B$ are symmetric, positive definite matrices. I've proved that
$$\det(A+B) \ge \det(A) + \det(B)$$
in the case that $A$ and $B$ are two dimensional. Is this true in general for $n$-...
- 541
40
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Linear transformation that preserves the determinant
It seems "common knowledge" that the following holds:
Let $T$ be a linear transformation on $n\times n$ matrices with complex coefficients that preserves the determinant. Then there exists ...
- 511
31
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Determinants of binary matrices
I was surprised to find that most $3\times 3$ matrices with entries in $\{0,1\}$ have determinant $0$ or $\pm 1$. There are only six out of 512 matrices with a different determinant (three with $2$ ...
- 12.7k
29
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is there an explicit formula for the hessian of "Determinant"?
Let $f: G= \mbox{GL}(n,\mathbb{R}) \to \mathbb{R}$ be the determinant function.
Then $\mbox{Hess} (f)$ is a two linear map on $M_{n}(\mathbb{R})\simeq T_{e}(G)$ where $e$ is the neutral element of $G$,...
- 356
28
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Expressing $-\operatorname{adj}(A)$ as a polynomial in $A$?
Suppose $A\in R^{n\times n}$, where $R$ is a commutative ring. Let $p_i \in R$ be the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of $A$: $\operatorname{det}(A-xI) = p_0 + p_1x + \dots + p_n x^n$.
I ...
- 427
28
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Jacobi's equality between complementary minors of inverse matrices
What's a quick way to prove the following fact about minors of an invertible matrix $A$ and its inverse?
Let $A[I,J]$ denote the submatrix of an $n \times n$ matrix $A$ obtained by keeping only the ...
- 4,466
24
votes
7
answers
16k
views
Expected determinant of a random NxN matrix
What is the expected value of the determinant over the uniform distribution of all possible 1-0 NxN matrices? What does this expected value tend to as the matrix size N approaches infinity?
- 251
22
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Infinite matrices and the concept of "determinant"
Suppose we have an infinite matrix A = (aij) (i, j positive integers). What is the "right" definition of determinant of such a matrix? (Or does such a notion even exist?) Of course, I don't ...
- 1,861
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Lifting matrices mod 2 to integers.
The following question was motivated by my research.
Consider a $n\times n$ matrix whose elements are $0$'s or $1$'s such that the determinant is odd. The question is: is it possible to assign signs ...
- 4,736
20
votes
1
answer
25k
views
When does the $4\times 4$ 'false Sarrus rule' compute the determinant correctly?
This question is most probably not research level, but I thought that the MO folks might like it... Feel free to close.
Here is the motivation: If you have ever taught a maths course for engineers ...
- 12.7k
18
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Number of unique determinants for an NxN (0,1)-matrix
I'm interested in bounds for the number of unique determinants of NxN (0,1)-matrices. Obviously some of these matrices will be singular and therefore will trivially have zero determinant. While it ...
- 359
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Possible values of the determinant for matrices with elements $\{1, 0, -1\}$
For matrices with elements $\{-1, 1\}$ it is known from here that the possible absolute values of determinants of $n \times n$, $n \leq 6$ matrices with entries $\{-1, 1\}$ are as follows:
...
- 539
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Proof that block matrix has determinant $1$
The following real $2 \times 2$ matrix has determinant $1$:
$$\begin{pmatrix}
\sqrt{1+a^2} & a \\
a & \sqrt{1+a^2}
\end{pmatrix}$$
The natural generalisation of this to a real $2 \times 2$ ...
- 263
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to prove the determinant of a Hilbert-like matrix with parameter is non-zero
Consider some positive non-integer $\beta$ and a non-negative integer $p$. Does anyone have any idea how to show that the determinant of the following matrix is non-zero?
$$
\begin{pmatrix}
\frac{1}{\...
- 163
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The determinant of the sum of normal matrices
Given two normal matrices $A,B\in M_n({\mathbb C})$
whose respective spectra are $(\alpha_{1},\ldots,\alpha_{n})$ and
$(\beta_{1},\ldots,\beta_{n})$, is it true that $\det(A+B)$ belongs to
the ...
- 52.3k
16
votes
0
answers
809
views
Determinant inequality involving Hermitian, positive definite matrices
Let $A,B,C\in M_{n}(\mathbb C)$ be Hermitian and positive-definite matrices such that $A+B+C=I_{n}$.
Show that
$$\det\left(6(A^3+B^3+C^3)+I_{n}\right)\ge 5^n\det(A^2+B^2+C^2)$$
This question has been ...
- 269
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are automorphisms of matrix algebras necessarily determinant preservers?
Is every automorphism $\phi : A \to A$ of a subalgebra $A \subseteq M_n$ necessarily a determinant preserver?
I would assume that the answer is no in general, but I'm unable to find an example (or any ...
- 261
15
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Determinant of a $k \times k$ block matrix
Consider the $k \times k$ block matrix:
$$C = \left(\begin{array}{ccccc} A & B & B & \cdots & B \\ B & A & B &\cdots & B \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \...
- 301
15
votes
1
answer
8k
views
On the determinant of a class symmetric matrices
Consider the matrix $2\times2$ symmetric matrix:
$$
A_2=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & a_1 \\ a_1 & 1\end{pmatrix}.
$$
It's clear that the restriction $|a_1|<1$ implies that $\det(A_2)>0$. Moreover,...
- 563
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are bounds known for the maximum determinant of a (0,1)-matrix of specified size and with a specifed number of 1s?
The problems of determining the maximum determinant of an $n \times n$ $(0,1)$-matrix and the spectral problem of determining exactly which other determinants can possibly occur are both reasonably ...
- 12.7k
15
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Questions on Toeplitz matrices: invertibility, determinant, positive-definiteness
These questions are probably very basic but I'll dare to ask them anyway since I didn't have much luck in Math Stack Exchange.
Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ Hermitian Toeplitz matrix:
$$A = \begin{...
- 3,626
15
votes
1
answer
475
views
Determinant of a matrix filled with elements of the Thue–Morse sequence
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Suppose we fill a square matrix $n\times n$ row-by-row with the first $n^2$ elements of the Thue–Morse sequence (with indexes from $0$ to $n^2-1$). Let $\mathcal D_n$ be ...
- 6,819
14
votes
2
answers
873
views
"sinc'n determinant"
The function $\text{sinc}(x)=\frac{\sin x}x$ permeates mathematics and physics in several aspects, and it carries multiple presentations/formulations. My interest is to inject yet another one of such.
...
- 43.2k
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Expansion of $\det(A+B)$
If $A,B\in{\bf M}_n(k)$, then the following formula holds true:
$$\det(A+B)=\sum_{r=0}^n\sum_{|I|=|J|=r}\epsilon(I,I^c)\epsilon(J,J^c)A\binom IJ B\binom{I^c}{J^c}.$$
In this formula, $I$ and $J$ are ...
- 52.3k
13
votes
2
answers
879
views
How to invert the matrix [n choose 2j - i] ?
In a certain model of a stat-physics type, one encounters a matrix
$$
A_n:=\left[\binom{n}{2j-i}\right]_{i,j=1}^{n-1}.
$$
The determinant of this matrix (equal to $2^{\binom n2}$) counts the number ...
- 1,765
13
votes
2
answers
879
views
The expected square of the determinant of a random row stochastic matrix
In this
question Anthony Quas asks about the expected absolute value of
the determinant of an $n\times n$ row stochastic matrix $A$, where
the rows are independently selected from the uniform ...
- 50.8k
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Determinant of $V^* V$ where $V$ is rectangular Vandermonde matrix with nodes on unit circle
Let $z_{1},\dots,z_{k}$
be distinct complex numbers with $\left|z_{j}\right|=1,\;j=1,\dots,k$. For any natural $N\geqslant k$
consider the rectangular Vandermonde matrix
$$
V_{N}=\begin{pmatrix}1 &...
- 959
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Exchange determinant and integral of a matrix-valued function
Assume $A(x)=(a_{ij}(x))_{k\times k}$ is a Hermitian matrix function on some manifold $M$, is there any inequality relates the integral of its determinant $\int_M \det(A)$ and the determinant of its ...
- 195
12
votes
1
answer
415
views
Is the image of the map $A \to \bigwedge^k A$ closed over $\mathbb{R}$?
Let $V$ a real vector space of dimension $d$. Let $1<k < d-1$. Consider the map induced by the exterior algebra functor:
$$ \psi:\text{End}(V) \to \text{End}(\bigwedge^kV) \, \, \, \, , \, \, ...
- 6,741
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Determinant of identity matrix plus Hilbert matrix
I am looking for the determinant
$$ \det(I_n + H_n) $$
where $I_n$ is the $n \times n$ identity matrix and $H_n$ is the $n \times n$ Hilbert matrix, whose entries are given by
$$ [H_n]_{ij} = \frac{...
- 121
12
votes
1
answer
624
views
Determinants: periodic entries $0,1,2,3$
Consider an $n\times n$ matrix $M_n$ where the sequence
$$\{1,2,3,\dots,n^2\} \mod 4=\{1,2,3,0,1,2,3,\dots\}$$ forms a clock-wise spiral, in that given order. For example,
$$M_4=\begin{bmatrix} 1&...
- 43.2k
12
votes
0
answers
508
views
More mysterious properties of Gram matrix
This is another question related to the mysterious properties of the Gram matrix in dimension $4$. Here's the previous question.
The following fact could be extracted from 0402087:
For any $a_i\...
- 4,316
11
votes
3
answers
918
views
yet another determinant and inverse of a matrix
This problem is some variation of another MO question. Consider the matrix
$$M_n:=\begin{bmatrix}-c& a & a& \dots & a \\ b & c & a& \ddots & a\\ b & b & -c &...
- 43.2k
11
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Maximum determinant of $\{0,1\}$-valued $n\times n$-matrices
What's the maximum determinant of $\{0,1\}$ matrices in $M(n,\mathbb{R})$?
If there's no exact formula what are the nearest upper and lower bounds do you know?
- 111
11
votes
2
answers
948
views
Determinant of arbitrary sum of positive semidefinite hermitian matrices
Suppose that $A_i$, $i=1,\ldots,m$ are positive semidefinite Hermitian $n\times n$ matrices, with $a_i^{(j)}$ being the $j$-th eigenvalue of $A_i$. Let $A_0=I$.
QUESTION. Can we extend the result ...
- 253
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
A class of matrix determinants between Wronskians and Vandermondes
Update: see below
Let $M$ be an $n\times n$ matrix that's constructed as follows. Construct the right-most column of $M$ as $[\alpha_1(x_1),\cdots,\alpha_n(x_n)]^T$ for some class of fixed functions $...
- 4,952
11
votes
2
answers
964
views
How to prove this determinant is positive-II?
Question: Given an arbitrary number of real matrices of the form $ A_i=
\biggl(\begin{matrix}
C_i+E_i & B_i \\
B_i^T & D_i-F_i
\end{matrix} \biggr)
$, where $B_i$ is an arbitrary $n\times n$ ...
- 845
11
votes
1
answer
633
views
Determinant of a certain Vandermonde matrix
Is there a closed form expression for the determinant of the $n\times n$ Vandermonde-type matrix
$$A = \left(\begin{array}{}
1&g_1 & x_1&g_1 x_1 & x_1^2&g_1 x_1^2 & \cdots &...
- 3,691
11
votes
0
answers
1k
views
How the idea of adjugate matrix has been designed? [closed]
I can understand the adjugate matrix and the motivation of that to find the inverse, but I can't see how this idea was invented by mathematicians. It's just brilliance or someone understand how the ...
- 219
10
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Determinant of a $3\times3$ magic square
This is my first question with mathOverflow so I hope my etiquette is up to par here.
My question is regarding a $3\times3$ magic square constructed using the la Loubère method (see la Loubère method)
...
- 103
10
votes
3
answers
455
views
When does $\det(\frac{A+A^T}{2})=\det(A)$ for positive-definite $\frac{A+A^T}{2}$?
Setup: Let $A$ be a real square matrix and assume its symmetric part $\frac{A+A^T}{2}$ is positive-definite. The inequality
$$
\det\left(\frac{A+A^T}{2}\right) \leq \lvert\det(A)\rvert
$$
is known as ...
- 145
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When the determinant of a 2x2 polynomial matrix is a square?
Consider a 2x2 matrix $A$ with entries from $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$. Assume that $\mathrm{det} A$ is a square. Is it true that then $A$ can be represented as a noncomuting product $A=A_1 A_2 … A_{2n}$, in ...
- 1,488
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is this a metric on the Grassmannian Manifold?
Let $m>n$ and consider the Set
$$S_{m,n}=\{A \in \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}\lvert A^TA=I_n \}.$$
Does the function $d\colon S_{m,n} \times S_{m,n} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ defined by
$$d(A,B)=\sqrt{1-\...
- 2,286
10
votes
1
answer
520
views
Homogeneous polynomials, mixed determinants, positive definiteness
Are there $n\times n$ real matrices $A_{1}, \ldots, A_{n}$ such that the $n$-homogeneous polynomial
$$
f(x_{1}, \ldots, x_{n}) = \det(x_{1} A_{1}+\cdots +x_{n} A_{n})
$$
never vanishes on $\...
- 3,946
10
votes
1
answer
938
views
Why does this antisymmetric product factor out a determinant?
Consider a generic $n \times n$ matrix $M$.
Define the $(n-1) \times n$ matrix $M_q$ to be $M$ with the $q$th row omitted, and assume that $M_q$ possesses a right inverse, $R_q$:
$$R_q = M_q^T (M_q ...
- 2,902
10
votes
1
answer
836
views
Factor a sum of products of cofactors
Let $M$ be any $n\times n$ matrix.
We define the usual cofactors: $C_{i,j}$ is $(-1)^{i+j}$ times the determinant of the submatrix obtained by deleting row $i$ and column $j$ of $M$.
We can write ...
- 2,902
10
votes
0
answers
237
views
Generalized eigen property of a matrix
Given a $n \times n$ invertible matrix $A$, I am interested in the set
$$
\mathcal{S}(A) = \{ D \textrm{ diagonal matrix } \mid \det(D - A) = 0 \}.
$$
Thus, for all eigenvalues $\lambda_i$, we have $...
- 909
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When is the determinant a Morse function?
This might be ridiculously obvious, but...
For each $n \in \mathbb{N}$, let $M_n$ denote the manifold of $n \times n$ matrices with real entries. It is well known that the $n$-dimensional determinant ...
- 15.5k
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Determinantal formula for the nullspace of a singular matrix
In June 2012, Bill Press and Freeman Dyson published a remarkable paper on the iterated prisoner's dilemma. A key step in their derivation is a simple fact from linear algebra that I feel I should ...
- 82.7k