Questions tagged [determinants]
Questions about the determinant of square matrices or linear endomorphisms. Also for closely related topics such as minors or regularized determinants.
149
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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answers
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What did Gelfand mean by suggesting to study "Heredity Principle" structures instead of categories?
Israel Gelfand wrote in his remarkable talk "Mathematics as an adequate language (a few remarks)", given at "The Unity of Mathematics" Conference in honor of his 90th birthday, the ...
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16
votes
0
answers
782
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
13
votes
0
answers
345
views
A determinant problem for primes $p\equiv 1\pmod4$
Let $p$ be an odd prime, and let $A_p$ denote the matrix
$$[a_{ij}]_{1\le i,j\le (p-1)/2},$$
where
$$a_{1j}=\left(\frac jp\right),\ \ \text{and}\ \ a_{ij}=\left(\frac{i^2+j^2}p\right)\ \text{for}\ i&...
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12
votes
0
answers
464
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More mysterious properties of Gram matrix
This is another question related to the mysterious properties of the Gram matrix in dimension $4$. Here's the previous question.
The following fact could be extracted from 0402087:
For any $a_i\...
- 4,296
11
votes
0
answers
838
views
Is "Determinant" a Hochschild coboundary?
Assume that $n>2$.
Is there an associative unital algebra structure on $\mathbb{C}^{n}$ such that $D$, the determinant as a $n-\text{form} $ on $\mathbb{C}^{n}$,
would be a Hochschild ...
- 312
10
votes
0
answers
369
views
Interpretation of determinants on commutative rings
In real Euclidian space, the result of the determinant can be interpreted as the oriented volume of the image of the unit cube under an invertible linear map.
This interpretation conceptually depends ...
- 323
10
votes
0
answers
237
views
Generalized eigen property of a matrix
Given a $n \times n$ invertible matrix $A$, I am interested in the set
$$
\mathcal{S}(A) = \{ D \textrm{ diagonal matrix } \mid \det(D - A) = 0 \}.
$$
Thus, for all eigenvalues $\lambda_i$, we have $...
- 909
10
votes
0
answers
649
views
Determinant as a Hamiltonian
Are there two symplectic structures $\omega_1, \omega_2$ on $M_{2n}(\mathbb{R})$ such that the function $Det:M_{2n}(\mathbb{R})\to \mathbb{R}$ is completely integrable with respect to $\omega_{1}$...
- 312
9
votes
0
answers
121
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Cartan determinant of stable categories
Let $A$ be a finite dimensional algebra with finitely many indecomposable non-projective modules $M_1, M_2,...,M_n$.
Let $a_{i,j}:=\dim(\underline{Hom_A}(M_j,M_i))$ (the dimension of the stable Homs ...
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9
votes
0
answers
340
views
Which polynomials in the minors of a matrix are invariant under conjugation?
$\newcommand{\Cof}{\operatorname{cof}}$
This is a cross-post.
Let $1<k<n$ be a fixed integer. I am trying to understand "what can be said" about the $k$-degree minors of a linear map $T:V \to ...
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9
votes
0
answers
175
views
Cycles of length $2^n - 2$ in the De Bruijn graph
It is well known that the number of (cyclic) De Bruijn sequences is $2^{2^{n-1}-n}$. This number may also be interpreted as the number of cycles of length $2^n$ in the De Bruijn graph of order $n$.
...
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8
votes
0
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169
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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 ...
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8
votes
0
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476
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$$
- 99
8
votes
0
answers
340
views
Conjecture on matrix with reciprocal principal minors
Some notation: $A(\alpha|\beta)$ is the submatrix of $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times n}$ with with rows $\alpha$ and columns $\beta$. $\textrm{det } A(\alpha|\alpha) =: \textrm{det } A(\alpha)$ are the ...
- 909
8
votes
0
answers
703
views
Is this 2x2 determinant sequence positive and increasing?
Let $X_1,X_2,X_3$ be three discrete (integer and non-negative valued) random variables with local probabilities $a_k:=\mathbb{P}(X_1=k)$, $b_k:=\mathbb{P}(X_2=k)$, $c_k:=\mathbb{P}(X_3=k)$ and $s_k:=\...
8
votes
0
answers
304
views
Sum over growing Young tableaux
Let $\lambda_0,\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\lambda_3,\ldots$ be a sequence of Young diagrams, such that each successive diagram is obtained from the prior by the addition of one box (don't forget that the row ...
- 4,902
8
votes
0
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488
views
det(A)det(B) = det(AB+correction), Capelli identities, "factorized" representation of $\mathfrak {gl}_n$
Context: Some probably know that there are Capelli identities which state
$$det(A)det(B) = det(AB+correction)$$ for some matrices with non-commuting elements, they go back to the 19-th century, but ...
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8
votes
0
answers
511
views
Can one give a "nice" expression for this determinant?
I am asking this question on behalf of a senior faculty member who is sometimes intimidated by computers. It is motivated by a problem in invariant theory. Unfortunately the question is a bit vague.
...
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7
votes
0
answers
267
views
A conjecture about Hankel determinants of path generating functions
Let $a_{n,k}=a_{n,k}(x,c)$ be the generating function $\sum_P w(P),$ where $P$ runs over all paths from $(0,0)$ to $(n,k)$ consisting of horizontal steps $(1,0)$, up-steps $(1,1)$ and down-steps $(1,-...
- 5,572
7
votes
0
answers
213
views
Why are these two determinants equal?
This question is a follow up on Mark Wildon's comment from an earlier MO question.
As usual, let $(q)_k=(1-q)(1-q^2)\cdots(1-q^k)$ with $(q)_0:=1$. Also, define the Gaussian polynomials by
$$\binom{n}...
- 41.8k
7
votes
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answers
138
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 (...
- 6,621
7
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0
answers
389
views
Determinants associated to orthogonal polynomials
Let $${p_n}(x) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^{n } {{{( - 1)}^{n - j}}p(n,j){x^j}} $$ be orthogonal polynomials satisfying $${p_n}(x) = (x - {s_{n - 1}}){p_{n - 1}}(x) - {t_{n - 2}}{p_{n - 2}}(x)$$ with ...
- 5,572
7
votes
0
answers
197
views
Determinantal formulae for Tutte polynomial
Let $G$ be a connected undirected graph. Then the number $ST(G)$ of spanning trees in $G$ equals the following specific value of the Tutte polynomial of $G$: $ST(G)=T_G(1,1)$.
On the other hand, ...
- 103k
7
votes
1
answer
544
views
Does this Linear Algebra Construction have a Name?
Let $\mathcal{R}$ be a ring and let $v^0,\ldots,v^{k-1}\in\mathcal{R}^m$ with $m \geq k$. Suppose we wish to find $w\in Span(v^0,\ldots,v^{k-1})$ such that $k-1$ specified coordinates of $w$ vanish (...
- 5,181
6
votes
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215
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Lindström-Gessel-Viennot from properties of the $Alt^k$ functor?
Let $A$ be the directed adjacency matrix of an acyclic directed graph, with variables as its nonzero entries (one for each edge). The $(a,b)$ entry of the matrix $(I-A)^{-1}$ is the sum over all paths ...
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6
votes
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answers
74
views
Rank of matrix coming from cobordism computations
In a computation of Pontryagin-numbers of certain manifolds (see the appendix of https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.10306.pdf for more context) we came across the following elementary problem:
Consider the ...
- 171
6
votes
0
answers
480
views
Expressing a polynomial as the determinant of a matrix of linear forms
I have heard that it's a well known result (in theoretical computer science?) that if we have a polynomial $p(t_1,\dots,t_n)$ over $\mathbb Q$, we can find matrices $M_0,\dots,M_n/\mathbb Q$ such that ...
- 7,646
6
votes
0
answers
198
views
Conjecture for a certain Cauchy-type determinant
Given the Cauchy-like matrix
$$
\mathbf X_M(q) = \left[ \frac{2}{\pi} \frac{
\Gamma\!\left(m - \frac{1}{2} \right)\Gamma\!\left(n + \frac{1}{2} \right)
}{
\Gamma(m)\,\Gamma(n)
}
\frac{m-\frac{3}{4}}
{\...
- 2,705
6
votes
0
answers
266
views
On the determinant $\det[\sec2\pi\frac{jk}p]_{0\le j,k\le(p-1)/2}$
On the basis of my computation, I have the following conjecture involving the secant function.
Conjecture. Let $p$ be an odd prime and define
$$S_p:=\det\left[\sec2\pi\frac{jk}p\right]_{0\le j,k\le (...
- 14.5k
6
votes
0
answers
177
views
Determinant arising in a problem from probability
Consider the determinant:
$$\Delta:=
\left|\begin{array}{cccc}
A_{j_1} & A_{k_1} & A_{j_1}A_{k_1} & 1 \\
A_{j_2} & A_{k_2} & A_{j_2}A_{k_2} & 1 \\
A_{j_3 } & A_{k_3 } &...
- 743
6
votes
0
answers
363
views
Monomial base change and the Vandermonde
Denote the falling factorials by $(x)_k=x(x-1)\cdots(x-k+1)$.
The Vandermonde determinant is given by $\det\left[x_i^{j-1}\right]_1^n=\prod_{i<j}(x_j-x_i)$.
It is well-known that in as much as ...
- 41.8k
6
votes
0
answers
321
views
Exact determinant of a Cauchy-like matrix
Question. Is there a closed-form expression for the determinant of a $n \times n$ matrix $A$ with entries
$$
A_{i,j} = \frac{1 - \delta_{i, j}}{z_i - z_j}, \qquad 1\leq i, j\leq n,
$$
where $z_i$ ...
- 263
6
votes
0
answers
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views
Does anyone know this determinant?
The following determinant arises in a combinatorial enumeration problem. I wonder if anyone has seen it before in any context or knows how to evaluate it. I tried computing it for small $n$ but didn't ...
- 37.2k
5
votes
0
answers
232
views
$\log\det$ asymptotics of a skew-circulant matrix with additive diagonal bimodal disorder
I'd like to share a problem that I have been dealing with for a longer time now.
In the framework of quenched disorder in the square-lattice Ising model I want to calculate, for large even $M$, the ...
- 2,705
5
votes
0
answers
188
views
Yet, another generalization of Catalan determinants
The discussion on this page is motivated by Johann Cigler's MO question. My intention arose from a possible generalization of Cigler's matrix
$$A_{n,m}=\left( \binom{2m}{j-i+m}-\binom{2m}{m-i-j-1} \...
- 41.8k
5
votes
0
answers
161
views
Maximal minors of tensor product
Let $r \leq n$ be integers, and let $A$ be an $r \times n$ integer-valued matrix such that each $r\times r$ minor of $A$ is in $\{0, 1,-1\}$. Is it true that each $r^2 \times r^2$ minor of $A\otimes A$...
- 1,010
5
votes
0
answers
419
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 &...
- 51
5
votes
0
answers
342
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 $d_i(A)$ ...
- 61
5
votes
0
answers
323
views
Determinantal formula for plane partitions of shifted shape
For $\lambda = (\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_{\ell})$ a partition, a (weak) plane partition of shape $\lambda$ is a filling of the Young diagram of $\lambda$ with nonnegative integers such that entries ...
- 22.9k
5
votes
0
answers
190
views
On the determinants $\det\left[(i\pm j)\left(\frac{i\pm j}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}$
Let $p$ be an odd prime and define
$$D_p^+:=\det\left[(i+j)\left(\frac{i+j}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}$$
and $$D_p^{-}:=\det\left[(i-j)\left(\frac{i-j}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2},$$
...
- 14.5k
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 $\det M'=(a'+b')(c'+d')$...
- 13.7k
5
votes
0
answers
613
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?
...
- 1,883
4
votes
0
answers
138
views
Does an instance of this generalisation of the determinant exist?
Let $n$ be composite, $d$ a divisor greater than $1$ and $m=n/d$. Does anybody know if there is a general mapping $T$ from $n×n$ matrices to $m×m$ matrices that preserves the determinant? Over a field ...
- 1,203
4
votes
0
answers
180
views
Fuss-Catalan: how does equality of these determinants hold?
There are many ways that the Catalan numbers seemed to have been generalized, one among them is through what Graham-Knuth-Patashnik (in Concrete Mathematics) dubbed as the Fuss-Catalan numbers
$\frac1{...
- 41.8k
4
votes
0
answers
157
views
An identity for Schur polynomials
Given a partition $\lambda$, the Schur polynomials can be defined, among many other ways, as
$$S_{\lambda}(\xi_1,\dots,\xi_a)=\frac{\det\left(\xi_i^{\lambda_j+a-j}\right)_{i,j=1}^a}{\det\left(\xi_i^{a-...
- 41.8k
4
votes
0
answers
78
views
Minimal set generators ideal submaximal minors
Let $I$ an ideal of $\mathbb{C}[X_1, \ldots X_n]$ and define the arithmetical rank of $I$ as:
$$ ark(I) = \textrm{min} \left\{m \in \mathbb{N}, \exists f_1, \ldots, f_m \in \mathbb{C}[X_1, \ldots X_n]...
- 7,200
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votes
0
answers
179
views
Are mixed discriminants and hyper-determinants the same thing?
Premise
Hello, I'm trying to learn more about hyperdeterminants, but as I'm sifting through the literature I'm finding more and more papers on Mixed discriminant and I find their definitions extremely ...
- 143
4
votes
0
answers
113
views
Positivity of q-analogs of central binomial coefficients?
With the usual $q-$notations
$[n]_q=1+q+\cdots+q^{n-1}=\frac{\,\,1-q^n}{1-q},$
$[n]_q!=[1]_q[2]_q\cdots[n]_q$ and
$\binom{n}k_q=\frac{[n]_q!}{[k]_q!\cdot[n-k]_q!}$
let
$$b(n,k,r,q)=\det\left(q^{r\...
- 5,572
4
votes
0
answers
99
views
Volume interpretation of number of perfect matchings in bipartite planar graphs
Permanent of biadjacency of bipartite graphs is the number of perfect matchings. In the case of planar graphs we can obtain an orientation with sign changes and get away with computing the determinant ...
- 13.7k
4
votes
0
answers
316
views
Evaluating a HUGE determinant
Fix a $k\times k$ positive definite symmetric real matrix $Y=(Y_{pq})$. Denote by $I_p$ the $p\times p$ identity matrix, $0_{p\times q}$ the $p\times q$ zero matrix, and $\delta_{pq}$ the Kronecker ...
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