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2 votes
1 answer
191 views

Monotonicity of the determinant of symmetric Toeplitz Matrices

For simplicity, i focus on a particular Toeplitz symmetric matrix, so let $A_{ij} = a^{|i-j|}$ for $i,j=1,\dots,n$ and $0<a<1$ be a Kac-Murdock-Szegő (KMS) matrix, e.g., for n=4 \begin{equation} ...
2 votes
0 answers
110 views

Can the absolute value of fixed sized minors be arbitrarily ordered?

In an $m \times n$ matrix $X$, there are exactly $\binom{m}{r}\binom{n}{r}$ minors of size $r \times r$. Is it always possible to construct a real matrix $X$ such that the absolute value of the ...
4 votes
2 answers
208 views

Computation of the pfaffian of a particular matrix

This question was originally asked in (https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4265063/computation-of-the-pfaffian-of-a-particular-matrix). I did not find any satisfactory answer there. So I am ...
1 vote
0 answers
90 views

How to prove that $\|A^tv\|_2 \leq \|Av\|_2^t$ for every $0<t<1$? [closed]

Consider a unit norm $\|V\|_2=1$ and a symmetric matrix $A$. I wish to prove that $\|A^tv\|_2 \leq \|Av\|_2^t$ for every $0<t<1$. My belief is that this is true is motivated by empirical ...
1 vote
1 answer
228 views

Properties of the generic matrix - struggles with constructive proofs

Write $A=(x_{ij})$ for the generic matrix (comprised of indeterminates) defined over $\mathbb Z[x_{11},\dots,x_{nn}]$. In their constructive commutative algebra book, Lombardi and Quitte write that ...
2 votes
1 answer
385 views

Determinants of striped Hankel matrices

This question is related to the matrices described in Deyi Chen's recent MO post (look at some examples there). The main difference: we are asking for a determinant evaluation instead of a permanent, ...
5 votes
1 answer
408 views

An interesting Hankel determinant

Let $h(n,t) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^n {\binom {\lfloor {\frac{n}{2}} \rfloor }{j}\binom {\lfloor {\frac{n+1}{2}}\rfloor }{j}t^j \\ }.$ I am interested in the Hankel determinants $${D_k}(n,t) = \det \...
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 ...
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 $2 \times 2$ ...
0 votes
1 answer
248 views

$\mathbb R$ and $\mathbb F_2$ rank in boolean matrix product

By rank I imply rank over reals ($\mathbb R$). I consider two $n\times n$ matrices $A,B$ having entries in $0/1$. The product below follows usual matrix product rules except $xy$ is $AND(x,y)$ and $x+...
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 ...
6 votes
2 answers
620 views

How large a subset of $\mathbb{F}_q^d$ can determine all determinants?

Denote by $\mathbb{F}_q$ a finite field with $q$ elements. For $\mathcal{P}$ be arbitrary subset of $\mathbb{F}_q^d.$ We define the set $$S:= \left\{ \det([x_1,x_2,\dots,x_d]): x_1,x_2,\dots,x_d \in ...
16 votes
1 answer
897 views

Hankel determinants of binomial coefficients

For $\{h_{n}\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ a real sequence, denote by $H_{n}$ the $n\times n$ Hankel matrix of the form $$ H_{n}:=\begin{pmatrix} h_{0} & h_{1} & \dots & h_{n-1}\\ h_{1} & ...
1 vote
1 answer
187 views

Existence of matrices in the field $\mathbb{F}_2$ with some invertibility properties

All the matrices in this statement are in the field $\mathbb{F}_2$. Let $I$ be the identity matrix of size $10 \times 10$ and let $e_1$, $e_2$, $\ldots$, $e_{10}$ denote its rows. For $i\in \{1,5 \}$, ...
2 votes
1 answer
81 views

Existence of a matrix in $\mathbb{F}_2$ with some invertibility properties

All the matrices in this statement are in the field $\mathbb{F}_2$. Let $I$ be the identity matrix of size $10 \times 10$. What are all the possible $n$ ($\geq 6$) for which there exists a matrix $X$ ...
6 votes
0 answers
585 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 ...
3 votes
2 answers
247 views

A problem about determinant and matrix

Suppose $a_{0},a_{1},a_{2}\in\mathbb{Q}$, such that the following determinant is zero, i.e. $ \left |\begin{array}{cccc}\\ a_{0} &a_{1} & a_{2} \\ \\ a_{2} &a_{0}+a_{1} & a_{1}+a_{...
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?
8 votes
1 answer
286 views

On the determinant $\det[\gcd(i-j,n)]_{1\le i,j\le n}$

In Sept. 2013, I investigated the determinant $$D_n=\det[\gcd(i-j,n)]_{1\le i,j\le n}$$ and computed the values $D_1,\ldots,D_{100}$ (cf. http://oeis.org/A228884). To my surprise, they are all ...
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}}{...
2 votes
0 answers
336 views

For the following class of matrices, are the determinants invariant under permutations?

I want to ask a question regarding the invariance of determinants under permutation. The following matrix is the one I want to discuss here. (It's just a symmetric block tridiagonal matrix with non-...
5 votes
1 answer
98 views

On a maximum of a determinant with dependent variables

Let $x_1,\ldots,x_n\in [-1,1]^n$ and define the function $$f(x_1,\ldots,x_n):= \prod_{i=1}^n\prod_{j=i}^n\left(1-\prod_{k=i}^j x_k\right).$$ This is a positive function, and actually coincides with ...
1 vote
1 answer
546 views

Partial Vandermonde circulant determinant expression

Consider following partial Vandermonde type, circulant matrix $\begin{bmatrix} x_1 & x_2 & 0 & \dots & 0 & x_n\\ x_1^2 & x_2^2 & x_3^2 & \dots & 0 & 0\\ \vdots ...
1 vote
1 answer
420 views

A determinant identity

The following identity involving determinants essentially appears in E.L. Ince's book on Ordinary Differential Equations: Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ matrix, $n \geq 3$. Denote by $A_{j_1,\ldots,j_r}^{...
2 votes
0 answers
130 views

Pfaffian generalization

The identity $$\left| \begin{array}{cccc} x & y_1 & y_2 & y_3 \\ z_1 & 0 & a & b \\ z_2 & -a & 0 & c \\ z_3 & -b & -c & 0 \\ \end{array} \right|=\...
0 votes
0 answers
67 views

The minimum number of polynomial equations the components of linearly dependent vectors must satisfy

Context: Consider $m<n$ vectors $v_1,\dotsc,v_m\in\mathbb{C}^n$ with complex components. We can study if they are linearly dependent by constructing the following matrices. First the $n\times m$ ...
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 &...
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 $n$-...
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 -...
1 vote
1 answer
254 views

When does $\det \begin{pmatrix} A & X \\ X^T & A \end{pmatrix} = (\det A)^2 + (\det X)^2$?

Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ real symmetric matrix. Let $$ M = \begin{pmatrix} A & X \\ X^T & A \end{pmatrix} $$ where $X$ is a real invertible $n \times n$ matrix. I am interested in finding ...
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 ...
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} ...
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^...
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 $S=\left(\begin{array}{cc} A&B \\\ C&D\end{array}\right)$ ...
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{...
56 votes
21 answers
18k views

Wonderful applications of the Vandermonde determinant

This semester I am assisting my mentor teaching a first-year undergraduate course on linear algebra in Peking University, China. And now we have come to the famous Vandermonde determinant, which has ...
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 $...
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}{\...
8 votes
1 answer
641 views

Property of the trace on finitely generated projective modules

Let $A$ be a commutative ring with unit and let $P$ be a projective $A$-module finitely generated. By definition, there exists an $A$-module $P'$ such that $P\oplus P'$ is free of finite rank $r$. If $...
7 votes
1 answer
299 views

Has vol. 3A of Cullis's "Matrices and Determinoids" been scanned and vol. 3B been archived?

This is a borderline question, but I'm going to risk posing it. Cuthbert Edmund Cullis (1875?-1955?) was a somewhat obscure British mathematician whose opus magnum was a multi-volume treatise called ...
2 votes
0 answers
239 views

Characteristic polynomials of some special matrices

This is related to question Matrix-valued periodic Fibonacci polynomials. I want to find integer-valued matrices $x$ such that the Fibonacci polynomials $f_n(x)$, defined by the recursion $f_n(x)=...
1 vote
0 answers
69 views

Linear algebra - For symmetric matrix X $\in S^n$, prove the $a^T X a$ = $\det X \det(X_{n-1})$ , where $a_i$ = $(-1)^i M_{in} $ [closed]

Suppose we have a symmetric matrix X$\in S^n$, and $X_k$ denotes the submatrix consists of first $k$ rows and columns of X. If $\det X < 0$, but $\det X_1, ..., \det X_{n-1} > 0$. Let $a_i=(-1)^...
2 votes
0 answers
184 views

Naive generalization of determinant from matrices to higher rank tensors

Recall that using the Levi-Cevita symbol the determinant can be written as $$\operatorname{det} A=\frac{1}{n!}\epsilon_{i_1\dots i_n}\epsilon_{j_1\dots j_n}A_{i_1j_1}\dots A_{i_nj_n}$$ Some ...
1 vote
0 answers
128 views

Is this determinant well-known?

Let $n, k$ be any positve integers. I'm wondering if the following determinant is well known $$D_{n,k}= \begin{vmatrix}1^k& 2^k & 3^k&\cdots & n^k \\2^k & 3^k & 4^k &\...
14 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why does this matrix have zero determinant?

This curious identity arose from studying reductions of the maximal ideal in certain monomial algebra. It can be proved "by hand", (i.e, using Macaulay 2), but I am seeking a more conceptual ...
1 vote
0 answers
90 views

When does a matrix with high rank have a minor with disjoint rows and columns and high rank?

This is a somewhat open-ended followup question to Does an antisymmetric matrix with high rank have a minor with disjoint rows and columns and high rank? and Does a non-singular matrix have a large ...
1 vote
2 answers
191 views

Determinant diagonal blocks compound matrix [closed]

Good afternoon, I would like to prove the equation \begin{equation} \begin{vmatrix} b_{1,1}I_d & b_{1,2}I_d & \cdots & b_{1,r}I_d \\ b_{2,1}I_d & b_{2,2}I_d & \cdots & b_{2,r}...
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{...
10 votes
0 answers
393 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 ...
0 votes
1 answer
224 views

Positive definite matrix

We have $a_1,a_2,...,a_n\in (0,1)$ and matrix M= \begin{bmatrix}2a_1&a_2&a_3&.&.\\a_2&2a_2&a_3&.&.\\a_3&a_3&2a_3&.&.\\.&.&.&.&.\end{...