All Questions
Tagged with linear-algebra determinants
239 questions
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
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+...
- 23
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 ...
- 191
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 $i\in \{1,5 \}$, ...
user83947
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 $X$ ...
user83947
6
votes
0
answers
584
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 ...
- 7,746
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
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 ...
- 15.6k
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-...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
130
views
Pfaffian generalization
The identity
$$\left|
\begin{array}{cccc}
x & y_1 & y_2 & y_3 \\
z_1 & 0 & a & b \\
z_2 & -a & 0 & c \\
z_3 & -b & -c & 0 \\
\end{array}
\right|=\...
- 12.3k
1
vote
1
answer
420
views
A determinant identity
The following identity involving determinants essentially appears in E.L. Ince's book on Ordinary Differential Equations:
Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ matrix, $n \geq 3$. Denote by $A_{j_1,\ldots,j_r}^{...
0
votes
0
answers
67
views
The minimum number of polynomial equations the components of linearly dependent vectors must satisfy
Context:
Consider $m<n$ vectors $v_1,\dotsc,v_m\in\mathbb{C}^n$ with complex components. We can study if they are linearly dependent by constructing the following matrices. First the $n\times m$ ...
- 344
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Formula expressing symmetric polynomials of eigenvalues as sum of determinants
The trace of a matrix is the sum of the eigenvalues and the determinant is the product of the eigenvalues. The fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials says that we can write any symmetric ...
- 493
5
votes
1
answer
335
views
Determinant of a certain Toeplitz matrix
Compute the following determinant
\begin{vmatrix} x & 1 & 2 & 3 & \cdots & n-1 & n\\ 1 & x & 1 & 2 & \cdots & n-2 & n-1\\ 2 & 1 & x & 1 &...
- 151
1
vote
1
answer
254
views
When does $\det \begin{pmatrix} A & X \\ X^T & A \end{pmatrix} = (\det A)^2 + (\det X)^2$?
Let $A$ be an $n \times n$ real symmetric matrix.
Let
$$
M = \begin{pmatrix} A & X \\ X^T & A \end{pmatrix}
$$
where $X$ is a real invertible $n \times n$ matrix. I am interested in finding ...
- 3,625
6
votes
1
answer
194
views
Values of a pair of determinants
Let $\mathbf{x} = (x_0, x_1, x_2), \mathbf{y} = (y_0, y_1, y_2)$ be vectors over a field $\mathbb{F}$ of characteristic zero. Define the function
$\displaystyle S(\mathbf{x}, \mathbf{y}) = x_2 (y_0^2 -...
- 26.9k
6
votes
2
answers
340
views
Characteristic polynomial of checker matrix
For every integer $n > 0$, let $C_n$ be the $4n \times 4n$ matrix having $1$'s in all positions $(i, j)$ such that $i - j$ is even, $3$'s in the two diagonals determined by $|i - j| = 2n + 1$, and $...
- 63
5
votes
2
answers
540
views
How to compute a more general version of Vandermonde / Cauchy double alternant determinant
Consider some variables $\{X_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$, $\{Y_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$, and $\{W_i\}_{1\le i \le n}$. Does anyone know how to compute the following determinant?
$$
\det ~ \left(\frac{W_j^{i-1}}{...
- 163
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?
$$
\begin{pmatrix}
\frac{1}{\...
- 163
7
votes
1
answer
299
views
Has vol. 3A of Cullis's "Matrices and Determinoids" been scanned and vol. 3B been archived?
This is a borderline question, but I'm going to risk posing it.
Cuthbert Edmund Cullis (1875?-1955?) was a somewhat obscure British mathematician whose opus magnum was a multi-volume treatise called ...
- 33.8k
9
votes
2
answers
515
views
Minors of low rank skew-symmetric matrix
Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ skew-symmetric matrix of rank $r$.
Given subsets $X$ and $Y$ of row and column indices respectively, let $A_{X,Y}$ denote the submatrix of $A$ obtained by only keeping rows ...
- 557
2
votes
0
answers
239
views
Characteristic polynomials of some special matrices
This is related to question Matrix-valued periodic Fibonacci polynomials.
I want to find integer-valued matrices $x$ such that the Fibonacci polynomials $f_n(x)$, defined by the recursion $f_n(x)=...
- 5,622
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
Linear algebra - For symmetric matrix X $\in S^n$, prove the $a^T X a$ = $\det X \det(X_{n-1})$ , where $a_i$ = $(-1)^i M_{in} $ [closed]
Suppose we have a symmetric matrix X$\in S^n$, and $X_k$ denotes the submatrix consists of first $k$ rows and columns of X. If $\det X < 0$, but $\det X_1, ..., \det X_{n-1} > 0$. Let $a_i=(-1)^...
- 33
2
votes
0
answers
184
views
Naive generalization of determinant from matrices to higher rank tensors
Recall that using the Levi-Cevita symbol the determinant can be written as
$$\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}$$
Some ...
- 319
1
vote
0
answers
128
views
Is this determinant well-known?
Let $n, k$ be any positve integers. I'm wondering if the following determinant is well known
$$D_{n,k}= \begin{vmatrix}1^k& 2^k & 3^k&\cdots & n^k \\2^k & 3^k & 4^k &\...
- 879
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 ...
user148117
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 ...
- 30.5k
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 ...
- 20.2k
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}...
- 11
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 ...
- 323
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{...
- 163
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 $...
- 1,479
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 ...
- 1,549
7
votes
1
answer
462
views
On a problem for determinants associated to Cartan matrices of certain algebras
This is a continuation of Classification of algebras of finite global dimension via determinants of certain 0-1-matrices but this time with a concrete conjecture and using the simplification suggested ...
- 26.5k
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
3
votes
1
answer
386
views
Determinant of an "almost cyclic" matrix
Let $n\geq 3$, let $Z$ be the matrix of the cyclic shift (the companion matrix of $X^n-1$), and for $\mathbf{d}\in \mathbb{C}^n$ let
$\operatorname{diag}(\mathbf{d})$ be the diagonal matrix with $\...
- 3,255
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 \}.
$$
Thus, for all eigenvalues $\lambda_i$, we have $...
- 909
1
vote
0
answers
159
views
Non-trivial ways for generating matrices $A$ for which $A + A^T$ is positive-definite?
Disclaimer: This might be an SE question, but I'm not quite sure...
Thanks in advance!
Setup
So, it is known (see Proposition 5.2) that if $A + A^T$ is positive-definite then $A$ must be a $P$-...
- 6,853
11
votes
2
answers
558
views
Classification of algebras of finite global dimension via determinants of certain 0-1-matrices
I restrict to the elementary problem that is equivalent to give a classification when Morita-Nakayama algebras have finite global dimension (see the end of this post for some background).
A Morita-...
- 26.5k
2
votes
2
answers
258
views
Equal-valued determinants in search of a proof: Part III
Encouraged by David's proof for my earlier MO question, let's consider a similar problem.
I can prove the below equality by computing each of the two sides, directly. That means, there is an ...
- 43.2k
11
votes
1
answer
579
views
Catalan determinants in search of a proof: Part II
This problem involves the Catalan numbers $C_n=\frac1{n+1}\binom{2n}n$.
I can prove the below equality by computing each of the two sides, directly. That means, there is an algebraic proof.
...
- 43.2k
10
votes
2
answers
985
views
Determinantal symmetry: proof requested: Part I
Consider the determinantal function
$$F(a,b,c):=\det\left[\binom{i+j+a+b}{i+a}\right]_{i,j=0}^{c-1}.$$
I would like to ask:
QUESTION. Can you provide an argument, combinatorial or otherwise, to ...
- 43.2k
2
votes
1
answer
440
views
Coordinate free expression for the determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix
Let $E\rightarrow X$ be a rank two vector bundle on a variety $X$. How can one write an abstract map $Sym^2(E)\rightarrow (\wedge^2 E)^{\otimes 2}$ that in local coordinates, when we fix a frame of $E$...
user61586
5
votes
1
answer
98
views
On a maximum of a determinant with dependent variables
Let $x_1,\ldots,x_n\in [-1,1]^n$ and define the function
$$f(x_1,\ldots,x_n):= \prod_{i=1}^n\prod_{j=i}^n\left(1-\prod_{k=i}^j x_k\right).$$
This is a positive function, and actually coincides with ...
- 61
6
votes
1
answer
535
views
A surprising identity: $\det[\cos\pi\frac{jk}n]_{1\le j,k\le n}=(-1)^{\lfloor\frac{n+1}2\rfloor}(n/2)^{(n-1)/2}$
On the basis of my computation, here I pose my following conjecture involving the cosine function.
Conjecture. For any positive integer $n$, we have the identity
$$\frac1{2n}\det\left[\cos\pi\frac{jk}...
- 15.6k
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
7
votes
2
answers
472
views
An upper estimate for $|\det(A+B)|$
If $A$ and $B$ are $n\times n$ matrices, then it easily follow from the definition of the determinant by sum over permutations, and from the Young inequality that
$$
|\det (A+B)|\leq C(n)(\Vert A\Vert^...
- 28k
9
votes
2
answers
738
views
Certain matrices of interesting determinant
Let $M_n$ be the $n\times n$ matrix with entries
$$\binom{i}{2j}+\binom{j}{2i}, \qquad \text{for $1\leq i,j\leq n$}.$$
QUESTION. Is this true? There is some evidence. The determinant $\det(M_{2n+1})...
- 43.2k
3
votes
2
answers
257
views
On $\det[x+(\frac{i\pm j}p)]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}$ for primes $p\equiv 3\pmod 4$
I have made the followng conjecture on the basis of my computation.
Conjecture. For any prime $p\equiv3\pmod4$ with $p>3$, we have
$$\det\left[x+\left(\frac{i+j}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le(p-1)/2}...
- 15.6k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Determinant of "skew-symmetric" matrices
For $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and $m=\lfloor\frac{n}2\rfloor$, consider the $n\times n$ skew-symmetric matrix $A_n$ where each entry in the first $m$
sub-diagonals below the main diagonal is $1$ and each of ...
- 43.2k