All Questions
6,028 questions
14
votes
3
answers
872
views
How can we realize different combinatorial objects as the dimension of a construction on vector spaces? Are the resulting algebras useful?
Fix a vector space $V$ of dimension $n$ over some field $F$. Here are three commonly seen constructions:
its $k$th tensor power, $T^kV$, which has dimension $n^k$
its $k$th exterior power, $\Lambda^k(...
- 6,792
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Semi-linear operators
If $V_1$ and $V_2$ are finite-dimensional vector spaces over a field $E$, each equipped with an $E$-linear operator $\phi$, we can tell if $V_1$ and $V_2$ are isomorphic as $\phi$-modules by comparing ...
- 1,680
14
votes
1
answer
352
views
Generalizing the Pfaffian: families of matrices whose determinants are perfect powers of polynomials in the entries
Let $n$ be a positive integer, and let $M = (m_{ij})$ be a skew $2n \times 2n$ matrix. That is, we have $m_{ij} = -m_{ji}$ for $1 \leq i, j \leq 2n$. Then it is well-known that
$$\det M = p(M)^2,$$
...
- 26.9k
14
votes
1
answer
1k
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A Question on Random Matrices
Consider the following $n\times n$ random matrix $V_{n}$ where the $(p,q)$ entry is given by
$$
V_{n}(p,q):= \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\exp(2\pi i(p-1) x_{q})
$$
where $x_{1},x_{2},\ldots,x_{n}$ are iid ...
- 3,626
14
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What is the dual concept to "annihilator" called, and do any linear algebra textbooks discuss this concept first?
When introducing dual spaces for the first time, most linear algebra textbooks proceed in what seems to me a rather backwards fashion: the annihilator $\{f\in V^*: f(u)=0\quad \forall u\in U\}$ of a ...
14
votes
1
answer
4k
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Do these matrix rings have non-zero elements that are neither units nor zero divisors?
First, a disclaimer: This is a repost of a question I asked on stackexchange (no answer there).
Let $R$ be a commutative ring (with $1$) and $R^{n \times n}$ be the ring of $n \times n$ matrices with ...
- 1,197
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
"Conjugacy rank" of two matrices over field extension
I have posted this elsewhere and got only a partial reply. I don't know whether this qualifies the question for an open-problem tag; if it does, please anyone insert it.
Let $L$ be a field, and $K$ a ...
- 33.8k
14
votes
1
answer
738
views
For a stable matrix $B$ and anti-symmetric $T$, such that $B(I+T)$ is symmetric, show that $\mbox{tr}(TB)\leq0$
Let stable matrix (i.e., its eigenvalues have negative real parts) $B \in \mathbb R^{n \times n}$ and anti-symmetric matrix $T \in \mathbb R^{n \times n}$ satisfy
$$B^\top - T B^\top = B + B T$$
...
- 371
14
votes
1
answer
417
views
Lipschitz property of the determinant
$\newcommand{\A}{\mathcal A}\newcommand{\Tr}{\operatorname{tr}}$For $c$ and $C$ such that $0<c<C<\infty$, let $\A_{d;c,C}$ denote the set of all symmetric positive-definite real $d\times d$ ...
- 128k
14
votes
2
answers
574
views
A simple but curious determinantal inequality
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ Hermitian positive definite matrices and $k>0$ real. Then $A^k$ is well-defined and experimentally, we have $$\det(A^k+BABA^{-1})\geqslant \det(A^k+BA^{-1}BA),$$or ...
- 13.4k
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Finding minimum (or maximum) element of a low rank matrix.
Let $A\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$ and suppose that $A$ is of rank $m\leq n$. Moreover suppose we know $u_1,\ldots, u_m \in\mathbb{R}^{n\times 1}$ and $v_1,\ldots, v_m \in\mathbb{R}^{n\times 1}$ such ...
- 3,217
14
votes
1
answer
545
views
Is the discriminant of a free (as a module) $R$-algebra always congruent to a square modulo 4?
Let $R$ be a commutative ring. Let $A$ be an $R$-algebra (i.e., an $R$-module
equipped with an $R$-bilinear multiplication map that turns $A$ into a unital
ring). We do not require $A$ to be ...
- 33.8k
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Perron-Frobenius theory for reducible matrices
Can someone suggest some sources/references dealing with the Perron-Frobenius theory for nonnegative matrices that are reducible?
Specifically, if $A\ge 0$ is a $d\times d$ matrix with no assumptions ...
- 421
14
votes
2
answers
655
views
Number triangle
This question arose just out of curiosity. Note the triangle of 0-1's below, whose construction is as follows. Choose any number, say 53 as done here. The first line of the triangle is the binary ...
- 1,216
14
votes
3
answers
849
views
Determinant equal to Fibonacci sequence
I need to find the determinant of matrix defined by
\begin{align*}
& a_{i,1}=a_{1,j}=1,\quad \forall 1\leq i,j\leq n,\\ & a_{i,j}=a_{i-1,j}+a_{i,j-1}+i-j, \quad \forall 1< i,j\leq n.
\...
- 1,503
14
votes
1
answer
581
views
How flexible is the infinite-dimensional torus?
Let $\mathbb T=\mathbb R/\mathbb Z$ be the circle group and $\mathbb T^\omega$ be the infinite-dimensional torus, considered as an abelian compact topological group.
Problem 1. Is it true that for ...
- 41.9k
14
votes
1
answer
739
views
a Vandermonde-type of determinants summed over permutations
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group. Consider
$$D:=\sum_{\sigma\in S_n} \text{sgn}(\sigma)\cdot \det\begin{pmatrix}1 & a_{\sigma(1)}-0 & (a_{\sigma(1)}-0)^2 & \cdots & (a_{\sigma(1)}-0)^{...
- 141
14
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Eigenvalues of a sum of Hermitian positive definite circulant matrix and a positive diagonal matrix
Suppose I have a real $n\times n$ matrix $\mathbf{C}$ that is Hermitian, positive-definite, and circulant. We know that its eigenvalues $\{\lambda_0,\ldots,\lambda_{n-1}\}$ are extraordinarily nice ...
- 917
14
votes
1
answer
751
views
Is this "semi-tensor product" something recently invented? Are there other usages of it?
The context: I was reading a paper in which they used the following definition called "Semi-Tensor Product" (STP) or "Cheng" product (In honor to its "inventor" D. Cheng):...
- 344
14
votes
2
answers
606
views
Condition number of matrix after partial orthogonalization
I'm wondering about which bounds one can put on the condition number of
a $n\times n$ square matrix which is obtained from another $n\times n$
square matrix by orthogonalizing the first $m < n$ ...
- 141
14
votes
0
answers
603
views
Is the Zariski density proof of Cayley-Hamilton circular?
This old MO thread and its comments contains a discussion of the Zariski density proof of Cayley-Hamilton (I have also asked a separate question about the proof Victor gives in the comments here). ...
- 118k
14
votes
0
answers
810
views
Cardinality vs. isomorphism type of vector spaces without choice
One of the classical uses of the existence of bases of vector spaces (which is equivalent to the axiom of choice) is the following theorem:
If $V$ is an infinite vector space over a field $F$, and $...
- 39.8k
14
votes
0
answers
660
views
Who stated and proved the "Hopf lemma" on bilinear maps?
If $A\otimes B\rightarrow C$ is a nondegenerate linear map, where $A, B, C$ are vector spaces over an algebraically closed field, then $\dim C\ge \dim A + \dim B -1$.
Nondegenerate here means that ...
- 1,811
13
votes
8
answers
38k
views
What is the difference between matrix theory and linear algebra? [closed]
Hi,
Currently, I'm taking matrix theory, and our textbook is Strang's Linear Algebra. Besides matrix theory, which all engineers must take, there exists linear algebra I and II for math majors. What ...
- 253
13
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Status of the Hadamard Circulant conjecture
The following feels like a community wiki question, so I do it here:
Recently we have heard of a new proof of the Circulant Hadamard conjecture of Ryser
(a long standing difficult conjecture):
...
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Relationship between determinants.
Given an orthogonal matrix $O$ with dimensions $4n \times 4n$ and $\det O = -1$, how to prove that
$\det[O_{11} - O_{22} + i (O_{12} + O_{21})] = 0$?
Here $O$ is a block matrix $[[O_{11}, O_{12}], [...
- 605
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Eigenvalue pattern
We consider a matrix
$$M_{\mu} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & \mu & 1 & 0 \\ -\mu & 1 & 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$
One easily ...
- 133
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Determining if a matrix is orthogonal
Let g be an element of $GL_n(\mathbb C)$. We know that there are orthogonal groups $O(\beta)=\{X\in GL_n(\mathbb C) \mid X^t\beta X=\beta\}$ for any $\beta$, invertible symmetric matrix. Though these ...
- 661
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the Characteristic of a Field Detectable from the Topology of a Topological Vector Space?
Motivation
A topological vector space is a vector space over a (topological) field, K, that carries a topology such that addition and scalar multiplication are continuous maps, e.g., all normed vector ...
13
votes
2
answers
915
views
Topological vector spaces (reference request)
In his book Topological Function Spaces Arhangel'skii says that "it is well known that every nontrivial locally convex linear topological space $X$ is homeomorphic to a space of the form $Y \...
- 674
13
votes
3
answers
720
views
Supremum of $ a_n = a_{n-1}^3 - a_{n-2} $
Let $a_1=0$ and let $ - \ln(2) < a_2 < \ln(2) $
Define
$$ a_n = a_{n-1}^3 - a_{n-2} $$
Then
$$ \sup_{n>2} a_n = a_2 $$
And
$$ \inf_{n>2} a_n = - a_2 $$
How to prove that ?
- 763
13
votes
3
answers
419
views
Finite sets of vectors closed under an orthogonality property
Say that a set $X \subset \mathbf{S}^{d-1}$ is ortho-closed if for any set $\{x_1,\dots,x_{d-1}\} \subset X$ there exists $x \in X$ such that $\langle x,x_i \rangle = 0$ for $i=1,\dots,d-1$. (...
- 153
13
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Writing a matrix as a sum of two invertible matrices
Let $n\geq 2$. Is it true that any $n\times n$ matrix with entries from a given ring (with identity) can be written as a sum of two invertible matrices with entries from the same ring ?
user39321
13
votes
2
answers
801
views
Irreducible representation of $S_n$: contained in tensor powers of the standard representation?
Let $S_n$ be the permutation group and $V = \operatorname{Fun}(X,\mathbb{k})$ functions from $X=\{1,\dotsc,n\}$ to some field $\mathbb{k}$. How can I prove that every irreducible representation of $...
- 179
13
votes
3
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1k
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Is $-\det\big[\big(\frac{i^2+j^2}p\big)\big]_{1\le i,j\le (p-1)/2}$ always a square for each prime $p\equiv 3\pmod 4$?
Let $p$ be an odd prime and let $S_p$ denote the determinant
$$\det\left[\left(\frac{i^2+j^2}p\right)\right]_{1\le i,j\le (p-1)/2}$$
with $(\frac{\cdot}p)$ the Legendre symbol. By Theorem 1.2 of my ...
- 15.6k
13
votes
3
answers
4k
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Signature of a quadratic form
This may be a really dumb question, but here goes: is there any algorithm to compute the signature of a quadratic form (or a symmetric matrix, if you prefer) more efficient (asymptotically or ...
- 96.4k
13
votes
2
answers
730
views
Concrete representation of coend in linear algebra
$\require{AMScd}$Teaching coend calculus to a PhD student led me to this "elementary" computation that I would like to perform explicitly.
Consider the functor $F : (\mathbb N,\le)^\text{op}\...
- 13.6k
13
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Parametrization of positive semidefinite matrices
We know that a real, symmetric, positive definite matrix $A$ of size $n\times n$ can be parametrized by a vector $\theta$ of $\frac{n(n+1)}{2}$ parameters thanks to the Cholesky decomposition:
$$
A = ...
- 313
13
votes
3
answers
2k
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Linear algebra underlying quantum entanglement?
Hope this question is appropriate. I think I saw certain claims that quantum entanglement is a certain phenomena that can be explained (or modelled) in terms of tensor products in linear algebra. I ...
- 14.3k
13
votes
2
answers
1k
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Action of SL(2,Z) on upper triangular primitive integer matrices of determinant N, from the right. Is it transitive?
I am porting this question across from StackExchange, since it has received no answers and perhaps is sufficiently deep to fit here.
I am considering the set of upper triangular matrices
$$D_N=\left\...
- 133
13
votes
4
answers
2k
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Rational congruence of binomial coefficient matrices
Skip Garibaldi asks if there is an elementary proof of the following fact that "accidentally" fell out of some high-powered machinery he was working on.
Say that two matrices $A$ and $B$ over the ...
- 82.7k
13
votes
2
answers
539
views
$f$ real-rooted forbid truncated $\frac1f$ to be so?
Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial in the ring $\mathbb{R}[x]$, the roots are all real and $f(0)=1$. Write the Taylor series of $1/f(x)$ around the origin as
$$\frac1{f(x)}=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}a_kx^k,$$
and ...
- 43.2k
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Groups of matrices in which all elements have all eigenvalues equal in modulus
I am writing a research article in which I need to use the following fact: if $G$ is a subgroup of $GL_3(\mathbb{R})$ which is irreducible in the sense that no proper nontrivial subspace of $\mathbb{R}...
- 6,206
13
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Multivariate analogue of Vandermonde determinant
Dear all,
Consider the $(n+1)\times (n+1)$ matrix $A$ with indeterminates $X_i, Y_i$, $0\leq i\leq n$ such that the $(i,j)$-th entry is given by $X_i^jY_i^{n-j}$. The $i$-th row is $(X_i^n,X_i^{n-1}...
- 537
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Which polynomials are determinants of a symmetric matrix with linear entries?
Let $k$ be a field. Can each degree $n$ polynomial $P(t) \in k[t]$ be written as the determinant of the matrix $A + tB$, where $A$ and $B$ are two symmetric $(n \times n)$-matrices with entries in $k$?...
- 5,163
13
votes
2
answers
697
views
in search of a transformation between determinants
Motivated by this MO question. Consider the two matrices $A_n$ and $B_n$ with entries $\binom{2j}i$ and $\binom{n+1}{2j-i}$, respectively; for $1\leq i, \,j\leq n$.
I can show $\det A_n=\det B_n=2^{\...
- 43.2k
13
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How do we show this matrix has full rank?
I met with the following difficulty reading the paper Li, Rong Xiu "The properties of a matrix order column" (1988):
Define the matrix $A=(a_{jk})_{n\times n}$, where
$$a_{jk}=\begin{cases}
j+...
- 4,280
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Number of idempotent $n\times n$ matrices over $\mathbb{Z}/m\mathbb{Z}$?
Is there any known formula for the number of idempotent $n\times n$ matrices over $\mathbb{Z}_m:=\mathbb{Z}/m\mathbb{Z}$ ?
The number of idempotent matrices over a finite field is well-known and ...
user31416
13
votes
2
answers
8k
views
AC in group isomorphism between R and R^2
Using the axiom of choice, one can show that $\mathbb{R}$ and $\mathbb{R}^2$ are isomorphic as additive groups. In particular, they are both vector spaces over $\mathbb{Q}$ and AC gives bases of ...
- 8,501
13
votes
3
answers
747
views
Is there a row vector $x$ with integer entries such that no entry of $xM$ is $0 \text{ (mod }p\text{)}$?
Let $p$ be a prime and let $M$ be an $n \times m$ matrix with integer entries such that $M\vec{v} \not\equiv \vec{0} \text{ (mod }p\text{)}$ for any column vector $\vec{v} \neq \vec{0}$ whose entries ...
- 305