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29 votes
6 answers
10k views

how to find/define eigenvectors as a continuous function of matrix?

I asked this (with background) here https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/38494/principal-component-analysis-bootstrap-and-probability-of-eigenvalue-collision but did not really get any answers. ...
kjetil b halvorsen's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Reference request: Oldest linear algebra books with exercises?

Inspired by the recent success of my "soft question" here, I also have to ask, what are some of the oldest linear algebra books out there with exercises? I'm fine with or without solutions, either way....
12 votes
3 answers
784 views

Can the equation $1+z+z^2=z^n$ for natural $n$ have multiple complex roots $z$?

The question is stated in the title of this post. It is easy to see that, if $z$ is a multiple root of $p_n(z):=1+z+z^2-z^n$, then $(n-2)z^2+(n-1)z+n=0$, so that we can successively express $z^2,\dots,...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
890 views

Partitioning an orthogonal matrix into full rank square submatrices

Let $U$ be an $n \times n$ orthogonal matrix. Given an arbitrary partition ${\mathcal P}_c=\{y_1,y_2,\ldots,y_k\}$ of the columns of $U$, does there always exist a corresponding partition ${\mathcal ...
David Shuman's user avatar
36 votes
2 answers
32k views

Eigenvalues of the product of two symmetric matrices

This is mostly a reference request, as this must be well-known! Let $A$ and $B$ be two real symmetric matrices, one of which is positive definite. Then it is easy to see that the product $AB$ (or $BA$...
kjetil b halvorsen's user avatar
16 votes
4 answers
3k views

How many minors I need to check to conclude all minors will vanish ?

Given a $m \times n$ matrix $n>m$, I was trying to check if all its $m \times m$ minor vanish. I remember hearing that one really does not need to check all possible minors in order to conclude ...
Vagabond's user avatar
  • 1,795
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Singular value decomposition of random rectangular matrices

Let $A$ be a $m\times n$ real matrix, whose entries are independent, identically distributed random variables, following standard normal distributions (mean zero and unit variance). What is the ...
valle's user avatar
  • 884
38 votes
10 answers
18k views

Fast matrix multiplication

Suppose we have two $n$ by $n$ matrices over particular ring. We want to multiply them as fast as possible. According to wikipedia there is an algorithm of Coppersmith and Winograd that can do it in $...
ilyaraz's user avatar
  • 1,791
35 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why there is a relation among the second-order minors of a symmetric $4\times 4$ matrix?

A $4\times 4$ symmetric matrix $$ \left( \begin{array}{cccc} a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} & a_{14} \\ a_{12} & a_{22} & a_{23} & a_{24} \\ a_{13} & a_{23} & a_{33} & ...
Giovanni Moreno's user avatar
27 votes
7 answers
9k views

Why are two "random" vectors in $\mathbb R^n$ approximately orthogonal for large $n$?

I saw that two random independent vectors are approximately orthogonal in high dimensional space. How can I prove this? And is there an intuitive explanation? Thank you.
YONGSEEN KIM's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
3k views

Linear algebra from the categorical point of view

Is there any book of Linear algebra in the modern language of Category theory? I refer to the (systematic, formalist) study of the category whose objects are vector spaces and whose morphisms are ...
M. Carmona's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
2k views

The Lefschetz operator

Let $\omega=\sum_{i=1}^n dx_i\wedge dy_i\in\bigwedge^2(\mathbb{R}^{2n})^*$ be a standard symplectic form. The following result is due to Lefschetz: For $k\leq n$, the Lefschetz operator $L^{n-k}:\...
Piotr Hajlasz's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
1k views

The GCD-matrix: generalizing a result of Smith?

Let $M$ be the $n\times n$ matrix, known as the GCD matrix, of entries $M_{ij}=\gcd(i,j)$. In the paper H J S Smith, On the value of a certain arithmetical determinant, Proc. London Math. Soc. 7:208-...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
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 $d\times d$ ...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

An inequality for the spectral radius of matrices used by J. Bochi

I am interested in the history of an inequality for the spectral radius of a $d\times d$ real or complex matrix, which occurs in Jairo Bochi's 2002 article Inequalities for numerical invariants of ...
Ian Morris's user avatar
  • 6,206
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

How can one construct a sparse null space basis using recursive LU decomposition?

Given an $m$ by $n$ matrix $A$ I'm familiar with the standard method to compute a basis for the null space of $A$ by computing a QR factorization of $A^T$. If $A$ is large and sparse, we can use ...
Alec Jacobson's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
2k views

Representability of matroids over $\mathbb R$

Let $M$ be a matroid, for example viewed as being given by a finite set $X$ and a rank function $d : P(X) \to {\mathbb N}$ such that 1) $d(\varnothing)=0$, $d(\lbrace x \rbrace)=1$, for all $x \in X$,...
Andreas Thom's user avatar
  • 25.5k
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 &...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

Diagonalization via the Toda flow

According to some almost indecipherable notes of a graduate Linear Algebra class, a symmetric matrix $A\in\mathbb R^{n\times n}$ can be diagonalised via the Toda flow. More specifically, if $X=X(t)\in\...
smyrlis's user avatar
  • 2,933
10 votes
0 answers
477 views

Name for an operation on matrices?

Given two matrices $A$ and $B$ of size $a \times n$ and $b \times m$ consider the following operation $A \dagger B$ whose result is an $a b^n \times n m$ matrix. $A \dagger B$ is a block matrix with $...
Grigory Yaroslavtsev's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
830 views

Find the inverse of a matrix that is very similar to the Hilbert matrix

The standard Hilbert matrix $H$ is given by $$H_{ij}=\frac{1}{i+j-1},$$ and it has an inverse given for example in this MO question. Now I have encountered a matrix $M$ of similar form, namely, $$...
Dings's user avatar
  • 153
10 votes
1 answer
537 views

Coefficient-wise powers of matrices. Reference wanted

Let $K$ be a commutative field and ${\rm M}_n (K)$ be the ring of $n\times n$ square matrices with coefficients in $K$ ($n\geqslant 1$ is an integer). For $k\geqslant 1$ and $A =(a_{ij})_{1\leqslant i,...
Paul Broussous's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Calculating a curvature tensor by polarization

I'm reading some articles by Siu and Nannicini on the Weil-Petersson metric associated to families of compact Kahler-Einstein manifolds. In each article Siu and Nannicini construct a Weil-Petersson ...
Gunnar Þór Magnússon's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
648 views

Laplace-like / cofactor expansion for Pfaffian

Wikipedia presents a recursive definition of the Pfaffian of a skew-symmetric matrix as $$ \operatorname{pf}(A)=\sum_{{j=1}\atop{j\neq i}}^{2n}(-1)^{i+j+1+\theta(i-j)}a_{ij}\operatorname{pf}(A_{\hat{\...
Vít Tuček's user avatar
  • 8,597
6 votes
1 answer
257 views

Families of subsets whose characteristic vectors are spanning sets

Let $X$ be a finite set and $\mathbb CX$ be a vector space with basis $X$. If $Y\subseteq X$ is a subset, then by the characteristic vector of $Y$ I mean $\sum_{y\in Y}y$. My question is: ...
Benjamin Steinberg's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
217 views

An inequality for certain positive-definite matrices

Suppose that $G=(G_{ij})$ is an $n\times n$ positive-definite symmetric matrix with the diagonal entries all equal $1$ and all off-diagonal entries $\le0$. Let $a$ be a column $n\times1$ matrix with ...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
588 views

A numerical matrix of power sum polynomials

Let $p_i=x_1^i+x_2^i+\cdots+x_m^i=\sum_{k=1}^mx_k^i$ be the power sum polynomials. Then, the determinant of the $m\times m$ Hankel matrix $M_m=(p_{i+j-2})$, for $1\leq i,j\leq m$, has a neat ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
213 views

Matrix-valued periodic Fibonacci polynomials

Consider the Fibonacci polynomials $f_n(x)$, defined by the recursion $f_n(x)=xf_{n-1}(x)-f_{n-2}(x)$ with initial values $f_0(x)=0$ and $f_1(x)=1$. It is well known that the values of these ...
Johann Cigler's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
150 views

monomer-dimer tiling of a Young diagram

As a modest start, I propose the below problem for a special set of partitions. Perhaps it is known. Let $\lambda_n=(n,n-1,\dots,2,1)$ be the staircase partition and its corresponding Young diagram $...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
190 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} \...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
474 views

An inequality for certain positive-semidefinite matrices

Suppose that $G=(G_{ij})$ is a positive-semidefinite symmetric matrix with the diagonal entries all equal $1$ and all off-diagonal entries $\le0$. Does it then necessarily follow that $$\sum_{i,j}(G^5)...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
199 views

Find the inverse of a more general matrix that is similar to the Hilbert matrix

In the last MO question , the following matrix is given: $$M_{ij}=\left[\frac{1+(-1)^{i+j}}{i+j-1}\right]$$ and its inverse has been discussed. Now the problem is further extended to a more general ...
Dings's user avatar
  • 153
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Constant rank theorem for Banach spaces

Is there a similar statement to the constant rank theorem for finite dimensional real smooth manifolds which holds for a smooth map $F:B \rightarrow M$ where $B$ is an infinite (countable) dimensional ...
Benjamin's user avatar
  • 2,099
4 votes
0 answers
284 views

Institutional approach to linear algebra

In Diaconescu's book Institution Independent Model Theory, it is mentioned on p. 37 that linear algebra can be viewed as an institution. Specifically, we have the following Definition. An institution ...
Alec Rhea's user avatar
  • 10.1k
4 votes
1 answer
313 views

A determinant of perfect square polynomials

Usually, I like working with determinants related to the Vandermonde matrix, i.e. $$\det(x_j^{i-1})=\prod_{i<j}(x_j-x_i).$$ However, I run into some unusual matrix and its determinant. Define the $(...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
758 views

Riemannian metric of hyperbolic plane

I'm fishing for the origin of the idea to consider "trace scalar product" on the space of ($G$-)orthogonal projectors as means of defining a Riemannian metric on some subset of lines in a vector space....
Vít Tuček's user avatar
  • 8,597
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

A table for irreducible integral representation of finite cyclic groups

Is there such a table where the irreducible integral representations of finite cyclic groups are listed? Edited: Thanks for Todd Leason's comment.Acutally,i want to know all inequivalent ...
user2015's user avatar
  • 593
3 votes
1 answer
325 views

Reference on completely positive maps which are isometries

Let $\Phi:\mathcal{L}(H)\rightarrow \mathcal{L}(K)$ be a completely positive map sending positive self-adoint operators on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space $H$ to positive self-adoint operators on a ...
Stefano Gogioso's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
130 views

Where does this identity involving sums of Hankel-like determinants over partitions come from?

For a partition $\lambda=( \lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n)\vdash n$ with $\lambda_1\ge\dots\ge\lambda_n\ge0$ and any function $f:\mathbb Z\to\mathbb C$, define a Hankel-like $n\times n$ matrix $$M_f(\...
Wolfgang's user avatar
  • 13.4k
3 votes
1 answer
165 views

The inverse of a symbolic matrix (with reciprocal binomials) has Laurent entries

Recalling the $q$-binomials (Gaussian polynomials). Let $[n]_q!=\prod_{j=1}^n\frac{1-q^j}{1-q}$ and $\binom{n}k_q=\frac{[n]_q!}{[k]_q!\cdot[n-k]_q!}$. Now, consider the $n\times n$ matrix $\mathbf{M}...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
207 views

On a variation of the Vandermonde matrix

The ubiquitous Vandermonde matrix, of entries $(x_i^{j-1})_{i,j}^{1,n}$, and its determinant $$\prod_{i<j}^{1,n}(x_j-x_i)$$ have found many utilities in Combinatorics and Physics, among other ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
655 views

Upper bounds on the condition number of the eigenvector matrix

Let $A$ be an $n\times n$ real matrix with entries in a fixed interval $[a_\min,a_\max]$, with $a_\min$, $a_\max>0$. Question: Are there any upper bounds on the condition number of the ...
Ludwig's user avatar
  • 2,712
3 votes
1 answer
166 views

The spectral radius of a modified graph

Let $H$ be a graph and let $G=H \vee K_{1}$ be obtained by creating a new vertex and joining it to every vertex in $H$. This situation has many different names: $G$ is called the cone or the ...
Felix Goldberg's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
325 views

Determinant and inverse of a "stars and stripes" matrix

This is a variant of another MO question. Consider the matrix $$M_n:=\begin{bmatrix}c_1& a & b&a& \ddots & a \\ b & c_2 & a& b&\ddots & b\\ a & b & c_3&...
Wolfgang's user avatar
  • 13.4k
2 votes
1 answer
743 views

rank of a linear combination of matrices

Let $A_1,..., A_s \in M_n(\mathbb{R})$ be symmetric matrices and suppose they are linearly independent over $\mathbb{R}$. This means that $$ m = \min_{(c_1, ..., c_s) \in \mathbb{R}^s \backslash \{0\}}...
Johnny T.'s user avatar
  • 3,625
2 votes
2 answers
248 views

On an angle distribution of a random linear subspace of a given dimension

$\newcommand\R{\mathbb R}$ Let $u$ be a fixed unit vector in $\R^n$, and let $\Pi_u$ be the hyperplane in $\R^n$ with normal vector $u$. Let $B$ be the (say open) unit ball in $\R^n$ centered at the ...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar