Table of contents | |
What is a Matrix? | |
Matrix Definition | |
Matrix Notation | |
Matrix Equality | |
Test Your Understanding |
This lesson introduces the matrix - the rectangular array at the heart of matrix algebra. Matrix algebra is used quite a bit in advanced statistics, largely because it provides two benefits.
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers arranged in rows and columns. The array of numbers below is an example of a matrix.
The number of rows and columns that a matrix has is called its dimension or its order. By convention, rows are listed first; and columns, second. Thus, we would say that the dimension (or order) of the above matrix is 3 x 4, meaning that it has 3 rows and 4 columns.
Numbers that appear in the rows and columns of a matrix are called elements of the matrix. In the above matrix, the element in the first column of the first row is 21; the element in the second column of the first row is 62; and so on.
Statisticians use symbols to identify matrix elements and matrices.
Matrix elements. Consider the matrix below, in which matrix elements are represented entirely by symbols.
Matrices. There are several ways to represent a matrix symbolically. The simplest is to use a boldface letter, such as A, B, or C. Thus, A might represent a 2 x 4 matrix, as illustrated below.
Another approach for representing matrix A is:
A = [ Aij ] where i = 1, 2 and j = 1, 2, 3, 4
This notation indicates that A is a matrix with 2 rows and 4 columns. The actual elements of the array are not displayed; they are represented by the symbol Aij.
Other matrix notation will be introduced as needed. For a description of all the matrix notation used in this tutorial, see the Matrix Notation Appendix.
To understand matrix algebra, we need to understand matrix equality. Two matrices are equal if all three of the following conditions are met:
Problem 1
The notation below describes two matrices - matrix A and matrix B.
A = [ Aij ]
where i = 1, 2, 3 and j = 1, 2
Which of the following statements about A and B are true?
I. Matrix A has 5 elements.
II. The dimension of matrix B is 4 x 2.
III. In matrix B, element B21 is equal to 222.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) All of the above
(E) None of the above
Solution
The correct answer is (E).
Matrix A has 3 rows and 2 columns; that is, 3 rows, each with 2 elements. This adds up to 6 elements, altogether - not 5.
The dimension of matrix B is 2 x 4 - not 4 x 2. That is, matrix B has 2 rows and 4 columns - not 4 rows and 2 columns.
And, finally, element B21 refers to the first element in the second row of matrix B, which is equal to 555 - not 222.
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1. What is a matrix? |
2. What is the difference between a row matrix and a column matrix? |
3. How are matrices used in business mathematics and statistics? |
4. What is the determinant of a matrix? |
5. How can matrices and determinants be applied in real-world business scenarios? |
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