Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Matrices

Matrices: An introduction

This tutorial discusses some of the ins and outs of matrices. Matrices can be fun, but more importantly, they can really save you time.  Introduction A matrix is, by definition, a rectangular array of numeric or algebraic quantities which are subject to mathematical operations. Matrices can be defined in terms of their dimensions (number of rows and columns). Let us take a look at a matrix with 4 rows and 3 columns (we denote it as a 4×3 matrix and call it  A ): Each individual item in a matrix is called a cell, and can be denoted by the particular row and column it resides in. For instance, in matrix A, element a32 can be found where the 3rd row and the 2nd column intersect. What are they used for? Matrices are used to represent complicated or time-consuming mathematical operations. A single matrix can hold an infinite number of calculations, which can then be applied to a number, vector, or another matrix. There are several operations that can be done on matr...