TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter is an introduction to matrices and matrix operations. Determinants, Cramer's rule, and Gauss's elimination method are reviewed. Some definitions and examples are not applicable to subsequent material presented in this text, but are included for subject continuity, and reference to more advance topics in matrix theory. These are denoted with a dagger ( ) and may be skipped.
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers such as those shown below.
In general form, a matrix A is denoted as
The numbers a ij are the elements of the matrix where the index i indicates the row, and j indicates the column in which each element is positioned. Thus, a 43 indicates the element positioned in the fourth row and third column.
A matrix of m rows and n columns is said to be of m n order matrix.
If m = n, the matrix is said to be a square matrix of order m (or n). Thus, if a matrix has five rows and five columns, it is said to be a square matrix of order 5.
In a square matrix, the elements a 11, a 22, a 33, , a nn are called the main diagonal elements. Alternately, we say that the matrix elements a 11, a 22, a 33, , a nn, are located on the main...
