matrix decomposition question

TimSal

Hi everyone,

I have a problem with the following matrix equation:

A = B*inv(B+D)

where A is a square matrix, B a positive semi-definite matrix, D a positive diagonal matrix and inv() denotes the inverse matrix. All are real-valued.

Does anyone know of any simple way to check whether this equation has a solution for given A? And how to obtain this solution? (i.e. find B and D) And whether the solution is unique?

Thanks in advance!

tiny-tim

Hi TimSal! Welcome to PF!

Hint: multiply both sides by … ?

TimSal

Yes, that gives

A(B+D)=B

or

AD=(I-A)B

I don't see how that really helps to answer the question though. It's a system of linear equations but I still don't see an easy way of checking whether there exists a solution, nor do I know how to solve this efficiently under the restriction that B is positive semi-definite and D is positive diagonal.

tiny-tim

Hi TimSal!
So, if (I - A) is invertible, then B = (1 - A)^-1AD

TimSal

Thanks. Any thoughts on the case where A and (I-A) are not invertible?

TimSal

Also, with
there does not seem to be any guarantee that B will indeed be positive semi-definite for any given positive diagonal D.

tiny-tim

Nope!
But D isn't given.

TimSal

D isn't given, but because there is no guarantee that B will be positive semi-definite for any chosen D, this expression does not help me solve the equation. I still don't know how to pick D and B.