5.3 Show that a square matrix with a zero row is not invertible.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of square matrices, specifically focusing on the invertibility of a matrix that contains a row of zeros. Participants explore the implications of having a zero row on the determinant and the ability to find an inverse.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that a square matrix must be invertible and provides an example of a non-zero determinant to illustrate this point.
  • Another participant questions the implications of having a zero row in a matrix, asking what the resulting product of that matrix with another matrix would be, particularly whether it could yield the identity matrix.
  • A later reply suggests using the definition of matrix multiplication to determine the characteristics of the product matrix, indicating that the zero row will influence the outcome.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of a zero row in terms of invertibility, and the discussion includes multiple viewpoints regarding the properties of matrix multiplication.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks formal definitions and rigorous proofs regarding the properties of determinants and matrix inverses, relying instead on examples and informal reasoning.

karush
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Show that a square matrix with a zero row is not invertible.
first a matrix has to be a square to be invertable
if
$$\det \begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&1\end{pmatrix}=1$$
then $$\begin{pmatrix}
1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&1\end{pmatrix}^{-1}
=\begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ -3&0&1
\end{pmatrix}$$
but if $r_1$ is all zeros
$$\det \begin{pmatrix}
0&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&0
\end{pmatrix}=0$$
then
$$\begin{pmatrix}
0&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&0
\end{pmatrix}^{-1} DNE$$ok I,m not real sure formally why this is ...

I could only do so with an example.:confused:
 
Last edited:
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karush said:
if
$$\det \begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&1\end{pmatrix}=1$$
then $$\begin{pmatrix}
1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ 3&0&1\end{pmatrix}^{-1}
=\begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\ 0&1&0\\ -3&0&1
\end{pmatrix}$$
This reminds me a joke. A tourist asks a local resident: "If I go down this street, will there be a railway station?" The local replies, "The station will be there even if you don't go down that street".

Suppose the $i$th row of a square matrix $A$ consists entirely of zeros. What is the $i$th row in the matrix $AB$ for any size-compatible matrix $B$? Can $AB$ be the identity matrix?
 
so what would AB look like in your example
 
One cannot say much about about $AB$ in general without knowing more about $A$ and $B$, but we can know the $i$th row of $AB$. I suggest you use the definition of matrix multiplication to find what that row is. If you want, you can consider an example where $A$ is the matrix from your original post where the first row has all zeros and $B$ is an arbitrary 3x3 matrix. However, it is pretty obvious what the $i$th row of $AB$ is in general if the $i$th row of $A$ consists of zeros.
 

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