Matrix Cubing: Understanding the Correct Order for Multiplication

[John777]

To cube the matrix [A] I assume you square it and then multiply the result by [A] however in matrix multiplication order matters:

so which is correct?

[A]^3 = [A]^2[A] or [A][A]^2

 

[rock.freak667]

They are the same.

In the end you are just doing [A][A][A]

 

[Dick]

It doesn't matter. (A*A)*A=A*(A*A). Matrix multiplication may not be commutative, but it is associative.