Determining invertibility of a matrix

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter allanmulin
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Matrix
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conditions under which a square matrix C can be shown to be invertible given the equation AB + CD = 0, with specific matrix dimensions and the invertibility of matrix B. The scope includes theoretical exploration of matrix properties and dimensional analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that if AB + CD = 0 and B is invertible, it might be possible to show that C is also invertible under certain conditions.
  • Another participant counters that if A and D are both zero matrices, then C cannot be proven to be invertible, indicating a limitation in the argument.
  • A clarification is made that A and D are non-zero matrices, which is crucial for the discussion.
  • Examples of matrices are provided to illustrate the conditions, but some participants point out that the dimensions of the matrices in the examples are incompatible.
  • There is a reiteration that B and C should have the same dimensions based on the given matrix dimensions.
  • A later reply suggests that additional information from a physical problem may help in establishing the invertibility of C, although this information has not yet been identified.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the implications of the matrix conditions and examples provided. There is no consensus on whether C can be shown to be invertible based solely on the given conditions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations related to the dimensions of the matrices involved and the assumptions about the non-zero nature of A and D. The discussion remains open regarding the necessary conditions for C's invertibility.

allanmulin
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Let A, B, C, D be matrices such that:

AB + CD = 0

and

B is invertible. Moreover, consider the dimension restrictions:

A(m x n), B(n x n), C(m x m), D(m x n)

If C is a square matrix, is there a way to show that it is also invertible with only the above conditions?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
If you take A = D = 0, then AB + CD = 0 for any matrix C, so you can't prove C is invertible.
 
A and D are non-zero matrices, forget to say.
 
Take

A=\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 1\\ 1 & 1 \end{array}\right), B=\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 0\\ 0 & 1 \end{array}\right), C=\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 1\\ 1 & 1 \end{array}\right), D=\left(\begin{array}{cc} -1 & 0\\ 0 & -1 \end{array}\right)
 
A and D are rectangular, not square.
 
Take

A=\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 1\end{array}\right), B=\left(\begin{array}{c} 1 \end{array}\right), C=\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 1\\ 1 & 1 \end{array}\right), D=\left(\begin{array}{c} -1\\ 0 \end{array}\right)
 
The example you gave yields incompatible dimensions: AB is 1x2 and CD is 2x1.
 
allanmulin said:
The example you gave have yields incompatible dimensions: AB is 1x2 and CD is 2x1.

I was editing. Check again.

You can really find these things for yourself.
 
That's what I am trying to do! B and C should have the same dimension.

A(m x n), B(n x n), C(m x m), D(m x n)
 
  • #10
allanmulin said:
That's what I am trying to do! B and C should have the same dimension.

A(m x n), B(n x n), C(m x m), D(m x n)

Here, m=2 and n=1.
 
  • #11
Yeah, you're right. Thanks a lot.

It seems there is some more information in my physical problem to show that C should be invertible, but could not find it yet.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K