Is There a Faster Way to Find the Reduced Row Echelon Form of a Matrix?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a faster method to compute the reduced row echelon form (rref) of a matrix, specifically through the use of elimination matrices and row operations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the use of elimination matrices and question the efficiency of their current methods. Some suggest juxtaposing the identity matrix with the original matrix for row reduction, while others discuss the implications of using software like MATLAB.

Discussion Status

Participants are sharing various methods and insights, with some expressing uncertainty about the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. There is no explicit consensus on the best method, but several ideas are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the time-consuming nature of their calculations and the potential for using software tools, which raises questions about the appropriateness of such methods in a homework context.

rocomath
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So I found the elimination matrices such that [tex]G_3G_2G_1A=rref(A)[/tex] which, but it took way too long. Is there a shorter method?
 
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I don't understand what were you trying to find. You want to find the matrix E such that EA = reduced row-echelon form of A ?

If so, I don't see any easy way to get it. Note that the elementary matrix corresponding to a row operation is simply the identity matrix with that same row operation performed on it. Just keep a simple record of all the types of row reduction you did, then you can easily get E from them.
 
Just thought about this a little longer and realized that if all you want is the final matrix G which is a matrix product of all the E's, then one way you could get it would be to juxtapose the identity matrix next to A and and row reduce A to it's reduced row echelon form. The resultant matrix next to rref(A) would be G. If you want the composite E's you'll have to solve as above.
 
That's what my classmate told me as well, I haven't verified that method yet.

I did what you said in the first post, took me forever to get G through all the E's, LOL.
 
Lol much quicker! :)))
 
Well the quickest way of course would be to use MATLAB. But that's cheating.
 

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