# Matrix functions

I'm trying to expand a function of a bilinear map in a power series $f({\bf x^{T}Ax})$. It isn't quite a matrix function because it takes a matrix and a vector and maps them into a scalar. I'd like to expand it into powers of $\bf A$, but still preserve the function as a scalar. As far as I can tell, a matrix power series takes a matrix as an input (like this one) but outputs a matrix (unlike this problem). I'm not sure how to proceed.

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tiny-tim
Homework Helper
hi unchained1978!

if A = ∑ Bn, then xTAx = ∑ xTBnx

(btw, i don't bother to write matrices in bold: i write vectors bold, scalars small plain, and matrices big plain )

pwsnafu
Offtopic...

(btw, i don't bother to write matrices in bold: i write vectors bold, scalars small plain, and matrices big plain )

I use the convention from linear analysis: scalars are lower case Greek, vectors are lower case Latin, and operators are upper case Latin. No need to worry about boldface

hi unchained1978!

if A = ∑ Bn, then xTAx = ∑ xTBnx

(btw, i don't bother to write matrices in bold: i write vectors bold, scalars small plain, and matrices big plain )

I'm not sure I understand how that relates to my problem. Lets say I have a function $f({\bf x^{T}}A{\bf x})=\frac{1}{{\bf x^{T}}A{\bf x}}$. Are you saying this is the same as ${\bf x^{T}}(1+A^{2}+A^{3}+...+A^{n}){\bf x}$?

tiny-tim
I'm not sure I understand how that relates to my problem. Lets say I have a function $f({\bf x^{T}}A{\bf x})=\frac{1}{{\bf x^{T}}A{\bf x}}$. Are you saying this is the same as ${\bf x^{T}}(1+A^{2}+A^{3}+...+A^{n}){\bf x}$?
Oops. I forgot to write 1/(x^T (1-A)x). So what's the general procedure for this sort of problem? I'm working with a Gaussian function $e^{-{\bf x^{T}}A{\bf x}}$ and I'd like to expand that in A? Any suggestions?