Solving Matrix Equations with Real Scalars

[blueberryfive]

Hello,

A(rB) = r(AB) =(rA)B where r is a real scalar and A and B are appropriately sized matrices.

How to even start? A(rbij)=A(rB), but then you can't reassociate...

Also, a formal proof for Tr(A^T)=Tr(A)?

It doesn't seem like enough to say the diagonal entries are unaffected by transposition..

Lastly, let A be an mxn matrix with a column consisting entirely of zeros. Show that if B is an nxp matrix, then AB has a row of zeros.

I can't figure out how to make a proof of this. I know how to say what such and such entry of AB is, but I don't know how to designate an entire column. How do you formally say it will be equal to zero, then...just because the dot product of a zero vector with anything is 0?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Hello,

A(rB) = r(AB) =(rA)B where r is a real scalar and A and B are appropriately sized matrices.

How to even start? A(rbij)=A(rB), but then you can't reassociate...

You don't have to. Every entry in "rB" has a factor of r so every entry in A(rB) has a factor of r so A(rb)= r(AB)= (rA)B

Also, a formal proof for Tr(A^T)=Tr(A)?

It doesn't seem like enough to say the diagonal entries are unaffected by transposition..

Why not? Would it be better to say "$A^*_{ij}= A_{ji}$" so that, replacing j with i, "$A^*_{ii}= A_{ii}$"? That may look more "formal" but it is really just saying that "the diagonal entries are unaffected by transposition".

Lastly, let A be an mxn matrix with a column consisting entirely of zeros. Show that if B is an nxp matrix, then AB has a row of zeros.

[tex](AB)_{ij}= \sum A_{ik}B_{kj}[/itex]. If the "jth" column of B is all 0s, then the "jth" row of A is all 0.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I can't figure out how to make a proof of this. I know how to say what such and such entry of AB is, but I don't know how to designate an entire column. How do you formally say it will be equal to zero, then...just because the dot product of a zero vector with anything is 0? </div> </div> </blockquote>[/tex]

 

[blueberryfive]

Thank you.

Also,

Tr(A^TA)$\geq$0.

I can't even see how to begin...

 

[HallsofIvy]

Thank you.

Also,

Tr(A^TA)$\geq$0.

I can't even see how to begin...

That's a sum of squares!

 

[Fredrik]

Hello,

A(rB) = r(AB) =(rA)B where r is a real scalar and A and B are appropriately sized matrices.

How to even start? A(rbij)=A(rB), but then you can't reassociate...

The definition of rA where r is a real number and A is a matrix is $(rA)_{ij}=rA_{ij}$. The definition of AB where both A and B are matrices is $(AB)_{ij}=\sum_k A_{ik}B_{kj}$. It's not hard to use these definitions to show that the equalities you mentioned are true. Start with $(A(rB))_{ij}=\sum_k A_{ik}(rB)_{kj}$.

All your other questions are also quite easy to answer if you just use these definitions, and the definition of the trace and the transpose: $\operatorname{Tr}A=\sum_i A_{ii},\quad (A^T)_{ij}=A_{ji}$.