Trying to follow my textbook's explanation

1. Apr 21, 2010

Jamin2112

I don't need the template because this isn't a homework problem, per se; it's just information about how to get started on my homework.

So I have an equation x'=Ax, x(0)=x0, where A is a constant matrix.

I can write it as x=ø(t)x0, where ø(t) is a fundamental matrix such that ø(0)=I

We know that Taylor expanding eat gives us ∑ antn/n!

(n starts from 1 and goes to infinity)

I + ∑Antn / n! = I + At + A2t2/2! + ..... + Antn/n! + ........ = e(At)

So, I don't even understand how you can raise a scalar to a power of a matrix. This is a messed-up world we live in.

d/dt e(At) = ∑Antn-1/(n-1)! = A[ I + ∑Antn/n!].

I don't understand that last step. Must be some property of summations?

2. Apr 21, 2010

boboYO

write out some terms (say the first 3) instead of just ∑...

it should become clear.

3. Apr 21, 2010

HallsofIvy

There is no "scalar to a power of a matrix" except on the far right. And that equation defines what is meant by $e^A$

$\sum_{n=0}^\infty A^n t^{n-1}=$$A+ A^2t+ A^3t^2+ \cdot\cdot\cdot=$$A(I+ At+ A^2 t^2+ \cdot\cdot\cdot)= A(I+ \sum_{n=1}^\infty A^nt^n)$.