Chapter 3: Problem 27
Find conditions on \(a, b, c,\) and \(d\) such that \(B=\left[\begin{array}{ll}a & b \\ c & d\end{array}\right]\) commutes with every \(2 \times 2\) matrix.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Matrix \(B\) must be a scalar multiple of the identity matrix: \(B = aI\).
Step by step solution
01
Define Commutativity
For any matrix \(B\) to commute with every \(2 \times 2\) matrix, \(B\) must satisfy \(AB = BA\) for all \(2 \times 2\) matrices \(A\). A specific case to consider is when \(A = I\), the identity matrix. But the condition must hold for any \(A\), not just specific ones.
02
Matrix Multiplication
Let \(A = \left[\begin{array}{cc} x & y \ z & w \end{array}\right]\). Compute \(AB\) and \(BA\) using matrix multiplication. Calculate \(AB = \begin{bmatrix} xa + yc & xb + yd \ za + wc & zb + wd \end{bmatrix}\) and \(BA = \begin{bmatrix} ax + bz & ay + bw \ cx + dz & cy + dw \end{bmatrix}\).
03
Equate Matrices
For \(AB = BA\) to hold for all \(x, y, z, w\), equate corresponding components of \(AB\) and \(BA\). We derive the following equations: 1. \(xa + yc = ax + bz\) 2. \(xb + yd = ay + bw\) 3. \(za + wc = cx + dz\) 4. \(zb + wd = cy + dw\)
04
Analyze Each Equation
Since equations 1 and 2 must hold for all values of \(x, y, z, w\), analyze them for individual terms:- Compare terms: \(xa = ax\), \(yc = bz\), \(xb = ay\), and \(yd = bw\). This constrains \(a = d\), \(b = c\), and leads to further implications.
05
Derive Conditions
From the constraints, deduce the conditions:- For \(yc = bz\), since \(y\) and \(z\) are independent, and \(c = b\) previously derived, let \(yc = 0\). Thus, \(b = 0\) for it to trivially hold.- Similarly, from earlier steps, we require \(a = d\) and both \(b = 0\) and \(c = 0\). Hence \(B = \begin{bmatrix} a & 0 \ 0 & a \end{bmatrix} = aI\), where \(I\) is the identity matrix.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Matrix Multiplication
Matrix multiplication is a fundamental operation in linear algebra, where two matrices are combined to form another matrix. This operation is not the same as multiplying individual numbers. Instead, it involves a series of additions and multiplications across rows and columns of the matrices involved.
To multiply two matrices, one must follow these steps:
To multiply two matrices, one must follow these steps:
- Ensure the number of columns in the first matrix matches the number of rows in the second matrix.
- Take the entries across a row of the first matrix and multiply each with the corresponding entry down a column in the second matrix.
- Sum the results of these multiplications to form an entry in the resulting matrix.
Identity Matrix
An identity matrix is like the number 1 in matrix algebra, in that it doesn’t change other matrices when used in multiplication. For any square matrix of size n, the identity matrix I is an n-by-n matrix with ones on the diagonal and zeroes elsewhere.
Key properties of the identity matrix include:
Key properties of the identity matrix include:
- For any matrix A of the same size, multiplying by the identity matrix (i.e., AI or IA) results in A itself.
- It effectively acts as a neutral element in matrix multiplication.
Conditions for Commutativity
Commutativity in the context of matrices means that for two matrices A and B, the multiplication AB yields the same result as BA. However, unlike with real numbers, commutativity is not generally a given with matrices, adding complexity to linear algebra.
For a matrix B to commute with any other 2x2 matrix, including a generic identity matrix, it must take on a specific form. The rigorous analysis of matrix multiplication shows that:
For a matrix B to commute with any other 2x2 matrix, including a generic identity matrix, it must take on a specific form. The rigorous analysis of matrix multiplication shows that:
- Each corresponding element in the product matrices AB and BA must be equal.
- This equality imposes conditions on the individual elements of matrix B itself.
- In this exercise, these conditions lead to the matrix B needing to be a scalar multiple of the identity matrix: B = \(aI\).