Chapter 3: Problem 35
(a) Prove that if \(A\) and \(B\) are symmetric \(n \times n\) matrices, then so is \(A+B\). (b) Prove that if \(A\) is a symmetric \(n \times n\) matrix, then so is \(k A\) for any scalar \(k\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) \(A+B\) is symmetric because \((A+B)^T = A^T + B^T = A + B\).
(b) \(kA\) is symmetric because \((kA)^T = kA^T = kA\).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Symmetric Matrices
A matrix \(M\) is symmetric if \(M = M^T\), where \(M^T\) is the transpose of \(M\). This means that the elements across the diagonal are equal: \(m_{ij} = m_{ji}\) for all \(i\) and \(j\).
02
Proving A + B is Symmetric
Given that both matrices \(A\) and \(B\) are symmetric, we have \(A = A^T\) and \(B = B^T\). To prove that \(A + B\) is symmetric, we need to show that \((A + B)^T = A + B\).Taking the transpose of \(A + B\), we use the property of the transpose of a sum: \((A + B)^T = A^T + B^T\). Since \(A\) and \(B\) are symmetric matrices, \(A^T = A\) and \(B^T = B\). Thus, \((A + B)^T = A + B\), proving \(A + B\) is symmetric.
03
Proving kA is Symmetric
Given that matrix \(A\) is symmetric, we know \(A = A^T\). To prove that \(kA\) is symmetric, we need to show that \((kA)^T = kA\).The transpose of a scalar multiple of a matrix \(kA\) is \((kA)^T = kA^T\). Because \(A\) is symmetric, \(A^T = A\). Hence, \((kA)^T = kA\), confirming that \(kA\) is symmetric for any scalar \(k\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Matrix Transpose
The transpose of a matrix is a fundamental operation in linear algebra. When you take the transpose of a matrix, you are essentially "flipping" it over its diagonal.
- In a matrix denoted by \( M \), the transpose is written as \( M^T \).
- Element \( m_{ij} \) in the original matrix becomes element \( m_{ji} \) in the transposed matrix.
- This means rows become columns, and vice versa.
Matrix Addition
Matrix addition is a basic operation that involves adding corresponding elements of two matrices together. It is as simple as it sounds but requires both matrices to be of the same size.
- If you have matrices \( A \) and \( B \), both of dimension \( n \times n \), their sum \( A + B \) is constructed by adding their respective elements.
- The element at position \( (i, j) \) in \( A + B \) is \( a_{ij} + b_{ij} \).
Scalar Multiplication
Scalar multiplication in linear algebra involves multiplying each element of a matrix by a constant, known as a scalar.
- Given a scalar \( k \) and a matrix \( A \), the product \( kA \) involves multiplying each element in \( A \) by \( k \).
- This operation is applied uniformly across all elements of the matrix.
Linear Algebra
Linear Algebra is a crucial field of mathematics focused on vector spaces and the transformations between them.
- It deals with structures such as matrices and vectors, along with the operations that can be performed on them.
- Concepts such as matrix transpose, matrix addition, and scalar multiplication are foundational to understanding linear algebra.
- Understanding symmetry in matrices helps in simplifying many problems, including solutions to linear systems and eigenvalue calculations.
- Symmetric matrices have eigenvalues that are real and eigenvectors that can be chosen to be orthogonal.