Chapter 5: Problem 30
Let \(A\) be a positive definite symmetric matrix. Show that there exists an invertible matrix \(B\) such that \(A=\) \(B^{T} B .[\text {Hint: Use the Spectral Theorem to write } A=\) \(Q D Q^{T} .\) Then show that \(D\) can be factored as \(C^{T} C\) for some invertible matrix \(C .]\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Matrix \(A\) can be expressed as \(B^T B\) using an invertible matrix \(B\).
Step by step solution
01
Use the Spectral Theorem
The Spectral Theorem states that any symmetric matrix \(A\) can be factored as \(A = QDQ^T\), where \(Q\) is an orthogonal matrix (\(Q^T = Q^{-1}\)) and \(D\) is a diagonal matrix with the eigenvalues of \(A\) on its diagonal.
02
Recognize Properties of Positive Definite Matrices
Since \(A\) is a positive definite matrix, all its eigenvalues are positive. This means the diagonal elements of \(D\), which are the eigenvalues of \(A\), are positive.
03
Factorize D as \(C^T C\)
Since \(D\) is a diagonal matrix with positive entries, it can be factorized as \(D = C^T C\), where \(C\) is a diagonal matrix with the positive square roots of the eigenvalues of \(A\) on its diagonal. Therefore, for each diagonal element \(d_i\) of \(D\), we have \(c_i = \sqrt{d_i}\).
04
Express \(B\) in Terms of \(Q\) and \(C\)
Now, define the matrix \(B = QC\). This matrix \(B\) is invertible since both \(Q\) and \(C\) are invertible. Then, \(B^T = C^T Q^T\).
05
Verify \(A = B^T B\)
Calculate \(B^T B = C^T Q^T QC = C^T C = D\). Thus, \(A = QDQ^T = (QC)^T (QC) = B^T B\), showing that such a matrix \(B\) exists.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Spectral Theorem
The Spectral Theorem is a pivotal concept in linear algebra, especially when dealing with symmetric matrices. It states that any symmetric matrix can be expressed in the form \(A = QDQ^T\), where:
- \(A\) is the symmetric matrix in question.
- \(Q\) is an orthogonal matrix, meaning \(Q^T = Q^{-1}\).
- \(D\) is a diagonal matrix containing the eigenvalues of \(A\) along its diagonal.
symmetric matrix
A symmetric matrix is a square matrix that is equal to its transpose. In other words, for a matrix \(A\), it is symmetric if \(A = A^T\). This property results in several interesting features:
- All eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix are real numbers.
- Symmetric matrices are diagonalizable using an orthogonal matrix, as indicated by the Spectral Theorem.
- The symmetry of a matrix also implies that it has a set of orthogonal eigenvectors.
orthogonal matrix
An orthogonal matrix is a type of square matrix where the columns and rows are orthogonal unit vectors. Formally, a matrix \(Q\) is orthogonal if it satisfies the condition \(Q^TQ = QQ^T = I\), where \(I\) is the identity matrix. Key properties of orthogonal matrices include:
- They preserve both the length and the angle of vectors upon transformation, hence they represent rotations and reflections.
- The inverse of an orthogonal matrix is simply its transpose, \(Q^{-1} = Q^T\).
- They are involved in the diagonalization of symmetric matrices, which serves as a basis for the Spectral Theorem.
eigenvalues
Eigenvalues are scalar values related to a matrix that provide significant insight into the matrix's properties. Mathematically, a number \(\lambda\) is considered an eigenvalue of a matrix \(A\) if there exists a non-zero vector \(v\) such that \(Av = \lambda v\). In simpler terms:
- Eigenvalues represent the factors by which the eigenvectors are scaled during a linear transformation.
- For symmetric matrices, all eigenvalues are real, and they can be arranged along the diagonal of a diagonal matrix as highlighted in the Spectral Theorem.
- For positive definite matrices, as in the original exercise, all eigenvalues are not just real but also positive.
- The positivity ensures that certain factorizations, such as Cholesky decomposition, are possible.