Video Transcript
In this lesson, weβll recap what we
mean by a matrix before learning how to identify special types of matrices, such as
square matrices, row, column, identity, zero, diagonal, lower triangular, and upper
triangular matrices. A matrix is an array of
numbers. And we arrange numbers or scalars,
which we call elements, in a matrix in rows and columns. When we describe a matrix as π by
π, this is its order. And it tells us that it has π rows
and π columns. Letβs take a matrix π΄. Its elements, defined as lowercase
π with this subscript, are as shown, where π subscript ππ is the element that
appears in the πth row and π column.
Now, one special type of matrix is
one that occurs when π is equal to π, in other words, where the number of rows is
equal to the number of columns. And when this happens, we call it a
square matrix. If not, it follows that the matrix
is rectangular. Now, there are several other types
of matrices, so letβs find out what they are.
Determine the type of matrix given
by negative eight, two, negative seven, negative one. Is it (A) a unit matrix, (B) a
column matrix, (C) a row matrix, or (D) a square matrix?
We know that if we take an π by π
matrix, where π is the number of rows and π is the number of columns, a square
matrix is such that π is equal to π. In other words, the number of rows
is equal to the number of columns. But what is the definition of our
other three matrices? Well, firstly, the unit matrix is
sometimes also known as the identity matrix. In an identity matrix, all of the
elements are zero except the elements in the leading diagonal, which are one. Then a column matrix occurs when π
is equal to one. There is just one column. So itβs sometimes also called a
vector.
Similarly, a row matrix occurs when
π is equal to one. There is just one row, and this is
also called a vector. So if we look at our matrix
negative eight, two, negative seven, negative one, which of these do we have? Firstly, we see that this cannot be
an identity or a unit matrix. For this to be the case, the
elements would need to be one, zero, zero, one. And theyβre quite clearly
arenβt. Similarly, neither π nor π is
equal to one. There is more than one column and
more than one row, so itβs neither a column matrix nor a row matrix. In fact, this is a two-by-two
matrix. π is equal to two, thatβs the
number of rows, as is π. These numbers are the same. We have the same number of rows and
columns, and so the answer must be (D). Itβs a square matrix.
Letβs consider another example.
Determine which of the following
matrices is a column matrix. Is it (A) two, negative two, three,
five? (B) Two, negative two, three. Is it (C) two, zero, zero,
five? Is it (D) zero, zero, zero,
zero? Or is it (E) two, negative two,
three?
Letβs remind ourselves what we mean
when we say that a matrix is a column matrix. We say that an π by π matrix or a
matrix order π by π has π rows and π columns. Now, if π is equal to one, we call
this a column matrix. In other words, if the matrix only
has one column, itβs a column matrix. So letβs find the order of each of
our individual matrices. Matrix π΄ has two rows and two
columns, so itβs a two-by-two matrix. Matrix π΅ has three rows and one
column, so itβs a three by one. Matrix πΆ is again a two by two, as
is matrix π·. And then we have the matrix πΈ,
which has one row and three columns. So thatβs one by three. Now, if we look carefully and we
compare each of these to our definition, we see that the matrix which has a value of
π equal to one is the matrix π΅. And so the matrix which is a column
matrix is indeed π΅.
Now, in fact, weβre also able to
name the other types of matrices. When π is equal to π, in other
words, when the number of rows is equal to the number of columns, we say the matrix
is square. So matrix π΄ is square, as is
matrix πΆ. Now, matrix π· is also square, but
this is a special type of matrix in itself. Every single element in this matrix
is zero. And when we have a square matrix
where this is the case, we call this a null matrix or zero matrix. And then, finally, letβs consider
the matrix πΈ. This time, the value of π is equal
to one. There is simply one row, and so we
call this a row matrix.
Weβre now going to extend our
definitions to include diagonal matrices, upper triangle, and lower triangle
matrices.
If the matrix π΄ is equal to
negative one, zero, zero, six, eight, zero, six, five, three, which of the following
is true? (A) The matrix π΄ is an identity
matrix. (B) The matrix π΄ is an upper
triangle matrix. (C) The matrix π΄ is a lower
triangle matrix. (D) The matrix π΄ is a diagonal
matrix. Or (E) the matrix π΄ is a zero
matrix.
Letβs go through each of our types
of matrix and recall what they actually mean. An identity matrix is a square
matrix where all the elements is zero except for the elements on the leading
diagonal, which are equal to one. A three-by-three identity matrix,
for instance, would look as shown with the elements one, zero, zero, zero, one,
zero, zero, zero, one. Next, we have a zero matrix,
sometimes known as a null matrix. This is a square matrix whose
elements are all equal to zero. Now, in fact, if we compare the
matrix π΄ with either of these definitions, we see that it cannot be an identity
matrix, so we disregard (A). Nor can it be a zero matrix. And so, weβre going to disregard
(E).
Letβs now consider options (B),
(C), and (D). Now, a triangle matrix is a special
type of square matrix. An upper triangle matrix is a
square matrix where all the entries below the main diagonal are zero. Then we say itβs a lower triangle
matrix if the entries above the main diagonal are zero. We recall that the main diagonal or
the leading diagonal is this one. And so, do either of these two
definitions hold? Well, yes, they do. The elements that sit above this
diagonal are all equal to zero. And so this must be a lower
triangle matrix. And so the answer is (C).
We will just double check the
definition of (D). What does it mean for a matrix to
be diagonal? Well, for a matrix to be diagonal,
it must have entries below the main diagonal that are zero and above the main
diagonal that are zero. Then the entries on the actual
diagonal itself are not equal to zero. Of course, if we look carefully, we
see this isnβt the case with matrix π΄. The elements that sit below the
leading diagonal are not equal to zero. And so the answer is (C). The matrix π΄ is a lower triangle
matrix.
Determine the type of the matrix
given by 57, zero, zero, zero, negative 72, zero, zero, zero, zero. Is it (A) a row matrix, (B) an
identity matrix, (C) a diagonal matrix, or (D) a column matrix?
Now, if we look carefully at these
definitions, we see that we can disregard two of them immediately. We know that a row matrix is just
as it sounds. Itβs a matrix that consists of
exactly one row. Our matrix, of course, has three
rows, so it cannot be a row matrix. Similarly, a column matrix consists
of exactly one column. And our matrix has three. So the answer cannot be (D). And so we have two left to choose
from. We have the identity matrix and the
diagonal matrix. Both of these matrices are special
types of square matrices. We know that an identity matrix has
all elements equal to zero except those in the main or leading diagonal.
And in this case, those have to be
equal to one as shown. Then a diagonal matrix does look
quite similar. All the elements above and below
the main diagonal are equal to zero. And then we have a series of
nonzero elements that only occur in the main diagonal. Now, not all of those elements
needs to be nonzero. But we know that all of them canβt
be zero because then we would have a null or zero matrix. And so, by comparing these
definitions to our matrix, we see we can also disregard the identity matrix. We have 57 and negative 72. We can, however, say that all of
the elements that sit above the main diagonal, thatβs this, are zero and the
elements that sit below it are zero. And so we have a diagonal
matrix. And the answer is (C).
Weβll consider one more
example.
If the matrix π΄ is equal to five,
five, zero, which of the following is true? Is it (A) the matrix π΄ is a unit
matrix? (B) The matrix π΄ is a diagonal
matrix. (C) The matrix π΄ is a square
matrix. (D) The matrix π΄ is a column
matrix. Or (E) the matrix π΄ is a row
matrix.
We recall that a matrix of order π
by π has π rows and π columns. And if π is equal to π β in other
words, the number of rows is equal to the number of columns β then the matrix is
said to be square. So (C) is the square matrix. But we also know that both unit
matrices and diagonal matrices must themselves be square. And so, letβs ask ourselves, is the
matrix π΄ a square matrix? Well, itβs quite clear that it does
not have the same number of rows and columns. In fact, itβs a one-by-three
matrix. It has one row and three
columns. And so since unit matrices and
diagonal matrices are examples of square matrices, weβre able to disregard the first
three options here. It cannot be any of these.
And so weβre left with two to
choose from. We have column matrix and row
matrix. Well, we know that a column matrix
is such that π is equal to one, we have one column, whereas a row matrix occurs
when π is equal to one, when thereβs one row. Comparing the general form to the
order of our matrix, and we can actually say that π is equal to one and π is equal
to three. We have one row and three columns,
so it cannot be a column matrix. But because π is equal to one, it
must be a row matrix.
Weβll now review the key points
from this lesson. We know that an π by π matrix has
π rows and π columns. And letβs say the element π sub
ππ is the element in the πth row and πth column. The matrix is said to be square if
π is equal to π, if the number of rows is equal to the number of columns. If π is equal to one, however, we
have a column matrix. And if π is equal to one, if
thereβs just one row, then the matrix is said to be a row matrix. We then say that the matrix is a
unit or identity matrix if π is equal to π, so itβs a square matrix, and all of
the elements are equal to zero except those on the main or leading diagonal, which
are one. In other words, for the element π
ππ, if π is equal to π, then that is one.
A matrix is said to be a null or
zero matrix if all the elements are equal to zero. And we can also say that a matrix
is diagonal if itβs square and all the elements are zero except those on the main
diagonal. Now, of course, some elements on
that main diagonal could be equal to zero, but not all of them, because then weβd
have a null matrix. Similarly, if all of the elements
on the main diagonal are equal to one, then we have an identity matrix. Finally, we define a triangular
matrix as another special type of square matrix. Itβs upper triangle if all entries
below the main diagonal are zero and a lower triangle matrix if all elements above
are zero.