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Algebra (all content)
Course: Algebra (all content) > Unit 20
Lesson 1: Introduction to matricesIntro to matrices
Matrix is an arrangement of numbers into rows and columns. Make your first introduction with matrices and learn about their dimensions and elements.
A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers into rows and columns.
For example, matrix A has two rows and three columns.
Matrix dimensions
The dimensions of a matrix tells its size: the number of rows and columns of the matrix, in that order.
Since matrix A has start color #11accd, start text, t, w, o, space, r, o, w, s, end text, end color #11accd and start color #e07d10, start text, t, h, r, e, e, space, c, o, l, u, m, n, s, end text, end color #e07d10, we write its dimensions as start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, times, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, pronounced "two by three".
In contrast, matrix B has start color #11accd, start text, t, h, r, e, e, space, r, o, w, s, end text, end color #11accd and start color #e07d10, start text, t, w, o, space, c, o, l, u, m, n, s, end text, end color #e07d10, so it
is a start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, times, start color #e07d10, 2, end color #e07d10 matrix.
When working with matrix dimensions, remember start color #11accd, start text, r, o, w, s, end text, end color #11accd, times, start color #e07d10, start text, c, o, l, u, m, n, s, end text, end color #e07d10!
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Matrix elements
A matrix element is simply a matrix entry. Each element in a matrix is identified by naming the row and column in which it appears.
For example, consider matrix G:
The element g, start subscript, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, comma, start color #e07d10, 1, end color #e07d10, end subscript is the entry in the start color #11accd, start text, s, e, c, o, n, d, space, r, o, w, end text, end color #11accd and the start color #e07d10, start text, f, i, r, s, t, space, c, o, l, u, m, n, end text, end color #e07d10.
In this case g, start subscript, 2, comma, 1, end subscript, equals, start color #ca337c, 18, end color #ca337c.
In general, the element in start color #11accd, start text, r, o, w, space, end text, i, end color #11accd and start color #e07d10, start text, c, o, l, u, m, n, space, end text, j, end color #e07d10 of matrix A is denoted as a, start subscript, start color #11accd, i, end color #11accd, comma, start color #e07d10, j, end color #e07d10, end subscript.
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- On problem six why doesn't answer B not satisfy the equation? But answer C does? The six is in the same spot as in both answers.(0 votes)
- Because, first part of the question (Matrix 2 x 3) is not the condition second option satisfies.(96 votes)
- Hi my name is Sayan, I still haven't understood the relevance of matrices. My request to you would be if you could give a real life scenario where matrices are used and/or another place where it has a practical use in everyday life. Also do explain this with an example for my better understanding?(28 votes)
- Matrix manipulation are used in video game creation, computer graphics techniques, and to analyze statistics. There are many more uses for matrices, but they tend to show up in more deeper understandings of disciplines.(34 votes)
- on problem 6, why is the answer c and not b ? it is the same answer just in different positions.(5 votes)
- No, since it is row by columns, answer b would be a 3 x 2 matrix not a 2 x 3 matrix, hope this helps(26 votes)
- why is there two answers to question number 6?
the following are the answers:
1. (the one this page call correct) answer #3
2. (the one that is also correct but this page call wrong) answer #2(0 votes)- #2 is wrong because it is a 3x2 matrix. We always count rows first, then columns. How tall is the matrix (2) then how wide is it (3)? That leaves #3 and #4 as options. Row 1 column 2 = 6. That means #3 is the right choice.(35 votes)
- Can there be a matrix with 0x0. If yes, then how is it represented(6 votes)
- It could be just an empty matrix, like this: []
However, such a matrix could not contain any information and would therefore be useless.(9 votes)
- What are matrices used for in math?(5 votes)
- A lot of things can be thought of as transformations of space, taking every point in 3D space and moving it somewhere else. Matrices are a compact way of talking about and working with a certain class of transformations.(7 votes)
- Is [0] the same as an empty one []?(3 votes)
- Probably no, because [] is empty, but [0] isn't. They're called zero matrices and they're used in matrices the same way regular zeroes are.(6 votes)
- what is the purpose of such arrangement of numbers in a matrix?(3 votes)
- It essentially enables you to store data in such a way that you can easily perform operations on the entire data set.(5 votes)
- Matrix A is a 4x5 matrix. Matrix B is a 5 x n matrix. Matrix C = AB. Which of the following values of n would make matrix C have 52 elements inside of it?(2 votes)
- Matrix 𝑪 = 𝑨𝑩 will have the same number of rows as 𝑨, and the same number of columns as 𝑩.
So, 𝑪 is going to be a 4×𝑛 matrix, which means it will have 4𝑛 elements.
4𝑛 = 52 ⇒ 𝑛 = 13(5 votes)
- With this description of what a matrix is, what are it's applications?(4 votes)