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Algebra (all content)

Course: Algebra (all content) > Unit 20

Lesson 9: Properties of matrix multiplication
Math
Algebra (all content)
Matrices
Properties of matrix multiplication
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Matrix multiplication dimensions

Google Classroom
Learn about the conditions for matrix multiplication to be defined, and about the dimensions of the product of two matrices.

What you should be familiar with before taking this lesson

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers into rows and columns. Each number in a matrix is referred to as a matrix element or entry.
The dimensions of a matrix give the number of rows and columns of the matrix in that order. Since matrix A has 2 rows and 3 columns, it is called a 2, times, 3 matrix.
If this is new to you, we recommend that you check out our intro to matrices.
In matrix multiplication, each entry in the product matrix is the dot product of a row in the first matrix and a column in the second matrix.
If this is new to you, we recommend that you check out our matrix multiplication article.

What you will learn in this lesson

We will investigate the relationship between the dimensions of two matrices and the dimensions of their product. Specifically, we will see that the dimensions of the matrices must meet a certain condition for the multiplication to be defined.

When is matrix multiplication defined?

In order for matrix multiplication to be defined, the number of columns in the first matrix must be equal to the number of rows in the second matrix.
To see why this is the case, consider the following two matrices:
A=[132425]A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{1} &3 \\ 2& 4 \\ 2& 5 \end{array}\right] and B=[13222451]B=\left[\begin{array}{rrrr}{1} &3&2&2 \\ 2& 4&5&1 \end{array}\right]
To find A, B, we take the dot product of a row in A and a column in B. This means that the number of entries in each row of A must be the same as the number of entries in each column of B.
A=[132425]A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\maroonC1} &\maroonC3 \\ 2& 4 \\ 2& 5 \end{array}\right] and B=[13222451]B=\left[\begin{array}{rrrr}{\maroonC1} &3&2&2 \\ \maroonC2& 4&5&1 \end{array}\right]
Note that if a matrix has two entries in each row, then the matrix has two columns. Similarly, if a matrix has two entries in each column, then it must have two rows.
So, it follows that in order for matrix multiplication to be defined, the number of columns in the first matrix must be equal to the number of rows in the second matrix.

Check your understanding

1) A=[246473]A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &4 \\ 6& 4 \\ 7& 3 \end{array}\right] and B=[2185]B=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &1 \\ 8& 5 \end{array}\right].
Is A, B defined?
Choose 1 answer:

2) C=[53616853]C=\left[\begin{array}{rrrr}{5} &3&6&1 \\ 6& 8&5&3 \end{array}\right] and D=[218755]D=\left[\begin{array}{rrrr}{2} &1&8 \\ 7& 5&5 \end{array}\right].
Is C, D defined?
Choose 1 answer:

3) A is a 4, times, 2 matrix and B is a 2, times, 3 matrix.
Is A, B defined?
Choose 1 answer:

Is B, A defined?
Choose 1 answer:

Dimension property

The product of an start color #11accd, m, end color #11accd, times, start color #ed5fa6, n, end color #ed5fa6 matrix and an start color #ed5fa6, n, end color #ed5fa6, times, start color #e07d10, k, end color #e07d10 matrix is an start color #11accd, m, end color #11accd, times, start color #e07d10, k, end color #e07d10 matrix.
Let's consider the product A, B, where A=[132425]A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{1} &3 \\ 2& 4 \\ 2& 5 \end{array}\right] and B=[13222451]B=\left[\begin{array}{rrrr}{1} &3&2&2 \\ 2& 4&5&1 \end{array}\right].
From above, we know that A, B is defined since the number of columns in A, start subscript, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, times, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, end subscript left parenthesis, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, right parenthesis matches the number of rows in B, start subscript, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, times, start color #e07d10, 4, end color #e07d10, end subscript left parenthesis, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, right parenthesis.
To find A, B, we must be sure to find the dot product between each row in A and each column in B. So, the resulting matrix will have the same number of rows as matrix A, start subscript, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, times, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, end subscript left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, right parenthesis and the same number of columns as matrix B, start subscript, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, times, start color #e07d10, 4, end color #e07d10, end subscript left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, 4, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis. It will be a start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, times, start color #e07d10, 4, end color #e07d10 matrix.

Check your understanding

4) A=[246473]A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &4 \\ 6& 4 \\ 7& 3 \end{array}\right] and B=[2185]B=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &1 \\ 8& 5 \end{array}\right].
What are the dimensions of A, B?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
times
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text

5) C=[431672]C=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{4} &3&1 \\ 6&7& 2 \end{array}\right] and D=[314]D=\left[\begin{array}{r}{3}\\ 1 \\ 4 \end{array}\right].
What are the dimensions of C, D?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
times
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text

6) A is a 2, times, 3 matrix and B is a 3, times, 4 matrix.
What are the dimensions of A, B?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
times
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text

7) X is a 2, times, 1 matrix and Y is a 1, times, 2 matrix.
What are the dimensions of matrix X, Y?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
times
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4
  • a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4
  • an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text

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