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## Precalculus

### Course: Precalculus>Unit 7

Lesson 5: Properties of matrix addition & scalar multiplication

# Properties of matrix scalar multiplication

Learn about the properties of matrix scalar multiplication (like the distributive property) and how they relate to real number multiplication.
In the table below, A and B are matrices of equal dimensions, c and d are scalars, and O is a zero matrix.
PropertyExample
Associative property of multiplicationleft parenthesis, c, d, right parenthesis, A, equals, c, left parenthesis, d, A, right parenthesis
Distributive properties c, left parenthesis, A, plus, B, right parenthesis, equals, c, A, plus, c, B
left parenthesis, c, plus, d, right parenthesis, A, equals, c, A, plus, d, A
Multiplicative identity property 1, A, equals, A
Multiplicative properties of zero0, dot, A, equals, O
c, dot, O, equals, O
Closure property of multiplicationc, A is a matrix of the same dimensions as A.

### Matrices and scalar multiplication

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers into rows and columns.
When we work with matrices, we refer to real numbers as scalars.
The term scalar multiplication refers to the product of a real number and a matrix. In scalar multiplication, each entry in the matrix is multiplied by the given scalar.
\begin{aligned}\goldD{2}\cdot{\left[\begin{array}{rr}{5} &2 \\ 3& 1 \end{array}\right]}&={\left[\begin{array}{ll}{\goldD2 \cdot5} &\goldD2\cdot 2 \\ \goldD2\cdot3& \goldD2\cdot1 \end{array}\right]}\\\\\\ &={\left[\begin{array}{rr}{10} &4 \\ 6&2 \end{array}\right]}\end{aligned}
If any of this is new to you, you should check out the following articles before you proceed:

## Dimensions considerations

Notice that a scalar times a 2, times, 2 matrix is another 2, times, 2 matrix. In general, a scalar multiple of a matrix will be another matrix of the same dimension. This is what is meant by the closure property of scalar multiplication!

## Matrix scalar multiplication & real number multiplication

Because scalar multiplication relies heavily on real number multiplication, many of the multiplication properties that we know to be true with real numbers are also true in scalar multiplication.
Let's take a look at each property individually.

## Associative property of multiplication: $(cd)A=c(dA)$left parenthesis, c, d, right parenthesis, A, equals, c, left parenthesis, d, A, right parenthesis

This property states that if a matrix is multiplied by two scalars, you can multiply the scalars together first, and then multiply by the matrix. Or you can multiply the matrix by one scalar, and then the resulting matrix by the other.
The following example illustrates this property for start color #11accd, c, end color #11accd, equals, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, start color #e07d10, d, end color #e07d10, equals, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, and $\greenD A={\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\greenD5}&\greenD4 \\ \greenD8& \greenD1\end{array}\right]}$.
In each column we simplified one side of the identity into a single matrix. Notice that these two matrices are equal because of the associative property of multiplication for real numbers. For example, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis, dot, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, dot, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis.
This shows that the original expressions must be equivalent as well!

## Distributive properties:

### $c(A+B)=cA+cB$c, left parenthesis, A, plus, B, right parenthesis, equals, c, A, plus, c, B

This property states that a scalar can be distributed over matrix addition.
Here's an example where start color #11accd, c, end color #11accd, equals, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, $\greenD A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\greenD5} &\greenD2\\ \greenD3& \greenD1\end{array}\right]$, and $\goldD B=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\goldD3} &\goldD4\\ \goldD2& \goldD6\end{array}\right]$:
If we compare the last matrix in each column, we see that these are equivalent because of the distributive property for real numbers. For example, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis, equals, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10.
Thus the original two expressions must be equivalent as well!

### $(c+d)A=cA+dA$left parenthesis, c, plus, d, right parenthesis, A, equals, c, A, plus, d, A

This property states that a matrix can be distributed over scalar addition.
Here's an example where start color #11accd, c, end color #11accd, equals, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, d, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #1fab54, 3, end color #1fab54, and $\goldD A=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\goldD6} &\goldD9 \\ \goldD7&\goldD4\end{array}\right]$:
Once again, we see that the last matrix in each column are equivalent because of the distributive property for real numbers, making the original expressions equivalent as desired!

## Multiplicative identity property: $1A=A$1, A, equals, A

This property says that when you multiply any matrix A by the scalar 1, the result is simply the original matrix A.
So, for example, if $A= \left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &5 \\ 1&7 \end{array}\right]$, then we have:
\begin{aligned}\greenD1 \left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &5 \\ 1&7 \end{array}\right]&=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\greenD1\cdot {2}} &\greenD1\cdot 5 \\\greenD1\cdot 1&\greenD1\cdot 7 \end{array}\right]\\ \\ &=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{2} &5 \\ 1&7 \end{array}\right] \end{aligned}
Notice that because 1, dot, a, equals, a for any real number a, the scalar 1 will always be the multiplicative identity in scalar multiplication!

## Multiplicative properties of zero:

### $0\cdot A=O$0, dot, A, equals, O

This property states that in scalar multiplication, 0 times any m, times, n matrix A is the m, times, n zero matrix.
This is true because of the multiplicative properties of zero in the real number system. If a is a real number, we know 0, dot, a, equals, 0. The following example illustrates this.
\begin{aligned}\greenD0 \left[\begin{array}{rr}{3} &8 \\ 6&7 \end{array}\right]&=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\greenD0\cdot 3} &\greenD0\cdot 8 \\ \greenD0\cdot 6&\greenD0\cdot 7 \end{array}\right]\\ \\ &=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{0} &0 \\ 0&0 \end{array}\right] \end{aligned}

### $c\cdot O=O$c, dot, O, equals, O

This property states that any scalar times a zero matrix is the same zero matrix.
Again, this property is true because of the multiplicative properties of zero in the real number system. Here's an example where c, equals, 3 and O is the 2, times, 2 zero matrix.
\begin{aligned}\greenD 3 \left[\begin{array}{rr}{0} &0 \\ 0&0 \end{array}\right]&=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{\greenD 3 \cdot 0} &\greenD 3\cdot 0 \\ \greenD 3\cdot 0&\greenD 3\cdot 0 \end{array}\right]\\ \\ &=\left[\begin{array}{rr}{0} &0 \\ 0&0 \end{array}\right] \end{aligned}

Now that you are familiar with all of the scalar multiplication properties, let's see if you can use them to determine equivalent matrix expressions.
For the problems below, let A and B be 2, times, 2 matrices and let c and d be scalars.
1) Which of the following are equivalent to c, left parenthesis, 1, A, plus, B, right parenthesis?

2) Which of the following are equivalent to left parenthesis, c, d, right parenthesis, A, plus, 0, A?

## Want to join the conversation?

• by the property define by scalar multiplication the determinant of a n-dimension matrix will be the scalar^n times, why is it not times the scalar
• It sounds like you know the rule, but aren't sure why it works that way?
Well, let's look at an example. Here is a 2 x 2 matrix, so of course n = 2
┌ ┐
 3 2
 -1 5
└ ┘
We multiply by scalar c
┌ ┐
 3c 2c
 -1c 5c
└ ┘
Now we take the determinant which will be [3c∙5c - 2c∙(-1c)]
That will be 15c²- (- 2c²)
= 15c²+ 2c²
= 17c²
The operation of multiplying the elements to produce the terms of the determinant effectively squares the constant c, and the last operation of subtraction does not affect the exponent of the c
Likewise, if we use a 3 x 3 matrix, three elements would be multiplied in each diagonal direction to get the determinant, and of course, n = 3 this time. If each element has been multiplied by constant k, then the product result would be a number multiplied by k³ so the last step of subtraction again leaves us with a multiple of k³ , or kⁿ
I hope that helps
• Just making sure, you can't add a vector to a scalar, right?
• should one remember all the property names??
• Yes, I think it is helpful to know these well, but most important is knowing how to apply the properties to matrix multiplication.
(1 vote)
• So, if I had A(xB)C is that equivalent to x(ABC) if x is my scalar and A, B, C are all square matrices?
• Yes, the matrices have to stay in order though.
(1 vote)
• could you prove the properties? not examples. Thank you
(1 vote)
• The proofs as such are not required as you should be able to figure them yourself out yourself using basic arithmetic skills.
• how do you find c?
(1 vote)
• "c" is whatever scalar you are using for a certain problem. It's a variable that is usually given to you, and if it isn't, you'll be given all the other information you need to work backwards.