← Back to Learning Notes

Lecture 7: Elementary Transformations and Elementary Matrices

Postgraduate Entrance Exam Mathematics Study Notes: Lecture 7: Elementary Transformations and Elementary Matrices. Retain original formulas, diagrams, and example problems.

On this page

7.1 Elementary Transformations

7.1.1 Definition

#####Definition: Elementarytransformation

description:

>(1) Multiplication: A row (column) of a nonzero constant multiplied by a matrix;

(2) Swap: the positions of two rows (columns) in the swap matrix;

(3) Multiply: Multiply a row (column) of a matrix by k times to another row (column).

These three transformations are called elementary row (column) transformations of matrices, and are respectively called multiplication, swap, and multiplication elementary row (column) transformations;

Explanation

  • All three of these transformations are calledsame-solution transformations<- No matter how you transform, you must ensure they are the same-solution;

Essence: The rank of the matrix does not change, but the determinant changes;

7.1.2 Supplement: The Essence of Linear Transformations

Concept: What is transformation?

  • Explanation:
  • A transformation is essentially a fancy way to put it in a "function": it takes a vector and outputs the result of a vector transformation;
  • Transformation:
  • Using the word 'transformation' implies that you are thinking from the perspective of "movement";

Concept: What is linear transformation?

  • A linear transformation requires the following two properties:
  • 1. After further transformation, the line remains straight without bending;
  • 2. The origin must remain fixed;
  • What is a linear transformation:
  • Linear transformation is a means of manipulating spaces; it keeps grid lines parallel and evenly spaced, keeps the origin fixed, and can be clearly described by matrices;

Concept: How to describe the transformed vector space

  • Only the base variable needs to be transformed;
  • Because: Suppose the current vector is represented by two basis vectors:
  • $$\vec{\mathbf{v}}=-1\hat{i}+2\hat{j}$$
  • Even if the basis vector is transformed, the above linear relationship will not change;
  • Therefore, the transformed v can be inferred solely from the transformed i and j caps;
  • Where i is a two-dimensional vector composed of two coordinate values, and j is another two-dimensional vector formed by two coordinate values;
  • Introducing the matrix:
  • Combining basis vectors i and basis vectors j together forms a 2*2 matrix:

Concept: The meaning of the matrix

  • Meaning:
  • Given any initial vector, linear transformation can be performed using two bases to obtain the result after linear transformation;
  • $$\begin{aligned}\begin{bmatrix}3&2\\-2&1\end{bmatrix}&\underbrace{{\left[\begin{array}{c}5\\7\end{array}\right]}}\\&\text{Any ol' vector}\\&\text{ Any initial vector }\end{aligned}$$
  • Example:
  • $$\begin{aligned}\begin{bmatrix}3&2\\-2&1\end{bmatrix}{{\left[\begin{array}{c}5\\7\end{array}\right]}}\end{aligned}=5\bigg[\begin{array}{c}3\\-2\end{array}\bigg]+7\bigg[\begin{array}{c}2\\1\end{array}\bigg]\leftarrow\text{ This is equivalent to adding the scaling base vector again }$$
  • Formula: 2D
  • $$\left.\left[\begin{array}{cc}a&b\\c&d\end{array}\right.\right]\left[\begin{array}{c}x\\y\end{array}\right]=x\left[\begin{array}{c}a\\c\end{array}\right]+y\left[\begin{array}{c}b\\d\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{c}ax+by\\cx+dy\end{array}\right]$$

7.2 Elementary Matrices

7.2.1 Definition of Elementary Matrices

#####Definition: Definitionofelementarymatrices

description: a matrix obtained from a unit matrix through a primary transformation is called anelementary matrix. Taking a 3x3 matrix as an example: $E_{2}\left(k\right)=\left[\begin{matrix}1&0&0\\0&k&0\\0&0&1\end{matrix}\right]$
Multiply the 2 th row (or column 2) of E by k times the multiplication of the elementary matrix;

>

Definition: $E_i(k)(k\neq 0)$ represents the elementary matrix obtained by multiplying the positive $i$-th row (or $j$-th column) of the identity matrix by the nonzero constant $k$

Explanation

  • Supplement: The role of the unit matrix
  • The characteristic of a unit matrix is that when acting on any matrix, it has no substantial effect;
  • i: EA=A
  • Note:
  • Transformations must be suitable for both rows and columns;
  • Concept:
  • Left multiplication: performs transformation on the left side of the vector -> Left read line transformation;
  • Right multiplication: transforms on the right side of a vector -> transforms right-read columns;
  • The object of study is positioned to its right; (x)g
  • Function:
  • When a set of vectors is transformed using an elementary matrix,

#####Theorem: Leftrowandrightcolumntheorem

description: perform an elementary row transformation on the n th order matrix A, equivalent to multiplying the left side of matrix A by the corresponding elementary matrix;
Similarly, performing an elementary transformation on A is equivalent to multiplying the right side of matrix A by the corresponding elementary matrix;

Explanation

7.2.2 Interchange Elementary Matrices

#####Definition: Interchangeelementarymatrices

description: $E_{12}=\begin{bmatrix}0&1&0\\1&0&0\\0&0&1\end{bmatrix}$, the 1st and 2nd rows (or columns 1 and 2) of E are swapped, called the swap elementary matrix;
Definition: $$E_{ij}\text{ represents the unit matrix }E\text{ Exchange No }i\text{ and was granted a residence }j\text{ Alright }(\text{ or exchange residences }i\text{ and ranked among the top ranks }j\text{ List })\text{ The resulting elementary matrix }$$

Explanation

  • Concept:
  • Perform row transformation: move to the left side
  • $\left.\left(\begin{matrix}0&1\\1&0\end{matrix}\right.\right)\left(\begin{matrix}1&2\\3&4\end{matrix}\right)=\left(\begin{matrix}3&4\\1&2\end{matrix}\right)$
  • Column transformation: Move to the right side
  • $\left.\left(\begin{matrix}1&2\\3&4\end{matrix}\right.\right)\left(\begin{matrix}0&1\\1&0\end{matrix}\right)=\left(\begin{matrix}2&1\\4&3\end{matrix}\right)$
  • Example:
  • $$\begin{pmatrix}1&2&-4\\2&3&2\\-1&-2&0\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}1&0&0\\0&0&1\\0&1&0\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}1&-4&2\\2&3&3\\-1&0&-2\end{pmatrix}$$
  • Since the elementary matrix is on the right, column transformations are performed;
  • Because the second and third columns of the elementary matrix are swapped, the second and third columns of $\begin{pmatrix}1&2&-4\\2&3&2\\-1&-2&0\end{pmatrix}$ are swapped;

7.2.3x Elementary Matrix

#####Definition: Multiplytheelementarymatrix

description: $E_{31}\left(k\right)=\left[\begin{matrix}1&0&0\\0&1&0\\k&0&1\end{matrix}\right]$, the k multiplied by the 1st row of E to the 3rd row (or the k multiplied by the k of the 3rd column to the 1st column) is called the multiplication elementary matrix;
Definition: $E_{ij}(k)$ represents the elementary matrix obtained by multiplying the $j$ th row of the identity matrix $E$ by multiplying $k$ to the $i$ th row (or $k$ of the $i$ th column to the $j$ th column);

Explanation

7.3 Properties of Elementary Matrices

Property One: The transpose of an elementary matrix is still an elementary matrix

  • $E_{ij}^{T}=E_{ij}$
  • $E_{i}^{T}\left(k\right)=E_{i}\left(k\right)$
  • $E_{ij}^{T}\left(k\right)=E_{ji}\left(k\right)$

Property Two: Determinants, Inverse Matrices, and Elementary Matrices

  • Because $\left|E_{i}\left(k\right)\right|=k\neq0,\left|E_{ij}\right|=-1\neq0,\left|E_{ij}\left(k\right)\right|=1\neq0$
  • Therefore, elementary matrices are all invertible matrices, and $\left[E_{i}\left(k\right)\right]^{-1}=E_{i}\left(\frac{1}{k}\right),E_{ij}^{-1}=E_{ij},\left[E_{ij}\left(k\right)\right]^{-1}=E_{ij}\left(-k\right)$ their inverses are still elementary matrices of the same type;

Property 3: If A is an invertible matrix, then A can be expressed as the product of a finite number of elementary matrices, i.e., $A=P_{1}P_{2}\cdots P_{s},\text{ where }P_{1},P_{2},\cdots,$ $P_s$ is an elementary matrix;

  • If A is an invertible matrix, then matrix A can definitely be factored into the product of several elementary matrices;
  • So: an elementary matrix is actually a composition of multiple matrices, for example $A\alpha=p_{1}p_{2}\cdots p_{s}\alpha$;
  • If $A=P_{1}P_{2}\cdots P_{s}$, both sides are inverse matrices multiplied by P, then the right side is E;
  • Get: $P_{S}^{-1}\cdots P_{2}^{-1}P_{1}^{-1}A=P_{S}^{-1}\cdots P_{2}^{-1}P_{1}^{-1}P_{1}P_{2}\cdots P_{S}$
  • Get: $\theta_{5}\cdots\theta_{2}\theta_{1}E=A^{-1}$
  • Formula:
  • $\begin{aligned}Q_{5}\cdots Q_{2}Q_{1}\cdot A=E\\Q_{5}\cdots Q_{2}Q_{1}E=A^{-1}\end{aligned}$
  • Conclusion:
  • $(A|E)\xrightarrow{\text{ Alright }}(E|A^{-1})$
  • Give A an E and perform a row transformation, resulting in the inverse matrix A;

Property Four: Performing an elementary row transformation on n-order matrix A is equivalent to multiplying the left side of matrix A by the corresponding elementary matrix; Similarly, performing an elementary column transformation on A is equivalent to multiplying the right side of matrix A by the corresponding elementary matrix;

7.4 Row Ladder Matrix and Row Simplest Step Matrix

7.4.1 Row Ladder Matrices

#####Definition: Rowladdermatrix

description: A matrix the following characteristics is called a rowed ladder matrix:
(1) If there is a zero line (i.e., a row with all elements zero), then all zero rows are below the non-zero row;
(2) For each nonzero row, the column indicator for the first nonzero element from the left is a strictly increasing -> solution from top to bottom;

Explanation

  • Objectives:
  • Concept:
  • Transforms the system of equations, but only performs isosolution transformations;
  • Because the lower row definitely has more zeros than the upper row -> The number of independent variables in the lower row is smaller;
  • Example:
  • $$\rightarrow\begin{bmatrix}1&1&0&-3&-1\\0&-2&2&2&1\\0&0&0&3&-1\\0&0&0&0&0\end{bmatrix}=B$$
  • Pedestal base:
  • The leftmost element of each step is called the base -> reduce it to its simplest form;

Example: Find the general solution for homogeneous linear systems: $\begin{cases}x_{1}+x_{2}-3x_{4}-x_{5}=0,\\x_{1}-x_{2}+2x_{3}-x_{4}=0,\\4x_{1}-2x_{2}+6x_{3}+3x_{4}-4x_{5}=0,\\2x_{1}+4x_{2}-2x_{3}+4x_{4}-7x_{5}=0\end{cases}$

7.4.2 Row of the Simplest Stepped Trapezoidal Matrices

#####Definition: Thesimpleststeppedtrapezoidalmatrixisused

description: a row of stepped matrices is called the simplest row ladder matrix if the first nonzero element in a nonzero row is 1, and all other elements in the column containing these nonzero elements are 0;

Explanation

  • Difference from determinant: $\text{ The first nonzero element of its nonzero line is }1$
  • Features:
  • 1. If there are zero lines, they are all below;
  • 2. For each nonzero row, the column index for the first nonzero element from the left is strictly increasing from top to bottom
  • 3. The elements at the base must be 1;
  • 4. The elements directly above the stage leg must be 0;
  • Function:
  • Serving the solution of systems of equations;
  • Generally, it can be converted to a row ladder matrix;

Supplement: For any nonzero matrix A, it can always be transformed into row-step ladder matrices and row-simplest ladder matrices through finite elementary row transformations;

  • The identity matrix is the most standard row ladder matrix;
  • Systems of linear equations can always be substituted by elimination;
  • Generally, it can be converted to a row ladder matrix;

7.5 Using Elementary Transformations to Find Inverse Matrices

#####Theorem: Useelementarytransformationstofindtheinversematrix

description: $$\begin{bmatrix}A\vdots E\end{bmatrix}\xrightarrow{\text{ Elementary line transformation }}\begin{bmatrix}E\vdots A^{-1}\end{bmatrix},\\\begin{bmatrix}A\\E\end{bmatrix}\xrightarrow{\text{ Elementary column transformation }}\begin{bmatrix}E\\A^{-1}\end{bmatrix}.$$

Example Problem: When $A=\begin{bmatrix}0&2&-1\\1&1&2\\-1&-1&-1\end{bmatrix}$, find $A^{-1}$

  • Analysis
  • $\left.\left(A|E\right)=\left(\begin{matrix}0&2&-1&1&0&0\\1&1&2&0&1&0\\-1&-1&-1&-1&0&0&1\end{matrix}\right.\right)$
  • Then, in matrices A and E, the first and second rows are swapped in position
  • Then the first line is added to the third: $\left.\left(\begin{matrix}1&1&2&1&0\\0&2&-1&1&1&0&0\\0&0&1&0&1&1\end{matrix}\right.\right)->\begin{bmatrix}1&1&0&-3&-1\\0&1&-1&-1&-\frac{1}{2}\\0&0&0&1&-\frac{1}{3}\\0&0&0&0&0\end{bmatrix}$
  • Finally, form the $(E|A^{-1})$
  • Analysis

7.6 Inverse of Simple Block Matrices

#####Definition: Theinverseofasimpleblockmatrix

description: $$\begin{bmatrix}A&O\\O&B\end{bmatrix}^{-1}=\begin{bmatrix}A^{-1}&O\\O&B^{-1}\end{bmatrix},\begin{bmatrix}O&A\\B&O\end{bmatrix}^{-1}=\begin{bmatrix}O&B^{-1}\\A^{-1}&O\end{bmatrix}$$

Explanation

  • Note:
  • $\begin{bmatrix}O&A\\B&O\end{bmatrix}^{-1}$ After finding the inverse matrix, swap it;
  • Proof:
  • $\left.\left(\begin{matrix}0&A\\B&0\end{matrix}\right.\right)\left(\begin{matrix}0&B^{-1}\\A^{-1}&0.\end{matrix}\right)=E$

Supplement: To find block matrices on the subdiagonal, the following generalization can be made

  • When writing the main diagonal, do not write it backwards; for the secondary diagonal, write it backwards:
  • $$A=\begin{bmatrix}&&&A_{1}\\&&A_{2}\\&&\cdots\\A_{s}\end{bmatrix}\xrightarrow{\text{ }}A_{i}(i=1,2,\cdots,s)\text{ invertible }\Rightarrow A\text{ invertible, and }A^{-1}=\begin{bmatrix}&&&&A_s^{-1}\\&&&\ddots\\&&A_2^{-1}&&\\A_1^{-1}&&&&\end{bmatrix}$$

Supplement: Block triangular matrices

  • Example: $\text{Let }A=\begin{bmatrix}B&O\\D&C\end{bmatrix},\text{ where }B\text{ is an invertible }r\times r\text{ matrix and }C\text{ is an invertible }s\times s\text{ matrix. Prove that }A\text{ is invertible and find }A^{-1}.$
  • $|A|=|\begin{matrix}B&0\\D&C\end{matrix}|=|B||C|\neq0$
  • Definition: $\begin{pmatrix}B&0\\D&C\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}X&Y\\Z&W\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}E&0\\0&E\end{pmatrix}$
  • Conclusion:
  • The inverse is $\begin{pmatrix}B&0\\D&C\end{pmatrix}^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix}B^{-1}&0\\-C^{-1}DB^{-1}&C^{-1}\end{pmatrix}$.
  • Supplement:
  • The upper right triangle is similar, with $B^{-1}DC^{-1}$ in the upper right corner
  • The lower right triangle is similar; its B and C need to be reversed, then the upper left corner is $C^{-1}DB^{-1}$
  • The lower left triangle is similar; its B and C need to be reversed, then the lower right corner is $B^{-1}DC^{-1}$