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Strategy For Simplifying Matrices

This document outlines a strategy for simplifying matrices into reduced row echelon form with the following steps: 1) Obtain zeros below the first non-zero entry in each row using row operations. 2) Divide each row by the reciprocal of its leading non-zero term. 3) Check for common multiples in rows and divide rows by common factors to minimize calculations.

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Afzaal Fiaz
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20 views

Strategy For Simplifying Matrices

This document outlines a strategy for simplifying matrices into reduced row echelon form with the following steps: 1) Obtain zeros below the first non-zero entry in each row using row operations. 2) Divide each row by the reciprocal of its leading non-zero term. 3) Check for common multiples in rows and divide rows by common factors to minimize calculations.

Uploaded by

Afzaal Fiaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Strategy for simplifying matrices:

General strategy Obtain zeroes where required first.


After the required zeroes are obtained, divide each row by the necessary nonzero number to obtain a 1 as the first non-zero entry for each row. (Save
this step until the last because it often involves the introduction of fractions.)

More detailed strategy Use Row 1 to zero out the entries in Column 1 below the entry in Row 1 and
Column 1. (For instance, zero out the entry in Row 2 and Column 1 by
replacing Row 2 with the sum of a multiple of Row 1 plus a multiple Row 2.
Choose the multiples so that the resulting Row 2 has a zero as its first entry.)
Continue this process until the matrix has zeroes below the first non-zero
entry in each row. That is, use Row 2 to zero out the entries below the first
non-zero entry in Row 2; use Row 3 to zero out the entries below the first
non-zero entry in Row 3, etc.
At the last step, multiply each row with a non-zero entry by the reciprocal of
its first non-zero entry.
Additionally At each step in the process, check to see if all the entries in any row have a
nontrivial common multiple. If so, divide the row by that common multiple.
(This will keep the magnitude of the calculations minimal.)
If any row contains all zeros, move that row to the bottom of the matrix.

Variation on the process The matrix resulting from the above simplification will be in echelon form. To
obtain a matrix in reduced row echelon form, use Row 2 to zero out the
entries above and below the first non-zero entry in Row 2. Similarly, if
necessary, use Row 3 to zero out the entries above the first non-zero entry in
Row 3.

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