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Applicationsof Linear Algebra

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Majid Khan
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21 views1 page

Applicationsof Linear Algebra

Uploaded by

Majid Khan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Some Applications of Linear Algebra

There are many applications of Linear Algebra. The following list highlights a few of them. To see a brief
elementary introduction to many of the applications listed below, a good resource is: H. Anton and
C. Rorres, “Elementary Linear Algebra Applications”.
1. Cryptography
Cryptography is the study of encoding and decoding secret messages. With electronic
communications and transactions becoming the norm, solid encryption methods are essential. Most
such methods involve advanced mathematics; one of the simpler encoding methods uses matrix
transformations and modular arithmetic to encode/decode messages. These codes are called Linear
Codes: they rely on a generator matrix and a parity check matrix. Examples: Hamming codes.
Reference: “Introduction to error correcting codes with Applications” by Vanstone and van Oorschot.
2. Game Theory in Economics
Game Theory is used to model 2-player games requiring the same decision to be made at each step.
Furthermore, these decisions may result in payoffs or penalties for each player at every step. In such
situations, it is often possible for each player to formulate a strategy which will maximize their return.
Linear Algebra can be used to describe this situation.
Reference: basic books on Operations research (branch of applied math which studies these types of
problems)
3. Markov Chains
Suppose a physical system undergoes a process of change such that at any moment it can occupy
one of finitely many states. For example, the weather in a city can be: sunny, cloudy or rainy. Such a
system changes with time from one state to another and at scheduled times the state of the system is
observed. If the exact state of the system at any observation time cannot be determined with certainty
but the probability that a given state occurs can be specified once one knows the state of the system
at the preceding observation, then the process of change is called a Markov chain. Here Linear
Algebra is used to predict future states. References: books on probability or stochastic processes.
4. Equilibrium Temperature distributions used in Physics and Chemistry
The problem of how the heat will eventually be distributed across a thin metal plate, given the
temperature at the edge of the plate can be reduced to solving a system of linear equations.
5. Electrical Networks (or more generally in Graph Theory)
Electrical networks are used by electrical engineers to model circuits. (see textbook)
6. Computed tomography
Constructing a cross-sectional view of a human body by analyzing X-ray scans leads to an
inconsistent linear system of equations
Reference: G. Herman “Fundamentals of Computerized Tomography: Image Reconstruction from Projections ”
7. Computer Graphics
For example, linear transformations and coordinate matrices are used to draw objects from different
views. Or…
8. … Fractals
Fractals, those cool sets of points that look the same when you zoom in, no matter how much, are
generated and described by certain classes of transformations, some of which are linear
transformations. Besides looking cool on posters, fractals are used in computer graphics (games!),
since they replicate the look of ferns, trees or coastal lines.
9. Leontief Economic models
Matrix theory has been very successful in describing interrelations among prices, outputs, and
demands in economic systems.
10. Genetics
Genetics is the study of inheritance. Linear Algebra can be used to look at the ideas behind recessive
and dominant traits and determine how a trait will be distributed in future generations.
11. Anything involving differential equations or data fitting (see textbook)

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