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| Matrices |
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| Consider the arrangement |
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| In this arrangement, there are two rows and four columns. The number 3 lies in the 2nd row and 4th column. Each number has a fixed position. |
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| Matrix A has 2 rows and 3 columns and is thus of order 2 x 3. Matrix B has 3 rows and 2 columns and is thus of order 3 x 2. The plural for "matrix" is "matrices". Capital letters are used to denote matrices. |
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| A rectangular array of entries is called a Matrix. The entries may be real, complex or functions. |
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| The entries are also called as the elements of the matrix. |
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| The rectangular array of entries are enclosed in an ordinary bracket or in square bracket. Matrices are denoted by capital letters. |
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| Example: |
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| (i) |
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| Note that the entries in a given matrix need not be distinct. |
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| (ii) |
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| The entries in this matrix are function of x. |
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| A matrix having m rows and n columns is called as matrix of order mxn. Such a matrix has mn elements. |
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| In general, an mxn matrix is in the form |
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| Where aij represents the element in ith column. |
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| The above matrix may be denoted as A = [aij]mxn. |
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