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Matrix norm

Matrix norm is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Matrix norm rather than just read about it. In short: In mathematics, a norm is a function from a vector space to non-negative real numbers that satisfies certain axioms. A matrix norm is a norm defined on a vector space of matrices.

Key takeaways

  • Matrix norm belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Matrix norm to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Matrix norm from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In mathematics, a norm is a function from a vector space to non-negative real numbers that satisfies certain axioms. A matrix norm is a norm defined on a vector space of matrices. As for every norm, a matrix norm defines a distance, the distance between two matrices being the norm of their difference. The specificity of matrix norms is that they may often be defined either directly as for every norm, or by mean of their properties as linear operators. There are many specific matrix norms. Most arise from the following three perspectives, though different perspectives may sometimes yield the same norm.

Consider the matrix as a linear operator; then a matrix norm may describe how much the operator can stretch vectors. Such matrix norms induced by vector norms are called operator norms. Consider the matrix as a rectangular array of numbers; then a matrix norm may be defined as a function of the of the entries of the matrix. Such matrix norms are sometimes called "entry-wise" norms. The singular value decomposition is useful in analyzing matrices. A vector norm of the singular values of a matrix may be taken as a matrix norm. Such norms are called Schatten norms. Matrix norms are often denoted by double vertical bars with optional subscripts (e.g., ‖ A ‖ {\displaystyle \|A\|} or ‖ A ‖ 2 {\displaystyle \|A\|_{2}} ). However, the meaning of the subscript may vary, since matrix norms in different perspectives relate to ℓ p {\displaystyle \ell ^{p}} -norms in different ways.

Preliminaries Given a field K {\displaystyle \ K\ } of either real or complex numbers (or any complete subset thereof), let K m × n {\displaystyle \ K^{m\times n}\ } be the K-vector space of matrices with m {\displaystyle m} rows and n {\displaystyle n} columns and entries in the field K . {\displaystyle \ K~.} A matrix norm is a norm on K m × n . {\displaystyle \ K^{m\times n}~.}

The matrix norm is a function ‖ ⋅ ‖ : K m × n → R 0 + {\displaystyle \ \|\cdot \|:K^{m\times n}\to \mathbb {R} ^{0+}\ } that must satisfy the following properties: For all scalars α ∈ K {\displaystyle \ \alpha \in K\ } and matrices A , B ∈ K m × n , {\displaystyle \ A,B\in K^{m\times n}\ ,}

‖ A ‖ ≥ 0 {\displaystyle \|A\|\geq 0\ } (positive-valued)

‖ A ‖ = 0 ⟺ A = 0 m , n {\displaystyle \|A\|=0\iff A=0_{m,n}} (definite)

‖ α A ‖ = | α | ‖ A ‖ {\displaystyle \left\|\alpha \ A\right\|=\left|\alpha \right|\ \left\|A\right\|\ } (absolutely homogeneous)

‖ A + B ‖ ≤ ‖ A ‖ + ‖ B ‖ {\displaystyle \|A+B\|\leq \|A\|+\|B\|\ } (sub-additive or satisfying the triangle inequality) The only feature distinguishing matrices from rearranged vectors is multiplication. Matrix norms are particularly useful if they are also sub-multiplicative:

‖ A B ‖ ≤ ‖ A ‖ ‖ B ‖ {\displaystyle \ \left\|AB\right\|\leq \left\|A\right\|\left\|B\right\|\ }

Every norm on K n × n {\displaystyle \ K^{n\times n}\ } can be rescaled to be sub-multiplicative; in some books, the terminology matrix norm is reserved for sub-multiplicative norms.

Possible properties

Unitary invariance A matrix norm is called unitarily invariant if for all unitary matrices U , V {\displaystyle U,V} and matrix A {\displaystyle A} , ‖ U A V ‖ = ‖ A ‖ {\displaystyle \lVert UAV\rVert =\lVert A\rVert } . A symmetric gauge function is an absolute vector norm ϕ : C p → R + {\displaystyle \phi :\mathbb {C} ^{p}\to \mathbb {R} ^{+}} such that ϕ ( P x ) = ϕ ( x ) {\displaystyle \phi (Px)=\phi (x)} for any permutation matrix P {\displaystyle P} . That is:

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Matrix norm

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Matrix norm claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Matrix norm before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Matrix norm ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Matrix norm

In research
Matrix norm appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Matrix norm in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Matrix norm is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Linear algebra, Norms (mathematics), so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Matrix norm outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Matrix norm in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Matrix norm means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Matrix norm out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Matrix norm in simple terms?

In mathematics, a norm is a function from a vector space to non-negative real numbers that satisfies certain axioms. A matrix norm is a norm defined on a vector space of matrices.

Why does Matrix norm matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Matrix norm?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Matrix norm.

Tags

  • Linear algebra
  • Norms (mathematics)

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