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Revision difference : diagonal matrix
Version 3 Version 2
\newcommand{\diag}[0]{\operatorname{diag}} \newcommand{\diag}[0]{\operatorname{diag}}
{\bf Definition} {\bf Definition}
Let $A$ be a square matrix (with entries in any field). Let $A$ be a square matrix (with entries in any field).
If all off-diagonal entries of $A$ are zero, then $A$ is a If all off-diagonal entries of $A$ are zero, then $A$ is a
\emph{diagonal matrix}. Diagonal matrices are also sometimes called \emph{diagonal matrix}. Diagonal matrices are also sometimes called
\emph{quasi-scalar matrices} \cite{eves}. \emph{quasi-scalar matrices} \cite{eves}.
From the definition, we see that an $n\times n$ diagonal matrix is From the definition, we see that an $n\times n$ diagonal matrix is
completely determined by the $n$ entries on the diagonal; all other entries completely determined by the $n$ entries on the diagonal; all other entries
are zero. If the diagonal entries are $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$, are zero. If the diagonal entries are $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$,
then we denote the corresponding diagonal matrix by then we denote the corresponding diagonal matrix by
$$ \diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n) = \begin{pmatrix} $$ \diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n) = \begin{pmatrix}
a_{1} & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\ a_{1} & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
0 & a_{2} & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\ 0 & a_{2} & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\
0 & 0 & a_{3} & \cdots & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & a_{3} & \cdots & 0 \\
\vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \\
0 & 0 & 0 & & a_{n} 0 & 0 & 0 & & a_{n}
\end{pmatrix}. $$ \end{pmatrix}. $$
\subsubsection{Examples} \subsubsection{Examples}
\begin{enumerate} \begin{enumerate}
\item The identity matrix and zero matrix are diagonal matrices. Also, \item The identity matrix and zero matrix are diagonal matrices.
any $1\times 1$ matrix is a diagonal matrix.
\item A matrix $A$ is a diagonal matrix if and only if $A$ is \item A matrix $A$ is a diagonal matrix if and only if $A$ is
both an upper and lower triangular matrix. both an upper and lower triangular matrix.
\end{enumerate} \end{enumerate}
\subsubsection{Properties} \subsubsection{Properties}
\begin{enumerate} \begin{enumerate}
\item If $A$ and $B$ are diagonal matrices of same order, then \item If $A$ and $B$ are diagonal matrices of same order, then
$A+B$ and $AB$ are again a diagonal matrix. Further, diagonal matrices $A+B$ and $AB$ are again a diagonal matrix. Further, diagonal matrices
commute, i.e., $AB=BA$. It follows that real (and complex) commute, i.e., $AB=BA$. It follows that real (and complex)
diagonal matrices are normal matrices. diagonal matrices are normal matrices.
\item A square matrix is diagonal if and only if it is \item A square matrix is diagonal if and only if it is
triangular and normal (see \PMlinkname{this page}{TheoremForNormalTriangularMatrices}). triangular and normal (see \PMlinkname{this page}{TheoremForNormalTriangularMatrices}).
\item The eigenvalues of a diagonal matrix \item The eigenvalues of a diagonal matrix
$A=\diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n)$ are $a_1, \ldots, a_n$. In consequence, $A=\diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n)$ are $a_1, \ldots, a_n$. In consequence,
for the determinant, we have $\det A = a_1 a_2 \cdots a_n$, so for the determinant, we have $\det A = a_1 a_2 \cdots a_n$, so
$A$ is invertible if and only if all $a_i$ are non-zero. $A$ is invertible if and only if all $a_i$ are non-zero.
Then the inverse is given by Then the inverse is given by
$$ \big( \diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n)\big)^{-1} = \diag(1/a_1, \ldots, 1/a_n).$$ $$ \big( \diag(a_1,\ldots, a_n)\big)^{-1} = \diag(1/a_1, \ldots, 1/a_n).$$
\end{enumerate} \end{enumerate}
See also \cite{wiki_diagonal}. See also \cite{wiki_diagonal}.
\renewcommand{\bibname}{References} \renewcommand{\bibname}{References}
\begin{thebibliography}{9} \begin{thebibliography}{9}
\bibitem {eves} H. Eves, \bibitem {eves} H. Eves,
\emph{Elementary Matrix Theory}, \emph{Elementary Matrix Theory},
Dover publications, 1980. Dover publications, 1980.
%\bibitem{prasolov} V.V. Prasolov, %\bibitem{prasolov} V.V. Prasolov,
%\emph{Problems and Theorems in Linear Algebra}, %\emph{Problems and Theorems in Linear Algebra},
%American Mathematical Society, 1994. %American Mathematical Society, 1994.
\bibitem{wiki_diagonal} Wikipedia, \bibitem{wiki_diagonal} Wikipedia,
\PMlinkexternal{diagonal matrix}{http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal_matrix}. \PMlinkexternal{diagonal matrix}{http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal_matrix}.
\end{thebibliography} \end{thebibliography}