Schur complement


Let A,B,C,D be matrices of sizes p×p, p×q, q×p and q×q respectively and suppose that D is invertiblePlanetmathPlanetmath. Let

M=(ABCD)

so that M is a (p+q)×(p+q) matrix.
Then the Schur complement of the block D of the matrix M is the p×p matrix, A-BD-1C. Analogously if A is invertible then the Schur complement of the block A of the matrix M is the q×q matrix, D-CA-1B. In the first case, when D is invertible, the Schur complement arises as the result of performing a partial Gaussian eliminationMathworldPlanetmath by multiplying the matrix M from the right with the lower triangular block matrixMathworldPlanetmath,

T=(IO-D-1CD-1)

where I is the p×p identity matrixMathworldPlanetmath and O is the p×q zero matrixMathworldPlanetmath. Analogously, in the second case, we take the Schur complement by multiplying the matrix M from the left with the lower triangular block matrix

T=(A-1O-CA-1I)

see also:

  • Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schur_complementSchur complement

Title Schur complement
Canonical name SchurComplement
Date of creation 2013-03-22 15:27:11
Last modified on 2013-03-22 15:27:11
Owner georgiosl (7242)
Last modified by georgiosl (7242)
Numerical id 8
Author georgiosl (7242)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 15A15
Related topic BlockDeterminants
Related topic MatrixInversionLemma