MATRIX (PART 2)

OUTLINE

 Symmetric Matrix
 Skew-symmetric Matrix
 Splitting up a Square Matrix

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SPECIAL SQUARE MATRICES
 Symmetric Matrix: A Square matrix A is called symmetric if it is equal to its
transpose:
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑇
Example:

 1 2 8   1 2 8 
a b  a b 
A  A  T
M   2 2 4  M T   2 2 4 
  
 b d  b d   8 4 3   8 4 3 

∵ 𝐴 = 𝐴𝑇 , ∴ 𝐴 is a symmetric matrix. ∵ 𝑀 = 𝑀𝑇 , ∴ 𝑀 is a symmetric matrix.

 𝑡𝑟(symmetric matrix) = any number

𝑡𝑟 𝐴 = 𝑎 + 𝑑 𝑡𝑟(𝑀) = 6

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SPECIAL SQUARE MATRICES
 Skew-Symmetric Matrix: A Square matrix A is called skew-symmetric if 𝐴 = − 𝐴𝑇 .
 All elements in the principle diagonal of a skew-symmetric matrix must be zero.
Example:

 0 2 8   0 2 8   0 2 8 
M   2 0 4  M T   2 0 4   (1) M T   M T   2 0 4 
 8 4 0   8 4 0   8 4 0 

∴ 𝑀 = −𝑀𝑇
Hence, M is a skew-symmetric matrix

Note: tr(skew-symmetric matrix) = 0 4

 SYMMETRIC MATRIX
 A 4×4 example:
Construction:
❶ write the principal diagonal with any entries ;
2 5 6 7 
❷ complete 1st row with any entries ;
 5 3 2 1 
❸ complete 1st column with those entries used in ❷; M 
❹ complete 2nd row with any entries ;
6 2 0 4 
 
❺ complete 2nd column with those entries used in ❹; 77 1 4 5 / 2
❻ complete other rows & columns using the same
process.

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 SKEW-SYMMETRIC MATRIX
 A 4×4 example:
Construction:
❶ write the principal diagonal with 0’s;
 0 2 6 9 
❷ complete the 1st row with any entries ;
2 0 3 7 
❸ complete the 1st column with -ve entries of ❷ ; M  
❹ complete the 2nd row with any entries ;
 6 3 0 0 
 
❺ complete the 2nd column with -ve entries of ❹ ;  9 7 0 0 
❻ complete other rows & columns using the same
process.

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THEOREM 1
For any square matrix A with real number entries,
a. 𝐴 + 𝐴𝑇 is a symmetric matrix and
b. 𝐴 − 𝐴𝑇 is a skew symmetric matrix.

Proof for symmetric: Proof for skew-symmetric:

Let 𝐵 = 𝐴 + 𝐴𝑇 , then Let 𝐶 = 𝐴 − 𝐴𝑇 , then
𝐵𝑇 = 𝐴 + 𝐴𝑇 𝑇 𝐶 𝑇 = 𝐴 − 𝐴𝑇 𝑇

= 𝐴𝑇 + 𝐴𝑇 𝑇
∵ 𝐴+𝐵 𝑇
= 𝐴𝑇 + 𝐵𝑇 = 𝐴𝑇 − 𝐴𝑇 𝑇
(∵ 𝐴 − 𝐵 𝑇
= 𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑇 )
= 𝐴𝑇 + 𝐴 ∵ 𝐴𝑇 𝑇 =𝐴 = 𝐴𝑇 − 𝐴 (∵ 𝐴𝑇 𝑇
= 𝐴)
= 𝐴 + 𝐴𝑇 = − 𝐴 − 𝐴𝑇
𝐵𝑇 = 𝐵 𝐶 𝑇 = −𝐶 which means C = −𝐶 𝑇
𝐵 = 𝐴 + 𝐴𝑇 is a symmetric matrix 𝐶 = 𝐴 − 𝐴𝑇 is a skew-symmetric matrix 7
THEOREM 2
Any square matrix can be expressed as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix.
Proof:
Let A be a square matrix represented as
1 1
A  ( A  AT )  ( A  AT )  P  Q (say)..............(i)
2 2
1 1
where P  ( A  AT ) and Q  ( A  AT )
2 2
T
1 T  1 1 T
Now, P   ( A  A )   ( AT  ( AT )T )  ( A  A)  P
T

2  2 2
T
1  1 1 1
and QT   ( A  AT )   ( AT  ( AT )T )  ( AT  A)   ( A  AT )  Q
2  2 2 2
Thus, P is a symmetric matrix and Q is a skew-symmetric matrix.
(i) concludes that a square matrix can be expressed as the sum of a symmetric matrix and a
skew-symmetric matrix.
Square Matrix
Relation with

Skew-
Square Symmetric
Symmetric
matrix matrix
matrix
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 HOW TO APPLY THEOREM 2

 For symmetric part  For skew-symmetric part

 Write MT  Write MT

 Find M + MT  Find M - MT

 Calculate ½(M + MT)  Calculate ½(M - MT )

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 1/3 −5
EXPRESS 𝑀 = AS THE SUM OF A SYMMETRIC & A SKEW-SYMMETRIC MATRIX.
0 8
1/3 −5 1/3 0
Solution: Given, 𝑀 = , 𝑀𝑇 =
0 8 −5 8
 symmetric part  skew-symmetric part

1 1 1 1
𝑀 + 𝑀𝑇 = 3 −5 + 0 −5 − 0
3 𝑀 − 𝑀𝑇 = 3 3
0 8 −5 8 0 8 −5 8
2
−5 0 −5
= 3 =
−5 16 5 0

1 5 5
− 0 −
3 2 ∴ ½ 𝑀 + 𝑀𝑇 = 2
∴½ 𝑀+ 𝑀𝑇 = 5
5 0
− 8 2
2
1 5 5
− 0 −
3 2 2
Now M= 5 + 5
− 8 0
2 2 10
PRACTICE ⤑ PERFECTION

Q-1. Write as the sum of a symmetric & a skew symmetric matrix where :
3 −9
3
6 5 3 7 5
0 7 11
7 1
❶ A = 4 −5 ; ❷ B = −5 0 ; ❸C= 9 6 0 6
2
9 −7 4 −5 2
0 4 −8 −1 0 3 0
Q-2. Give 3 examples of symmetric matrices: (i). 4x4 ; (ii). 5x5 ; (iii). 6x6

Q-3. Give 3 examples of skew- symmetric matrices: (i). 4x4 ; (ii). 5x5 ; (iii). 6x6

1. Which matrices can be expressed as the sum of a symmetric & skew-symmetric matrix?
2. What is the trace of a 29×29 matrix : (i) skew-symmetric matrix ; (ii) symmetric matrix .
3. Give an example of 7x7 matrix which is both: symmetric and skew-symmetric matrix.
4. A 99×99 skew-symmetric matrix was found to have the trace “0”: True or, False?

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ANY QUESTION???

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