Numbers & Math

Matrix Operations Cheat Sheet

Matrix arithmetic rules, transpose, inverse, determinant, and key properties.

Basic operations

Sum / differenceElement-wise; same shape required
Scalar multiplicationEach element × scalar
Matrix product A · B(m×n)·(n×p) → (m×p); inner dims must match
Transpose AᵀSwap rows and columns
Inverse A⁻¹A · A⁻¹ = I. Exists iff det(A) ≠ 0
Identity IDiagonal of 1s, elsewhere 0. I · A = A · I = A

Properties

Non-commutativeAB ≠ BA in general
Associative(AB)C = A(BC)
DistributiveA(B + C) = AB + AC
Transpose rules(A+B)ᵀ = Aᵀ + Bᵀ; (AB)ᵀ = BᵀAᵀ
Inverse rules(AB)⁻¹ = B⁻¹ A⁻¹; (Aᵀ)⁻¹ = (A⁻¹)ᵀ

Determinant

2×2det([[a,b],[c,d]]) = ad − bc
3×3Sarrus or cofactor expansion
Propertiesdet(AB) = det(A)·det(B); det(Aᵀ) = det(A); det(A⁻¹) = 1/det(A)

Special matrices

NameProperty
SymmetricA = Aᵀ
Skew-symmetricA = −Aᵀ
OrthogonalAᵀ · A = I (Aᵀ = A⁻¹)
DiagonalNon-zero only on main diagonal
Triangular (upper/lower)Zero below/above diagonal
Unitary (complex)A*·A = I
Positive definitexᵀAx > 0 for all x ≠ 0

Eigen

Eigenvalue eqA·v = λ·v
Characteristicdet(A − λI) = 0
TraceSum of diagonal = sum of eigenvalues
DetProduct of eigenvalues
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