Thread: permutation matrix question

the question highlighted below is in two parts, really have no clue how to start it, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

a. Recall that an elementary permutation matrix is an n x n matrix which is In except that two rows of
In have been swapped. If is the elementary permutation matrix where rows i and j have been swapped
and is a matrix (with n rows), describe the relationship between and .

b. Let A be the matrix:



Find a permutation matrix P, a lower triangular matrix L and an upper triangular matrix U so that
:

thank you!

Originally Posted by situation

the question highlighted below is in two parts, really have no clue how to start it, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

a. Recall that an elementary permutation matrix is an n x n matrix which is In except that two rows of
In have been swapped. If is the elementary permutation matrix where rows i and j have been swapped
and is a matrix (with n rows), describe the relationship between and .

Have you looked at an example? Write down any permutation matrix, P, any matrix A, and multiply them. Compare A and PA. The answer should be obvious.

b. Let A be the matrix:



Find a permutation matrix P, a lower triangular matrix L and an upper triangular matrix U so that
:

thank you!

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy

Have you looked at an example? Write down any permutation matrix, P, any matrix A, and multiply them. Compare A and PA. The answer should be obvious.

ok so am i right in saying that if i took any identity matrix, swapped any of the two rows, that would be denoted a permutation matrix?

eg. would be a permutation matrix on the identity matrix for a 3x3??

You're correct. However, your problem has asked you to compare the result when you take the matrix you exhibited in your last post and left-multiply it with A, versus just plain A itself. That is, if P is the matrix in your last post, then what's the difference between A and PA?