Thread: need help with definition

I am having trouble understanding the given definition

- A square matrix A=[aij] is upper triangular if and only if the ith row starts with at least i-1 zeros.

I know what upper triangular looks like but the above definition doesnt make any sense to me, and what do they mean by (i-1 zeros).

Thanks in advanced

Originally Posted by justin016

I am having trouble understanding the given definition

- A square matrix A=[aij] is upper triangular if and only if the ith row starts with at least i-1 zeros.

I know what upper triangular looks like but the above definition doesnt make any sense to me, and what do they mean by (i-1 zeros).

Thanks in advanced

That says "the first row starts with 1-1= 0 zeros", "the second row starts with 2-1= 1 zeros", "the third row starts with 3-1= 2 zeros", etc.
In other words:

wow i couldnt believe i didnt get that. Thanx a bunch