Definition:Inverse Matrix
Definition
Let $n \in \Z_{>0}$ be a (strictly) positive integer.
Let $\mathbf A$ be a square matrix of order $n$.
Let there exist a square matrix $\mathbf B$ of order $n$ such that:
- $\mathbf A \mathbf B = \mathbf I_n = \mathbf B \mathbf A$
where $\mathbf I_n$ denotes the unit matrix of order $n$.
Then $\mathbf B$ is called the inverse of $\mathbf A$ and is usually denoted $\mathbf A^{-1}$.
Left Inverse Matrix
Let $\mathbf A = \sqbrk a_{m n}$ be a matrix of order $m \times n$.
Let $\mathbf B = \sqbrk b_{n m}$ be a matrix of order $n \times m$ such that:
- $\mathbf B \mathbf A = \mathbf I_n$
where $\mathbf I_n$ denotes the unit matrix of order $n$.
Then $\mathbf B$ is known as a left inverse (matrix) of $\mathbf A$.
Right Inverse Matrix
Let $\mathbf A = \sqbrk a_{m n}$ be a matrix of order $m \times n$.
Let $\mathbf B = \sqbrk b_{n m}$ be a matrix of order $n \times m$ such that:
- $\mathbf A \mathbf B = \mathbf I_m$
where $\mathbf I_m$ denotes the unit matrix of order $m$.
Then $\mathbf B$ is known as a right inverse (matrix) of $\mathbf A$.
Also known as
An inverse matrix can also be seen referred to as a reciprocal matrix.
Also see
- Definition:Nonsingular Matrix, also known as an invertible matrix
- Results about inverse matrices can be found here.
Sources
- 1964: Walter Ledermann: Introduction to the Theory of Finite Groups (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: The Group Concept: $\S 3$: Examples of Infinite Groups: $\text{(iv)}$
- 1998: Richard Kaye and Robert Wilson: Linear Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Part $\text I$: Matrices and vector spaces: $1$ Matrices: $1.3$ The inverse of a matrix: Fact $1.1$
- 1994: Robert Messer: Linear Algebra: Gateway to Mathematics: $\S 7.4$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): inverse: 3. (of a matrix) (reciprocal)
- 2008: David Joyner: Adventures in Group Theory (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: 'And you do addition?': $\S 2.2$: Functions on vectors: $\S 2.2.4$: Multiplication and inverses
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): inverse: 3. (of a matrix) (reciprocal)
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): inverse matrix