A quick matrix question

Weidii

Hey, just a quick one, can anyone tell me how to find A*? Not sure what the "*" is looking for. (I'm working with 3x3 matrices)

Cheers.

L'prof

Weidii wrote: »

Hey, just a quick one, can anyone tell me how to find A*? Not sure what the "*" is looking for. (I'm working with 3x3 matrices)

Cheers.

Can you give me some background info? What course are you doing, what year are you in?

What's the full question?

I presume they're either looking for the transpose or the inverse!

Weidii

I'm doing maths as part of first year science in NUIGalway. We have a calculus and algebra module. I came across this notation on the exam papers and it threw me a bit, just not sure what it's asking. I have the feeling it means transpose, but am just wondering if anyone knows for sure.

Fremen

Does it not tell you on the exam paper?
Notation differs from between courses. I've seen T, ' and * all used for transpose.

If it's a first-year linear algebra course, it propably does mean transpose, but without more context we won't be able to say for sure.

Michael Collins

Often A* means the Hermetian Transpose, which would mean take the transpose and then the complex conjugate of each entry. But as Fremen says the notation varies. Are there complex entries in the matrix?

Weidii

No complex entries. I'm pretty sure it means the transpose. Thanks guys.

L'prof

Weidii wrote: »

No complex entries. I'm pretty sure it means the transpose. Thanks guys.

I think you're right because I actually did those subjects last year and nothing compicated than Inverse & Transpose came up!

Michael Collins

Either way it's the same - the complex conjugate of a real number is just the same number again, so it ends up just be the transpose anyway...