338 Ordinary Differential Equations
From the definition of addition, it is evident t hat matrix addition is com-
mutative and associative, since addition of real numbers, complex numbers,
and functions is commutative and associative. Thus, if A , B , and C are all
m x n matrices, then
A+B=B+A (matrix addition is commutative)
A + (B + C) = (A + B) + C (matrix addition is associative)
DEFINITION Zero MatrixThe symbol 0 will be used to denote any matrix whose elements a re all
zero.Thus, the 2 x 3 zero matrix is
0 = (0 0 0)
0 0 0and t he 2 x 1 zero matrix (a zero column vector) is
0 = (~).
If A is any m x n matrix and 0 is the m x n zero matrix, then
A+ O = O+ A =A.
DEFINITION Scalar MultiplicationIf a is a real number, a complex number, or a scalar function a nd if A is
an m x n matrix, t hen a A is the m x n matrix with elements aaij- that is,For example,3 ( 4) - ( -x - -312) x and
(ex sinx )
iex ~os x.