Detailed Summary
Matrices are mathematical structures represented as rectangular arrays of numbers. A typical 2 × 2 matrix consists of two rows and two columns, allowing for concise data organization and manipulation in various mathematical contexts. This section delves into the definition, operations (addition, subtraction, and multiplication), and includes examples to illustrate these concepts.
A 2 × 2 matrix is generally represented as:
$$
A = \begin{bmatrix} a_{11} & a_{12} \ a_{21} & a_{22} \end{bmatrix}
$$
Where:
- $a_{11}, a_{12}, a_{21},$ and $a_{22}$ are the elements of the matrix.
Performing operations on matrices adheres to specific rules:
- Addition: Matrices can be added if they have the same dimensions by adding corresponding elements.
- Subtraction: Similar to addition, matrices can be subtracted if they share the same order.
- Multiplication: Multiplication can be more complex; it requires the number of columns in the first matrix to match the number of rows in the second matrix.
For example, if:
$$
A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix},
B = \begin{bmatrix} 5 & 6 \ 7 & 8 \end{bmatrix}
$$
Then the addition of matrices A and B results in:
$$
A + B = \begin{bmatrix} 1+5 & 2+6 \ 3+7 & 4+8 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 6 & 8 \ 10 & 12 \end{bmatrix}
$$
This section is foundational for further mathematical studies in linear algebra, computer science, and various engineering fields.