On the dimension of the algebra generated by a boolean matrix

We investigate the subspace of the space of all n × n Boolean (0,1)-matrices, spanned by the powers of an arbitrary matrix. We estimate the maximum dimension of such spaces as a function of n and show that their bases consists of consecutive integer powers of the matrix, starting at I. We also determine the maximum dimension of the space spanned by the powers of as symmetric matrix and characterise the matrices achieving that maximum.     

On the sum powers of matrices

A theorem of Lagrange says that every natural number is the sum of 4 squares. M. Newman proved that every integral n by n matrix is the sum of 8 (-1)ⁿ squares when n is at least 2. He asked to generalize this to the rings of integers of algebraic number fields. We show that an n by n matrix over a a commutative R with 1 is the sum of squares if and only if its trace reduced modulo 2Ris a square in the ring R/2R. It this is the case (and n is at least 2), then the matrix is the sum of 6 squares (5 squares would do when n is even). Moreover, we obtain a similar result for an arbitrary ring R with 1. Answering another question of M. Newman, we show that every integral n by n matrix is the sum of ten k-th powers for all sufficiently large n. (depending on k).     

Column Ranks and Their Preservers of Matrices Over Max Algebra

The column rank of an m by n matrix A over max algebra is the weak dimension of the column space of A. We compare the column rank with rank of matrices over max algebra. We also characterize the linear operators which preserve the column rank of matrices over max algebra.     

The coordinate representation of a graph and n-universal graph of radius 1

Every graph can be represented as the intersection graph on a family of closed unit cubes in Euclidean space Eⁿ. Cube vertices have integer coordinates. The coordinate matrix, A(G)={v_nk} of a graph G is defined by the set of cube coordinates. The imbedded dimension of a graph, Bp(G), is a number of columns in matrix A(G) such that each of them has at least two distinct elements v_nk≠v_pk. We show that Bp(G)=cub(G) for some graphs, and Bp(G)n−2 for any graph G on n vertices. The coordinate matrix uses to obtain the graph U of radius 1 with 3ⁿ⁻² vertices that contains as an induced subgraph a copy of any graph on n vertices.     

Binary set functions and parity check matrices

We consider the possibility of extending to a family of sets a binary set function defined on a subfamily so that the extension is, in fact, uniquely determined. We place in this context the problem of finding the least integer n(r) such that every linear code of length n with n n(r), dimension n-r and minimum Hamming distance at least 4 has a parity check matrix composed entirely of odd weight columns and answer this problem by showing that n(r) = 5.2^{r − 4} + 1, r4. This result is applied to yield new constructions and bounds for unequal error protection codes with minimum distances 3 and 4.     

Linear operators preserving the higher numerical radius of matrices

A linear operator T on a matrix space is said to be unital if T(I) = I. In this note we characterize the unital lineart operators on matrix spaces that preserve the k-numerical radius. Using the results obtained we easily determine the structure of all linear operators on the space of n × n complex matrices that preserve the k-numerical range. This completes the work of Pierce and Watking, who obtained the results for the cases when n ≠ n2k.     

Finding all essential terms of a characteristic maxpolynomial

Let us denote ab=max(a,b) and ab=a+b for and extend this pair of operations to matrices and vectors in the same way as in linear algebra. We present an O(n²(m+n log n)) algorithm for finding all essential terms of the max-algebraic characteristic polynomial of an n×n matrix over with m finite elements. In the cases when all terms are essential, this algorithm also solves the following problem: Given an n×n matrix A and k{1,…,n}, find a k×k principal submatrix of A whose assignment problem value is maximum.     

Induced subgraphs of given sizes

We say (n, e) → (m, f), an (m, f) subgraph is forced, if every n-vertex graph of size e has an m-vertex spanned subgraph with f edges. For example, as Turán proved, (n,e)→(k,(^k₂)) for e> t_{k − 1}(n) and (n,e) (^k₂)), otherwise. We give a number of constructions showing that forced pairs are rare. Using tools of extremal graph theory we also show infinitely many positive cases. Several problems remain open.     

The maximun of i(XAX-1+B)

Let F be an algebraically closed field. We denote by i(A) the number of invariant polynomials of a square matrix A, which are different from 1. For A,B any n×n matrices over F, we calculate the maximum of i(XAX^-1+B), where X runs over the set of all non-singular n×n matrices over F.     

Intersections of nest algebras in finite dimensions

If are maximal nests on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space H, the dimension of the intersection of the corresponding nest algebras is at least dim H. On the other hand, there are three maximal nests whose nest algebras intersect in the scalar operators. The dimension of the intersection of two nest algebras (corresponding to maximal nests) can be of any integer value from n to n(n+1)/2, where n=dim H. For any two maximal nests there exists a basis {f₁,f₂,…,f_n} of H and a permutation π such that and where M_i=  span{f₁,f₂,…,f_i} and N_i= span{f_π(1),f_π(2),…,f_π(i)}. The intersection of the corresponding nest algebras has minimum dimension, namely dim H, precisely when π(j)=n−j+1,1jn. Those algebras which are upper-triangular matrix incidence algebras, relative to some basis, can be characterised as intersections of certain nest algebras.     

On isometries of matrix spaces

Let A_kbe the group of isometries of the space of n-by-n matrices over reals (resp. complexes, quaternions) with respect to the Ky Fan k-norm (see the Introduction for the definitions). Let Γ⁰ be the group of transformations of this space consisting of all products of left and right multiplications by the elements of SO(n)(resp. U(n), Sp(n)). It is shown that, except for three particular casesA_k coincides with the normalizer of Γ in Δ group of isometries of the above matrix space with respect to the standard inner product. We also give an alternative treatment of the case D = Rn = 4k = 2 which was studied in detail by Johnson, Laffey, and Li [4].     

Commuting pairs and triples of matrices and related varieties

In this note, we show that the set of all commuting d-tuples of commuting n×n matrices that are contained in an n-dimensional commutative algebra is a closed set, and therefore, Gerstenhaber's theorem on commuting pairs of matrices is a consequence of the irreduciblity of the variety of commuting pairs. We show that the variety of commuting triples of 4×4 matrices is irreducible. We also study the variety of n-dimensional commutative subalgebras of M_n(F), and show that it is irreducible of dimension n²−n for n4, but reducible, of dimension greater than n²−n for n7.     

A reversal index for tournament matrices

Given a tournament matrix T, its reversal indexi_R(T), is the minimum k such that the reversal of the orientation of k arcs in the directed graph associated with T results in a reducible matrix. We give a formula for i_R(T) in terms of the score vector of T which generalizes a simple criterion for a tournament matrix to be irreducible. We show that i_R(T)≤[(n-1)/2] for any tournament matrix T of order n, with equality holding if and only if T is regular or almost regular, according as n is odd or even. We construct, for each k between 1 and [(n-1)/2], a tournament matrix of order n whose reversal index is k. Finally, we suggest a few problems.     

Large spaces of symmetric matrices of bounded rank are decomposable

Let k and n be positive integers such that k≤n. Let S_n(F) denote the space of all n×n symmetric matrices over the field F with char F≠2. A subspace L of S_n(F) is said to be a k-subspace if rank A≤k for every AεL.

Now suppose that k is even, and write k=2r. We say a k∥-subspace of S_n(F) is decomposable if there exists in Fⁿ a subspace W of dimension n-r such that x^tAx=0 for every xεWAεL.

We show here, under some mild assumptions on kn and F, that every k∥-subspace of S_n(F) of sufficiently large dimension must be decomposable. This is an analogue of a result obtained by Atkinson and Lloyd for corresponding subspaces of F^m,n.     

Some generators for the algebra of n×n matrices

In this note, we show how the algebra of n×n matrices over a field can be generated by a pair of matrices AB, where A is an arbitrary nonscalar matrix and B can be chosen so that there is the maximum degree of linear independence between the higher commutators of B with A.     

Backward error bounds for approximate Krylov subspaces

Let A be a matrix of order n and let be a subspace of dimension k. In this note, we determine a matrix E of minimal norm such that is a Krylov subspace of A+E.     

Decomposably non-negative matrices

Let A be an mn- by - mn symmetric matrix. Partition A into m²n - by - n blocks and suppose that each of these blocks is also symmetric. Suppose that for every decomposable (rank one) tensor ν ⊗ w, we have (ν ⊗ w)^t A(ν otimes; w) ≥ 0. Here, ν is a column m-tuple and w is a column n-tuple. We study the maximum number of negative eigenvalues such a matrix can have, as well as obtaining alternative characterizations of such matrices.     

A note on commuting pairs of matrices

We give a short proof of the Motzkin-Taussky result that the variety of commuting pairs of matrices is irreducible. An easy consequence of this is that any two generated commutative subalgebra of n×n matrices has dimension at most n. We also answer an old question of Gerstenhaber by showing that the set of commuting triples of n×n matrices is not irreducible for n≥32.     

Flat portions on the boundary of the numerical ranges of certain Toeplitz matrices

We give criterions for a flat portion to exist on the boundary of the numerical range of a matrix. A special type of Teoplitz matrices with flat portions on the boundary of its numerical range are constructed. We show that there exist 2 × 2 nilpotent matrices A₁,A₂, an n  × n nilpotent Toeplitz matrix N_n, and an n  × n cyclic permutation matrix S_n(s) such that the numbers of flat portions on the boundaries of W(A₁⊕N_n) and W(A₂⊕S_n(s)) are, respectively, 2(n - 2) and 2n.     

Subsets of an interval whose product is a power

We form squares from the product of integers in a short interval [n, n + t_n], where we include n in the product. If p is prime, p|n, and (₂^p) > n, we prove that p is the minimum t_n. If no such prime exists, we prove t_n √5n when n> 32. If n = p(2p − 1) and both p and 2p − 1 are primes, then t_n = 3p> 3 √n/2. For n(n + u) a square > n², we conjecture that a and b exist where n < a < b < n + u and nab is a square (except n = 8 and N = 392). Let g₂(n) be minimal such that a square can be formed as the product of distinct integers from [n, g₂(n)] so that no pair of consecutive integers is omitted. We prove that g₂(n) 3n − 3, and list or conjecture the values of g₂(n) for all n. We describe the generalization to kth powers and conjecture the values for large n.