The nullity and rank of linear combinations of idempotent matrices

Baksalary and Baksalary [J.K. Baksalary, O.M. Baksalary, Nonsingularity of linear combinations of idempotent matrices, Linear Algebra Appl. 388 (2004) 25-29] proved that the nonsingularity of P₁ + P₂, where P₁ and P₂ are idempotent matrices, is equivalent to the nonsingularity of any linear combinations c₁P₁ + c₂P₂, where c₁, c₂ ≠ 0 and c₁ + c₂ ≠ 0. In the present note this result is strengthened by showing that the nullity and rank of c₁P₁ + c₂P₂ are constant. Furthermore, a simple proof of the rank formula of Groß and Trenkler [J. Groß, G. Trenkler, Nonsingularity of the difference of two oblique projectors, SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl. 21 (1999) 390-395] is obtained.     

On commutativity of projectors

The purpose of this paper is to revisit two problems discussed previously in the literature, both related to the commutativity property P₁P₂ = P₂P₁, where P₁ and P₂ denote projectors (i.e., idempotent matrices). The first problem was considered by Baksalary et al. [J.K. Baksalary, O.M. Baksalary, T. Szulc, A property of orthogonal projectors, Linear Algebra Appl. 354 (2002) 35-39], who have shown that if P₁ and P₂ are orthogonal projectors (i.e., Hermitian idempotent matrices), then in all nontrivial cases a product of any length having P₁ and P₂ as its factors occurring alternately is equal to another such product if and only if P₁ and P₂ commute. In the present paper a generalization of this result is proposed and validity of the equivalence between commutativity property and any equality involving two linear combinations of two any length products having orthogonal projectors P₁ and P₂ as their factors occurring alternately is investigated. The second problem discussed in this paper concerns specific generalized inverses of the sum P₁ + P₂ and the difference P₁ − P₂ of (not necessary orthogonal) commuting projectors P₁ and P₂. The results obtained supplement those provided in Section 4 of Baksalary and Baksalary [J.K. Baksalary, O.M. Baksalary, Commutativity of projectors, Linear Algebra Appl. 341 (2002) 129-142].     

Simultaneous solutions of Sylvester equations and idempotent matrices separating the joint spectrum

We investigate simultaneous solutions of the matrix Sylvester equations A_iX-XB_i=C_i,i=1,2,…,k, where {A₁,…,A_k} and {B₁,…,B_k} are k-tuples of commuting matrices of order m×m and p×p, respectively. We show that the matrix Sylvester equations have a unique solution X for every compatible k-tuple of m×p matrices {C₁,…,C_k} if and only if the joint spectra σ(A₁,…,A_k) and σ(B₁,…,B_k) are disjoint. We discuss the connection between the simultaneous solutions of Sylvester equations and related questions about idempotent matrices separating disjoint subsets of the joint spectrum, spectral mapping for the differences of commuting k-tuples, and a characterization of the joint spectrum via simultaneous solutions of systems of linear equations.     

Nonsingularity of the difference and the sum of two idempotent matrices

Groß and Trenkler 1 pointed out that if a difference of idempotent matrices P and Q is nonsingular, then so is their sum, and Koliha et al2 expressed explicitly a condition, which combined with the nonsingularity of P+Q ensures the nonsingularity of P-Q. In the present paper, these results are strengthened by showing that the nonsingularity of P-Q is in fact equivalent to the nonsingularity of any combination aP+bQ-cPQ (where a≠0,b≠0,a+b=c), and the nonsingularity of P+Q is equivalent to the nonsingularity of any combination aP+bQ-cPQ (where a≠0,b≠0,a+b≠c).     

Perturbing non-real eigenvalues of non-negative real matrices

Let σ=(ρ,b+ic,b-ic,λ₄,…,λ_n) be the spectrum of an entry non-negative matrix and t?0. Laffey [T. J. Laffey, Perturbing non-real eigenvalues of nonnegative real matrices, Electron. J. Linear Algebra 12 (2005) 73-76] has shown that σ=(ρ+2t,b-t+ic,b-t-ic,λ₄,…,λ_n) is also the spectrum of some nonnegative matrix. Laffey (2005) has used a rank one perturbation for small t and then used a compactness argument to extend the result to all nonnegative t. In this paper, a rank two perturbation is used to deduce an explicit and constructive proof for all t?0.     

Least squares solutions to AX = B for bisymmetric matrices under a central principal submatrix constraint and the optimal approximation

A matrix A∈R^n×n is called a bisymmetric matrix if its elements a_i,j satisfy the properties a_i,j=a_j,i and a_i,j=a_n-j+1,n-i+1 for 1?i,j?n. This paper considers least squares solutions to the matrix equation AX=B for A under a central principal submatrix constraint and the optimal approximation. A central principal submatrix is a submatrix obtained by deleting the same number of rows and columns in edges of a given matrix. We first discuss the specified structure of bisymmetric matrices and their central principal submatrices. Then we give some necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the least squares problem, and derive the general representation of the solutions. Moreover, we also obtain the expression of the solution to the corresponding optimal approximation problem.     

On a Maximum Principle for Bergman Spaces with Small Exponents

We prove a stability theorem for the nullity of a linear combination c ₁ P ₁ + c ₂ P ₂ of two idempotent operators P ₁, P ₂ on a Banach space provided c ₁, c ₂ and c ₁ + c ₂ are nonzero. We then show that for c ₁ P ₁ + c ₂ P ₂ the property of being upper semi-Fredholm, lower semi-Fredholm and Fredholm, respectively, is independent of the choice of c ₁, c ₂, and that the nullity, defect and index of c ₁ P ₁ + c ₂ P ₂ are stable.     

Generalizations of a property of orthogonal projectors

Generalizing the result in Lemma of Baksalary and Baksalary [J.K. Baksalary, O.M. Baksalary, Commutativity of projectors, Linear Algebra Appl. 341 (2002) 129-142], Baksalary et al. [J.K. Baksalary, O.M. Baksalary, T. Szulc, Linear Algebra Appl. 354 (2002) 35-39] have shown that if P₁ and P₂ are orthogonal projectors, then, in all nontrivial situations, a product of any length having P₁ and P₂ as its factors occurring alternately is equal to another such product if and only if P₁ and P₂ commute, in which case all products involving P₁ and P₂ reduce to the orthogonal projector P₁P₂ (= P₂P₁). In the present paper, further generalizations of this property are established. They consist in replacing a product of the type specified above, appearing on the left-hand side (say) of the equality under considerations, by an affine combination of two or three such products. Comments on the problem when the number of components in a combination exceeds three are also given.     

Idempotent elements determined matrix algebras

Let M_n(R) be the algebra of all n×n matrices over a unital commutative ring R with 2 invertible, V be an R-module. It is shown in this article that, if a symmetric bilinear map {·,·} from M_n(R)×M_n(R) to V satisfies the condition that {u,u}={e,u} whenever u²=u, then there exists a linear map f from M_n(R) to V such that . Applying the main result we prove that an invertible linear transformation θ on M_n(R) preserves idempotent matrices if and only if it is a Jordan automorphism, and a linear transformation δ on M_n(R) is a Jordan derivation if and only if it is Jordan derivable at all idempotent points.     

Factorization of singular integer matrices

It is well known that a singular integer matrix can be factorized into a product of integer idempotent matrices. In this paper, we prove that every n  × n (n > 2) singular integer matrix can be written as a product of 3n + 1 integer idempotent matrices. This theorem has some application in the field of synthesizing VLSI arrays and systolic arrays.     

Spectra of generalized Bethe trees attached to a path

A generalized Bethe tree is a rooted tree in which vertices at the same distance from the root have the same degree. Let P_m be a path of m vertices. Let {B_i:1?i?m} be a set of generalized Bethe trees. Let P_m{B_i:1?i?m} be the tree obtained from P_m and the trees B₁,B₂,…,B_m by identifying the root vertex of B_i with the i-th vertex of P_m. We give a complete characterization of the eigenvalues of the Laplacian and adjacency matrices of P_m{B_i:1?i?m}. In particular, we characterize their spectral radii and the algebraic conectivity. Moreover, we derive results concerning their multiplicities. Finally, we apply the results to the case B₁=B₂=…=B_m.     

Mean matrices and infinite divisibility

We consider matrices M with entries m_ij = m(λ_i, λ_j) where λ₁, … ,λ_n are positive numbers and m is a binary mean dominated by the geometric mean, and matrices W with entries w_ij = 1/m (λ_i, λ_j) where m is a binary mean that dominates the geometric mean. We show that these matrices are infinitely divisible for several much-studied classes of means.     

On linear combinations of two tripotent, idempotent, and involutive matrices

Let A=c₁A₁+c₂A₂, wherec₁, c₂ are nonzero complex numbers and (A₁,A₂) is a pair of two n×n nonzero matrices. We consider the problem of characterizing all situations where a linear combination of the form A=c₁A₁+c₂A₂ is (i) a tripotent or an involutive matrix when are commuting involutive or commuting tripotent matrices, respectively, (ii) an idempotent matrix when are involutive matrices, and (iii) an involutive matrix when are involutive or idempotent matrices.     

Products of two involutions with prescribed eigenvalues and some applications

Let F be a field. In [Djokovic, Product of two involutions, Arch. Math. 18 (1967) 582-584] it was proved that a matrix A∈F^n×n can be written as A=BC, for some involutions B,C∈F^n×n, if and only if A is similar to A^-1. In this paper we describe the possible eigenvalues of the matrices B and C.As a consequence, in case charF≠2, we describe the possible similarity classes of (P₁₁⊕P₂₂)P^-1, when the nonsingular matrix P=[P_ij]∈F^n×n, i,j∈{1,2} and P₁₁∈F^s×s, varies.When F is an algebraically closed field and charF≠2, we also describe the possible similarity classes of [A_ij]∈F^n×n, i,j∈{1,2}, when A₁₁ and A₂₂ are square zero matrices and A₁₂ and A₂₁ vary.     

Bijective linear maps on semimodules spanned by Boolean matrices of fixed rank

Let M_m,n(B) be the semimodule of all m×n Boolean matrices where B is the Boolean algebra with two elements. Let k be a positive integer such that 2?k?min(m,n). Let B(m,n,k) denote the subsemimodule of M_m,n(B) spanned by the set of all rank k matrices. We show that if T is a bijective linear mapping on B(m,n,k), then there exist permutation matrices P and Q such that T(A)=PAQ for all A∈B(m,n,k) or m=n and T(A)=PA^tQ for all A∈B(m,n,k). This result follows from a more general theorem we prove concerning the structure of linear mappings on B(m,n,k) that preserve both the weight of each matrix and rank one matrices of weight k². Here the weight of a Boolean matrix is the number of its nonzero entries.     

On the matrices of given rank in a large subspace

Let V be a linear subspace of M_n,p(K) with codimension lesser than n, where K is an arbitrary field and n?p. In a recent work of the author, it was proven that V is always spanned by its rank p matrices unless n=p=2 and K?F₂. Here, we give a sufficient condition on codim V for V to be spanned by its rank r matrices for a given r∈?1,p-1?. This involves a generalization of the Gerstenhaber theorem on linear subspaces of nilpotent matrices.     

Derivations and right ideals of algebras

Let R be a K-algebra acting densely on V_D, where K is a commutative ring with unity and V is a right vector space over a division K-algebra D. Let ρ be a nonzero right ideal of R and let f(X₁,…,X_t) be a nonzero polynomial over K with constant term 0 such that μR≠0 for some coefficient μ of f(X₁,…,X_t). Suppose that d:R→R is a nonzero derivation. It is proved that if rankd(f(x₁,…,x_t))?m for all x₁,…,x_t∈ρ and for some positive integer m, then either ρ is generated by an idempotent of finite rank or d=ad(b) for some b∈End(V_D) of finite rank. In addition, if f(X₁,…,X_t) is multilinear, then b can be chosen such that rank(b)?2(6t+13)m+2.     

On the Deligne-Simpson problem and its weak version

We consider the Deligne-Simpson problem (DSP) (respectively the weak DSP): Give necessary and sufficient conditions upon the choice of the p+1 conjugacy classes or so that there exist irreducible (p+1)-tuples (respectively (p+1)-tuples with trivial centralizers) of matrices A_j∈c_j with zero sum or of matrices M_j∈C_j whose product is I. The matrices A_j (respectively M_j) are interpreted as matrices-residua of Fuchsian linear systems (respectively as monodromy matrices of regular linear systems) of differential equations with complex time. In the paper we give sufficient conditions for solvability of the DSP in the case when one of the matrices is with distinct eigenvalues.     

On properties of generalized quadratic operators

In this paper, we investigate the set ω(P) of generalized quadratic operators A satisfying the equation A²=αA+βP for all complex numbers α and β and for an idempotent operator P such that AP=PA=A. Furthermore, the close relationship between the operator A∈ω(P) and the idempotent operator P are established and expressions for the inverse, the Moore-Penrose inverse and the Drazin inverse of A∈ω(P) are given. Some related results are also obtained.     

On the corners of certain determinantal ranges

Let A be a complex n×n matrix and let SO(n) be the group of real orthogonal matrices of determinant one. Define Δ(A)={det(A°Q):Q∈SO(n)}, where ° denotes the Hadamard product of matrices. For a permutation σ on {1,…,n}, define It is shown that if the equation z_σ=det(A°Q) has in SO(n) only the obvious solutions (Q=(ε_iδ_σi,j),ε_i=±1 such that ε₁…ε_n=sgnσ), then the local shape of Δ(A) in a vicinity of z_σ resembles a truncated cone whose opening angle equals , where σ₁, σ₂ differ from σ by transpositions. This lends further credibility to the well known de Oliveira Marcus Conjecture (OMC) concerning the determinant of the sum of normal n×n matrices. We deduce the mentioned fact from a general result concerning multivariate power series and also use some elementary algebraic topology.