A matrix is a rectangular array whose entries are of the same type.

In the previous chapter we have already invoked the concept of matrices. However before going further we will need to establish a framework for them, and some of their basic properties.

We begin by recalling some notation and terminology. A matrix will mean a rectangular array whose entries are of the same type. Thus, we could have an array of real numbers, complex numbers, functions, or even matrices. An matrix will refer to one which has rows and columns, and the collection of all matrices of real numbers will be denoted by . We adopt the convention, used by MATLAB, in which the of the matrix (that in row and column ) is denoted by . Also, following MATLAB notation, we will write the row as , and the column as . Before getting to the operations themselves, we first record

Note that this equality forces and to have the same dimensions, because if they had different dimensions, there would have to be a choice of indices for which one side of the equation exists, but the other does not. Thus, equality can be reformulated as saying: and have the same dimensions, and the same entry in each place.

In this course we will only be concerned with finite matrices; those with finitely many rows and columns. Observe that in order to precisely specify what a given matrix is, it suffices to know i) its dimensions and and ii) the value of the entry for each and .