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A First Course in Linear Algebra, 2017a

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2.1. Matrix Arithmetic 57<br />

2.1.2 Scalar Multiplication of Matrices<br />

Recall that we use the word scalar when referr<strong>in</strong>g to numbers. Therefore, scalar multiplication of a matrix<br />

is the multiplication of a matrix by a number. To illustrate this concept, consider the follow<strong>in</strong>g example <strong>in</strong><br />

which a matrix is multiplied by the scalar 3.<br />

⎡<br />

3⎣<br />

1 2 3 4<br />

5 2 8 7<br />

6 −9 1 2<br />

⎤<br />

⎡<br />

⎦ = ⎣<br />

3 6 9 12<br />

15 6 24 21<br />

18 −27 3 6<br />

The new matrix is obta<strong>in</strong>ed by multiply<strong>in</strong>g every entry of the orig<strong>in</strong>al matrix by the given scalar.<br />

The formal def<strong>in</strong>ition of scalar multiplication is as follows.<br />

Def<strong>in</strong>ition 2.8: Scalar Multiplication of Matrices<br />

If A = [ a ij<br />

]<br />

and k is a scalar, then kA =<br />

[<br />

kaij<br />

]<br />

.<br />

⎤<br />

⎦<br />

Consider the follow<strong>in</strong>g example.<br />

Example 2.9: Effect of Multiplication by a Scalar<br />

F<strong>in</strong>d the result of multiply<strong>in</strong>g the follow<strong>in</strong>g matrix A by 7.<br />

[ ]<br />

2 0<br />

A =<br />

1 −4<br />

Solution. By Def<strong>in</strong>ition 2.8, we multiply each element of A by 7. Therefore,<br />

[ ] [ ] [ 2 0 7(2) 7(0) 14 0<br />

7A = 7 =<br />

=<br />

1 −4 7(1) 7(−4) 7 −28<br />

Similarly to addition of matrices, there are several properties of scalar multiplication which hold.<br />

]<br />

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