Zero matrix

In mathematics, particularly linear algebra, a zero matrix or null matrix is a matrix all of whose entries are zero. Some examples of zero matrices are

$0_{1,1}={\begin{bmatrix}0\end{bmatrix}},\ 0_{2,2}={\begin{bmatrix}0&0\\0&0\end{bmatrix}},\ 0_{2,3}={\begin{bmatrix}0&0&0\\0&0&0\end{bmatrix}}.\$

Properties

The set of m×n matrices with entries in a ring K forms a ring $K_{m,n}\,$. The zero matrix $0_{K_{m,n}}\,$ in $K_{m,n}\,$ is the matrix with all entries equal to $0_{K}\,$, where $0_{K}\,$ is the additive identity in K.

$0_{K_{m,n}}={\begin{bmatrix}0_{K}&0_{K}&\cdots &0_{K}\\0_{K}&0_{K}&\cdots &0_{K}\\\vdots &\vdots &\ddots &\vdots \\0_{K}&0_{K}&\cdots &0_{K}\end{bmatrix}}_{m\times n}$

The zero matrix is the additive identity in $K_{m,n}\,$. That is, for all $A\in K_{m,n}\,$ it satisfies

$0_{K_{m,n}}+A=A+0_{K_{m,n}}=A.$

There is exactly one zero matrix of any given size m×n having entries in a given ring, so when the context is clear one often refers to the zero matrix. In general the zero element of a ring is unique and typically denoted as 0 without any subscript indicating the parent ring. Hence the examples above represent zero matrices over any ring.

The zero matrix represents the linear transformation sending all vectors to the zero vector.

The zero matrix is idempotent, meaning that when it is multiplied by itself the result is itself.

The zero matrix is the only matrix whose rank is 0.

Occurrences

The mortal matrix problem is the problem of determining, given a finite set of n × n matrices with integer entries, whether they can be multiplied in some order, possibly with repetition, to yield the zero matrix. This is known to be undecidable for a set of six or more 3 × 3 matrices, or a set of two 15 × 15 matrices.

In ordinary least squares regression, if there is a perfect fit to the data the annihilator matrix is the zero matrix.

See also

• Identity matrix, the multiplicative identity for matrices
• Matrix of ones, a matrix where all elements are one
• Single-entry matrix, a matrix where all but one element is zero

External links

• Weisstein, Eric W. "Zero Matrix". MathWorld.