Matrix Algebra - Overview

1. Introduction to Matrices R-mode vs. Q-mode Linear Algebra Special Matrices Trace, Diagonal, Identity, Scalars, Transpose Matrix Addition Matrix Multiplication Matrix Algebra - Overview

2. Matrix algebra is an essential tool for multivariate analysis because most data sets are recorded in a matrix format (rows & columns). The use of matrices provides a succinct representation of ecological information and with matrix algebra we can perform operations and analyses of whole data sets. We won’t dive too deeply into this in FISH 560, but it is important to have a basic understanding of matrix algebra to help grasp key concepts in multivariate statistics. Matrix Algebra

3. Table Structure of Data Ecological data are typically recorded in a table, or matrix, where each column j corresponds to a descriptor yj (species abundance, habitat variable, diet item) and each row i refers to an object xi(sampling site, individual, etc.). Each cell (i,j) of the matrix is the value of ith object for jth descriptor:

4. Objects and Descriptors Sometimes it may not be clear as to what are the objects and what are the descriptors. A common approach in community ecology is to compare different sampling sites (the objects) based on the assemblage of organisms observed at each one (the descriptors). In contrast, in fish diet analyses we would consider individual fishes as objects and diet items found in fish stomachs as the descriptors. It is therefore necessary to define what are objects and descriptors before analyzing the data.

5. R-mode and Q-mode anlyses The distinction between objects and descriptors has very important implications. The analysis of relationships among descriptors at the given set of objects is known as R-mode analysis. In contrast, a Q-mode analysis quantifies the relationships among the objects given a series of descriptors. Each type of analysis can require very different multivariate techniques

6. Linear Algebra As described above, a table of ecological data is referred to as a matrix. Linear algebra is the branch of mathematics that works with matrices. A matrix of dimension r X c is a rectangular array of numbers with r rows and c columns.

7. Matrix Form Matrices can take many forms: rectangular, square, row or column. A square matrix (r = c) A column vector (r X 1) A row vector (1 X c) A scalar (1 x 1)

8. Matrix Notation Matrix notation provides a mechanism for writing and describing elements of data sets. As such, it corresponds to the way computers and programming languages interpret tables of data. Many statistical programs can handle data entered in matrix format. So, matrices are a very useful when working with multivariate data

9. Square Matrices For a square matrix A (of order n × n), the diagonal elements those with identical subscripts (e.g., a11, a22, etc.). Thus, they are located on the main diagonal of the square matrix (from upper left to lower right). The sum of the diagonal elements is known as the trace.

10. Diagonal Matrices A diagonal matrix is a square matrix in which only the diagonal elements are non-zero. An identity matrix, I,is a diagonal matrix in which all the diagonal elements are one.

11. Null and Triangular Matrices A matrix where all elements are zero is called a zero matrix or null matrix. It is indicated by 0 or [0]. A square matrix with all elements below (or above) the main diagonal being zero, is called an upper (or lower) triangular matrix.

12. Transposing Matrices The transpose of matrix A with dimensions (n × p) is indicated as A’ and is a new matrix of dimensions (p × n) in which a’ij= aji. Transposing matrices is very important in many forms of statistical analysis including multivariate analyses.

13. Symmetric Matrices A square matrix that is identical to its transpose is said to be symmetric. In this case, the terms aijand aji, which lie on either side of the diagonal, are equal. For example:

14. Matrix Addition Matrices must be of the same order to be added. If you sampled 3 sites and measured the abundance of 2 species on once per month and wanted to know the total abundance sampled, you could use matrix addition: June July August Summer Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Sp.1 Sp.2

15. Matrix Multiplication The result of a scalar product of two vectors is equal to the sum of the products of those corresponding order numbers. The scalar product is usually designated by a dot (or by no symbol at all). For example: A scalar

16. Matrix Multiplication … Going back to the earlier example, we can multiply a month matrix with a vector of appropriate order. Total fish abundance Sampling efficiency June Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Sp.1 Sp.2

17. Matrix Multiplication … Multiplying two matrices is an extension of the product of a vector by a matrix. To multiply matrix C by a second matrix B, consider C as a set of column vectors (e.g., c1, c2, etc.). For example: and Simply multiply B by the vectors d and e.

18. NB: To multiply two matrices they must be conformable, which means the number of columns of the first matrix must equal the number of rows in the second. The resulting matrix will have the same no. of rows as B and no. of columns as C. and thus