IAE Academy

GATE Linear Algebra formula sheet

69 formulas in 5 topics, each with when to use it. Each is explained in the topic notes.

Print the whole sheet

SUBSPACE TEST

Applies to any subset W of a vector space V. If the zero vector is missing, W fails immediately.

SUBSPACES UNDER INTERSECTION AND SUM

W1 and W2 are finite-dimensional subspaces of a vector space V. The intersection and the sum W1+W2 (all u+v with u in W1, v in W2) are always subspaces. The union is a subspace exactly when one of the two contains the other.

SYMMETRIC PLUS SKEW DECOMPOSITION

Holds for every square real matrix, and the split is unique.

ORTHOGONAL MATRIX

Square real . Columns (and rows) form an orthonormal set.

RANK AND FREE VARIABLES

Applies to any matrix after row reduction; the rank is the same in every echelon form.

ROUCHÉ-CAPELLI CONSISTENCY TEST

Equivalent statement: lies in the column space of . Always .

DETERMINANT OF A 2 BY 2 MATRIX

Always valid for a 2 by 2 matrix.

COFACTOR EXPANSION ALONG ROW I

A is n by n and i is any fixed row. M_ij is the determinant of the (n-1) by (n-1) matrix left after deleting row i and column j. The same works along any column. Expand along the row or column with the most zeros.

PROJECTION ONTO A LINE

Line through the origin along ; and are in , is of rank , and .

PROJECTION ONTO A COLUMN SPACE

is with linearly independent columns (so is invertible); is and projects onto the column space of .