Re: matrices & polynomials in mathematica
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg27271] Re: matrices & polynomials in mathematica
- From: Jens-Peer Kuska <kuska at informatik.uni-leipzig.de>
- Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 03:30:43 -0500 (EST)
- Organization: Universitaet Leipzig
- References: <96iqj6$d90@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hi, two rules ??? f[x_?NumericQ] := 1 + x + x^2 f[x_?MatrixQ] /; Equal @@ Dimensions[x] := Module[{n = First[Union[Dimensions[x]]]}, IdentityMatrix[n] + x + Dot[x, x] ] scan the coefficients of the polynomial for numbers and replace the numbers by c_?NumericQ :> c*IndentityMatrix[c] and replacing times by Dot[] may help. But essential the extension of of polynomial to a matrix is very different from a scalar polynomial. Regards Jens "news.tue.nl" wrote: > > Hi, > > I have the following problem. > I have written a mathematica-module that automatically produces a certain > polynomial as a result. But I want another module to use this first module > and fill in a matrix in this polynomial. > for example: f[x]=1+x+x^2 > But when I compute f[A] where A is a matrix, mathematica interprets 1 as a > matrix filled with ones in stead of the identity-matrix. And A^2 is > pointswise multiplication in stead of matrix-multiplication. > Is there an option to let Mathematica know that the polynomial works on > matrices? > > Chris > > PS. I am aware of the possibility to multiply matrices using . (dot) but the > problem is that the polynomial is the result of some computations and I need > to have mathematica interpret this polynomial on matrices automatically.