Simplifying {0,0,0}.X.{0,0,0}
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg74022] Simplifying {0,0,0}.X.{0,0,0}
- From: "Will Robertson" <wspr81 at gmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 05:31:28 -0500 (EST)
Hello,
In brief: Is there a way that I can specify that "X" is a matrix and
will resolve to zero when dot multiplied with a vector of zeros?
I'm constructing a swathe of expressions that contain things like
(when expanded): {0,0,0}.X.{0,0,0}, where X is an arbitrary (well,
positive definite) square matrix of obvious size, and I'd like to be
able to have mathematica simplify that for me without much
intervention.
My only option at the moment is to manually perform the replacements
{{0, 0, 0}.X._ -> 0, _.X.{0, 0, 0} -> 0} (the left and right vectors
won't always both be zeros), but this is tedious to perform for a
large number of expressions. I could also define the matrix X in terms
of its indices and end up with expressions in terms of x11, x12, ... ,
x33, but I'd rather not do that.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,
Will Robertson