Statistics and Probability Glossary
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MatrixA matrix is a rectangular array of numbers arranged in
rows and columns. The array of numbers below is an example of a matrix.
|
21 |
62 |
33 |
93 |
|
| 44 |
95 |
66 |
13 |
| 77 |
38 |
79 |
33 |
The number of rows and columns that a matrix has is called its
dimension or its order. By convention,
rows are listed first; and columns, second. Thus, we would say that the
dimension (or order) of the above matrix is 3 x 4, meaning that it has
3 rows and 4 columns.
Numbers that appear in the rows and columns of a matrix are called
elements of the matrix. In the above matrix, the element
in the first column of the first row is 21; the element in the second
column of the first row is 62; and so on. |