Subsection TM Triangular Matrices

An upper, or lower, triangular matrix is exactly what it sounds like it should be, but here are the two relevant definitions.

Definition UTM Upper Triangular Matrix

The $n\times n$ square matrix $A$ is upper triangular if $\matrixentry{A}{ij} =0$ whenever $i>j$.

Definition LTM Lower Triangular Matrix

The $n\times n$ square matrix $A$ is lower triangular if $\matrixentry{A}{ij} =0$ whenever $i<j$.

Obviously, properties of a lower triangular matrices will have analogues for upper triangular matrices. Rather than stating two very similar theorems, we will say that matrices are “triangular of the same type” as a convenient shorthand to cover both possibilities and then give a proof for just one type.

Theorem PTMT Product of Triangular Matrices is Triangular

Suppose that $A$ and $B$ are square matrices of size $n$ that are triangular of the same type. Then $AB$ is also triangular of that type.

The inverse of a triangular matrix is triangular, of the same type.

Theorem ITMT Inverse of a Triangular Matrix is Triangular

Suppose that $A$ is a nonsingular matrix of size $n$ that is triangular. Then the inverse of $A$, $\inverse{A}$, is triangular of the same type. Furthermore, the diagonal entries of $\inverse{A}$ are the reciprocals of the corresponding diagonal entries of $A$. More precisely, $\matrixentry{\inverse{A}}{ii}=\matrixentry{A}{ii}^{-1}$.

(in context)