Scalar Multiplication Corresponds to Multiplication by 1x1 Matrix
Theorem
Let $\map \MM 1$ denote the matrix space of square matrices of order $1$.
Let $\map \MM {1, n}$ denote the matrix space of order $1 \times n$.
Let $\mathbf A = \begin {pmatrix} a \end {pmatrix} \in \map \MM 1$ and $\mathbf B = \begin {pmatrix} b_1 & b_2 & \cdots & b_n \end{pmatrix} \in \map \MM {1, n}$.
Let $\mathbf C = \mathbf A \mathbf B$ denote the (conventional) matrix product of $\mathbf A$ with $\mathbf B$.
Let $\mathbf D = a \mathbf B$ denote the matrix scalar product of $a$ with $\mathbf B$.
Then $\mathbf C = \mathbf D$.
Proof
By definition of (conventional) matrix product, $\mathbf C$ is of order $1 \times n$.
By definition of matrix scalar product, $\mathbf D$ is also of order $1 \times n$.
Consider arbitrary elements $c_i \in \mathbf C$ and $d_i \in \mathbf D$ for some index $i$ where $1 \le i \le n$.
We have:
\(\ds c_i\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \sum_{j \mathop = 1}^i a_{j j} b_j\) | Definition of Matrix Product (Conventional) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds a b_j\) | Definition of $\mathbf A$ |
and:
\(\ds d_i\) | \(=\) | \(\ds a b_j\) | Definition of Matrix Scalar Product | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds c_i\) | from above |
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1954: A.C. Aitken: Determinants and Matrices (8th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$: Definitions and Fundamental Operations of Matrices: $4$. Matrices, Row Vectors, Column Vectors, Scalars