Square roots of a square matrix
Abstract
As soon as a student has mastered the operation of matrix multiplication, they can make sense of the positive integer power of a square matrix. That concept can be further exploited, even in an initial course, by the introduction of the matrix root, in particular the square root. We show how this concept can be woven into further topics that appear in the course, such as systems of equations, diagonal matrices, diagonalisation, and applications.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Matrix Theory and Algorithms
Mathematics Education and Teaching Techniques
Mathematics Education and Programs
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Mathematical Gazette
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 577
- Pages
- 49–55
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN