Nonnegative Matrices and Applicable Topics in Linear Algebra

Book excerpt: Nonnegative matrices is an increasingly important subject in economics, control theory, numerical analysis, Markov chains, and other areas. This concise treatment is directed toward undergraduates who lack specialized knowledge at the postgraduate level of mathematics and related fields, such as mathematical economics and operations research. An Introductory Survey encompasses some aspects of matrix theory and its applications and other relevant topics in linear algebra, including certain facets of graph theory. Subsequent chapters cover various points of the theory of normal matrices, comprising unitary and Hermitian matrices, and the properties of positive definite matrices. An exploration of the main topic, nonnegative matrices, is followed by a discussion of M-matrices. The final chapter examines stochastic, genetic, and economic models. The important concepts are illustrated by simple worked examples. Problems appear at the conclusion of most chapters, with solutions at the end of the book.