Matrices provide a means of storing large quantities of information in such a way that each piece can be easily identified and manipulated. They permit the solution of large systems of linear equations to be carried out in a logical and formal way so that computer implementation follows naturally. Applications of matrices extend over many areas of engineering including electrical network analysis and robotics. 1-BASIC DEFINITIONS Matrix is a rectangular pattern or array of numbers. For example: are all matrices. Note that we usually use a capital letter to denote a matrix, and enclose the array of numbers in brackets. To describe the size of a matrix we quote its number of rows and columns in that order so, for example, an r × s matrix has r rows and s colu...