Question

What is a matrix?

Answer 1

A matrix is a table of numbers (or other elements) disposed in rows ans columns.
For example:
`A=` `((1,2,3),(3,4,6))`
This is a rectangular matrix called `A` with `2` rows and `3` columns, so you say thart `A` has order `2xx3` (2 by 3).

You can have square matrices when the numbers of rows is equal to the number of columns:
`B=` `((1,2,3),(3,4,6),(3,2,1))`
Where `B` is a square matrix od order `3xx3` or simply `3`.

You can also have matrices with one column only or one row only :
`C=` `((1),(6),(7))` or `D=` `((1,2,3,4,6))`
these are sometimes called vectors or column vector and row vector.

A bank statement is an example of a matrix: