matrix addition

4.4

Add the numbers in the same places of two matrices to make another matrix

noun
/ˈmeɪtrɪks əˈdɪʃən/

Specialized

: suma de matrices

Matrix addition is only possible when both matrices have the same dimensions.

Examples

Matrix addition combines two matrices by adding their corresponding elements together.
To find the sum of two matrices, you use matrix addition.
In linear algebra, matrix addition is one of the fundamental operations studied.
I learned about matrix addition in my math class.
Can you explain matrix addition to me?
In my statistics course, we practiced matrix addition to solve linear equations.
Understanding matrix addition is essential for advanced studies in linear algebra.

Surface Forms

matrix addition singular

matrix additions plural

Morphology

matrix + addition

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'matrix' (a rectangular arrangement of numbers) and 'addition' (the process of combining numbers); it literally denotes the operation of adding matrices by combining corresponding elements. This noun + operation composition is cross-linguistically common and follows straightforward semantic composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Matrix addition comes from the idea of a matrix as a grid or table of numbers and doing addition on each matching cell. Imagine putting two number grids together and adding every pair of numbers in the same place, so matrix addition means 'to add the corresponding elements' to make a new matrix.