An Argand Diagram for Two by Two Matrices Author(s): Tony Crilly Reviewed work(s): Source: The Mathematical Gazette,

Vol. 87, No. 509 (Jul., 2003), pp. 209-216 Published by: The Mathematical Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3621036 . Accessed: 28/07/2012 20:29
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AN ARGAND DIAGRAM FORTWOBY TWOMATRICES

209

An Arganddiagramfor two by two matrices

TONY CRILLY A vivid memory of mine is of being shown that certain2 x 2 matrices were 'really' complex numbers. The correspondencebetween matrices of the form

w = (a -b
b a and complex numbers
w = a + ib

seemed magical and the additionalremarkthat

detW = a2 + b2 = Iw12

was an unexpected bonus. The correspondence has been examined in various articles in the Gazette [1, 2]. That it is an isomorphismis seen by comparing a -b b a with
(a + ib) + (c + id) = (a + c) + i(b + d),

c -d d c

a + c ,b + d

-(b + d) a + c

in the case of addition,and, in the case of multiplication,by comparing

a -b 1c ba -d c+ ad ac - bd b -(ad + bc) ac - bd

with
(a + ib)(c + id) = (ac - bd) + i(ad + bc).

For a numerical exercise, we note W1 = complex numberwl = 1 + 2i, and W2 = 1

2 ) correspondsto the to 2 = 3 - i. It can

be readily checked that WI + W2 correspondsto wl + w2 and that W1W2 correspondsto wlw2. This isomorphismallows us to representa 2 x 2 matrix of the type W (which we call a single complex numbermatrixin what follows) as a point on the Argand diagram (Figure 1). For instance Wl = 2

to wl = 1 + 2i may be representedas a point in the plane with corresponding

210

THEMATHEMATICAL GAZErlITE 0 (a scalar matrix) is

x-y coordinates (1, 2). A matrix of the form

represented by a point (a, 0) on the x-axis and in general any single -b is representedby the point with x-y complex numbermatrixW = ( b a coordinates(a, b).
Y

wl = 1 + 2i

fordisplaying numbers 1:Thetraditional FIGURE Argand diagram complex In this article we show how this 'matrix - complex number' isomorphismcan be extended to all 2 x 2 matrices (with real entries) and of these matriceson how this can be used to frame a pictorialrepresentation an 'Arganddiagram'. Thegeneral 2 x 2 matrix As a first step, we observe that any 2 x 2 matrixcan be written as the sum of two matrices: y x ~ la -b + . x -y /~b a Here a = a + y and 6 = a - y requiring that a = j(a + 6) and y = (a - 6), and similarly b = ?(3 - y), x = ?(/ + y). Hence the decompositionof A is unique though the second matrixis not a true single complex numbermatrixlike the first. However, by introducing A= E we have a y i0 y x ' 1 a y a i l6

;
so that

a -b+Ex (b a

A = W + EZ where both W and Z are single complex numbermatrices.

FORTWOBY TWOMATRICES DIAGRAM AN ARGAND

211

There is thus an isomorphic correspondenceA <- w + ez between 2 x 2 matrices and ordered pairs of complex numbers (w, z) in which w x -y a -b z to Z = , and the symbol e to the correspondsto W =, y x ,b a matrixE. Using the facts x -y x y 2 = E E= I and y x -y x we see that the additive and multiplicativesystem of 2 x 2 matrices(a ring over the real numbers)is identical to the system comprisingentities w + ez (where e2 = 1 and ez* = ze in which z*is the complex conjugateof z). To examine the system of 2 x 2 matrices we can, equivalently, study the system of these entities, written in the form {w + ez} for convenience. Their additionis straightforward {w + ez} + {wo + ezo} = (w + wo) + e(z + Zo) while for multiplicationwe obtain by direct computation, just as is done for ordinarycomplex numbers: {w + ez} {wo + ezo} = wwo + wezo + ezwo + ezezo, and since ez = z*e, and we = ew*,not forgettinge2 = 1, we find that {w + ez}{wo + ezo} = (wwo + *Zo)+ e(zwo + w*zo). The formula detW = a2 + b2 = I|w2 for W a single complex for any 2 x 2 matrixA: numbermatrix,has a counterpart detA = (a2 + b2) (2 + y2) = w12 _ 1-12, a quadratic form we denote by k. If a matrix A corresponds to w + ez, it is readily checked that AT corresponds to w*+ ez and A-1 corresponds to \ (w* - ez) provided k is non-zero. A numericalexample As we have observed, a 2 x 2 matrix can be written uniquely as a special sum. The matrix Ao = 6 uniquely as A6 = A 11 1 2 4 5 -5 4 2 6 6 -2 2 ) for example, can be written

and in termsof single complex numbermatrices,this is

(-4)

+E 6 2 -2
26J

212

THEMATHEMATICAL GAZEIlTE

Thus the matrixAo correspondsto (4 - 5i) + e (6 + 2i). We note that AT correspondsto (4 + 5i) + e (6 + 2i) and Aol = by (4 + 5i) + e(-6 - 2i). WilliamKingdonClifford Entities of the form w + ez were studied by the English mathematician W. K. Clifford (1845-1879) around the time in the 1870s when he was reading and translating Hermann Grassmann's Ausdehnungslehre. This work deals with higherdimensionalgeometrythroughlinearalgebra,a work which was largely neglected when it was first publishedin 1841 and when a second edition appeared in 1861. Clifford was thinking of w, z as quaterions and hence his designation 'biquaterions' for forms w + ez (or as he also expressed them, as motors which were the sum of two rotors) [3, p. 196; 4, pp. 188-189]. As a departurefrom the way we are considering them, Clifford assumed that the symbol e would commute with both w and between 2 x 2 matricesand linear algebrasis a rich z. The correspondence mathematicalseam: expressing 2 x 2 matricesin a differentway to the one we have used leads to split quaternions[5]. The extendedArganddiagram For this extension we represent a matrix A by its pair of complex numbers (w, z), and these are plotted individually in the plane as usual (Figure2). Since we are dealing with orderedpairs of complex numberswe must distinguish w from z in the diagram (we use a continuous line for w and a dashedline to indicatethe position of z). YA is represented

z
/

FIGURE 2: Argand for2 x 2 matrices diagram We note that a matrixA is singularif, and only if, its corresponding pair (w, z) lie on the circumferenceof the same circle since in this case, with k = det A, we have k = Iw1 z12 = 0.

AN ARGAND DIAGRAMFOR TWO BY TWO MATRICES

213

2 x 2 matrices Commuting The complex numberrepresentation of 2 x 2 matricesas orderedpairs of complex numbersoffers a way of considering commutingmatrices. For A, Ao representedby w + ez, wo + ezo respectively, we obtain conditions for A to commutewith Ao. Through the 'matrix <- complex number' isomorphism, we have AAo = AoA if and only if {w + ez} {wo + ezo} = {wo + ezo} {w + ez}, and this will be the case if
(wwo + z*zo) + e(zwo + w*zo) = (Wow + z) + e(zow + wkz).

Comparing'real and imaginaryparts', we see that A commutes with Ao if and only if

WWo + Z Zo = WOW + ZZ

= zo + Woz. + W*Zo ZWo Since complex numbers are commutative, and in particular,wwo = wow, woz = zwo, w*zo = zow*,we arrive at the result (where Imw denotes the imaginarypartof w): and and only Theorem1. if, z*zo= zzo AAo = AoA if, Im = real and that is = z is, zzo wo ZoIm w. z(wo wo) Zo(w w*), and

We are now in a position to describe the matrices A which commute with a given matrix Ao. In considering wo + ezo, the correspondentof Ao, we deal separatelywith the two cases (i) zo = 0, (ii) ZO? 0. Case (i) zo = 0, the case in which Ao is a single complex numbermatrix. The matrix Ao is simply represented by wo and is of the form ao -bo . Applying Theorem 1, we observe that z*zo = zzo is Ao = bo ao, automaticallysatisfied (since zo = 0) and so a matrixA will commute with Ao if and only if z (wo - w*) = 0. If wo - w* = 0, or equivalently Im wo = bo = 0, then Ao is a scalar ao 0 matrixA commuteswith this matrix. . matrixof the form 0 ao Every If wo - wo ? 0, we must have z = 0. ThereforeA will commute with ao -bo if and only if it is itself a single complex numbermatrix. Ao = bo ao Case (ii) zo ? 0, the case in which Ao is not a single complex number matrix. Again, using Theorem 1, A will commutewith Ao if and only if zzo = A is real and z Imwo = zo Imw. Multiplying the first requirementby Zowe

214
obtain z =

THEMATHEMATICAL GAZEI'E
z 2 Zo and hence z = mzo where m =
2

is well defined

and a real number. by z3 we obtain Multiplyingthe second requirement

Imw = 1-2

z to 51'm

Imw

wooI2

12Imwo,

thatis, Im w = m Im Wo. Case (ii) is of special interestand yields: Theorem2. If Ao is not a single complex numbermatrix,then AAo = AoA if and only if z = mzo(z is 'in line' with zo), where m is a real numbergiven by Imw = m mwo. The above discussion allows us to pinpointmatricesrepresentedon the 'Argand diagram' (Figure 3) which commute with a given matrix Ao. to constructsuch matrices. Moreover,it is straightforward A
/ / / /
, x

Az zo

FIGURE 3: Argand theconstruction of commuting matrices diagram showing We are to construct A whose correspondentw + ez commutes with + wo ezo, a procedurewe illustrate with a numerical example. Recall the 61 matrix Ao = ) For this Ao we have already calculated that wo = 4 - 5i and zo = 6 + 2i. We now find w + ez where w = a + bi and z = x + yi. Since Imw = m Imwo, we have b = -5m, and because z = mzo,z = m (6 + 2i). On the Arganddiagram(Figure3), the family of complex numbersw = a - 5mi lies along a horizontalstraightline (for a given choice of m) while z lies on the line throughthe origin and passing through zo. In this example, w + ez = (a - 5mi) + e(6m + 2mi). Convertingw + ez to matrixform, we obtain A A
=

(-a

Sm + E 6m -2m 2m 6m -5m -5m a

a + 2m

llm

a - 2m'

AN ARGAND DIAGRAM FORTWOBY TWOMATRICES

215

the family of matrices which commutes with the given Ao. For example, '7 22 is one matrix which commutes with Ao and the matrix A = 2 -1 5 33 is another. A = ,3 -7 Conclusion It is possible to representany 2 x 2 matrixwith real entries by w + ez in the plane in a way reminiscentof the ordinaryArganddiagram. Thus any such matrix is in effect a double complex number matrix in distinction to
b) which are single complex number b a matrices. Care must be taken in representingarbitrarymatrices since the order of the complex numbers w, z is importantand w + ez and z + ew represent different matrices in general. If preferred, a matrix can be representedon a pair of orthodoxArganddiagramssimultaneously. It may be interestingto investigate this furtherwith one diagramrepresentingthe complex number w and the other z, noting that representing a single complex numbermatrixW reduces to a single Arganddiagram(since in this casez = 0).
(

matrices of the form W =

Furtherinvestigations Using two Argand diagrams side by side may be helpful in plotting 'Mandelbrot type' sets generatedby the matrixiteration
A A2 + C,

an immediategeneralisationof the ordinaryMandelbrot iterationz - z2 + c. Anotherexploitationof the extended Arganddiagramcould be made in the case of that other significant mathematicaldiscovery of the nineteenth century,the algebraof quaternions. These are expressionsof the form q = a + bi + cj + dk and they too can be describedas orderedpairsof complex numbers q = (a + bi) + (c + di)j. The symbol j plays the same role as e and whereas zj = jz*, like e, the is thatj2 = -1. differencewith quaternions We have considered 2 x 2 matrices from an elementaryviewpoint but there is also an isomorphism between the algebra of 2 x 2 matrices with real number entries and a sub-algebra of 2 x 2 matrices with complex numberentries: a

aJ

<- w + ez <-

w z

w z w

216

THEMATHEMATICAL GAZETTE

This last representation gives an easy way to handlethe multiplicationof the expressionsw + ez. In the case of quaterions, the isomorphismis
q w + z --(w

w -Z*
Z W*

and the twin ArgandDiagramsin this case may be utilised for investigating the Mandelbrot quaterion mapping q --- q2 + c. Acknowledgement I would like to thank Colin Fletcher, Lans Aleeson and the referee for helpful commentsmade on an earlierdraftof this article. References 1. FrankGerrish,OrderedPairs,Math. Gaz. 79 (March 1995) pp. 30-46. 2. Douglas Quadling, Q is for Quaterions, Math. Gaz. 63 (June 1979) pp. 98-110. 3. William K. Clifford, A preliminary sketch of biquaternions, Proc. LondonMath. Soc., 4 (1873) pp. 381-395. Also Coll. Papers, (Reprint: 1968) pp. 181-200. 4. B. Van der Waerden,A historyof algebra, Springer(1985). 5. B. A. Rosenfel'd, tr. A. Shenitzer,A history of non-Euclideangeometry, Springer(1988). TONY CRILLY MiddlesexBusiness School, TheBurroughs,Hendon,LondonNW4 4BT e-mail: t.crilly@mdx.ac.uk Notso irrational in my careeras an weremy constant Sines,cosinesandtangents companions To achievesquare andcircular caketinsof equalarearequires thattheside engineer. tin mustbe exactly88.64% of thediameter of theround one.A lengthof the square numerate wouldremember thisratio person by rote. Nick Lordsaw this in a letterto the Daily Telegraph in April 2003. The is thatz = 3.14281984 implication precisely.

aremorerecent Exams than you think The Cambridge Mathematical Triposof 1904 (possiblythe oldestuniversity in theworld)... examination This unintended from the Gazetteof March2003 made Bryan implication Thwaites setof papers gladto knowthathe satthefortieth