Identity matrix

In linear algebra, the identity matrix of size n is the n-by-n square matrix with ones on the main diagonal and zeros elsewhere. It is denoted by I_n, or simply by I if the size is immaterial or can be trivially determined by the context.

<math>

I_1 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \end{bmatrix} ,\ I_2 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} ,\ I_3 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} ,\ \cdots ,\ I_n = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & \cdots & 0 \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ 0 & 0 & \cdots & 1 \end{bmatrix} <math>

The important property of I_n is that

AI_n = A   and   I_nB = B

whenever these matrix multiplications are defined. In particular, the identity matrix serves as the unit of the ring of all n-by-n matrices, and as the identity element of the general linear group GL(n) consisting of all invertible n-by-n matrices. (The identity matrix itself is obviously invertible, being its own inverse.)

The ith column of an identity matrix is the unit vector e_i. Using the notation that is sometimes used to concisely describe diagonal matrices, we can write:

<math> I_n = \mathrm{diag}(1,1,...,1) <math>

It can also be written using the Kronecker delta notation:

<math>(I_n)_{ij} = \delta_{ij}<math>