Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the zero matrix behave in matrix addition?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
linear algebra
One method of adding and subtracting vectors is to place their tails together and then supply two more sides to form a parallelogram. The vector from their tails to the opposite corner of the parallelogram is equal to the sum of the original vectors. The vector between their heads (starting from the vector being subtracted) is equal to their difference.
In linear algebra, a zero matrix (or null matrix) is defined as a matrix in which every element is 0.
When performing matrix addition, the zero matrix acts as the additive identity. If is any matrix and is the zero matrix of the same dimensions, the following property holds true:
In this sense, the zero matrix behaves in matrix addition exactly like the number 0 does in ordinary arithmetic.1