quick refresher :
A symmetric matrix is a square matrix that is equal to its transpose. The entries with respect to the main diagonal are symmetric so that a_ij =a_ji where a_ij are the entries of a square matrix A.
HTH.
Hind Sbihi
School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
University of British Columbia
-----Original Message-----
> Date: Tue Sep 18 14:22:28 PDT 2007
> From: "Asgar Khademvatani" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: st: A Question on Looping
> To: [email protected]
>
> Hello Nick,
>
> First of many thanks for your invaluable comments and clues on the loop
> codes. On using " matrix symeigen" command you are correct. I had a typo
> mistake and i meant what you meant. I need only check with you on the
> basic definition of a symmetric matrix. A symmetric matrix ,by
> definition, is a quadratic matrix that its off-diagonal element are the
> same but its diagonal elements can be equal or not. Is not it?
>
> Thank you very much again for the help.
>
> Regards,
> Asgar Khademvatani
> University of Calgary
> n j cox wrote:
>
> > I see problems on various levels.
> >
> > 1. You are confusing the syntax of -foreach- and -forval-. Look
> > again at the syntax diagrams for these commands.
> >
> > 2. You are using subscript notation for two purposes, (a) to
> > refer to individual observations and (b) to tag different matrices.
> > The first is fine; the second is not correct syntax at all.
> > Stata does not have any concept of an array of matrices.
> > Your -while- loop is falling over because of your syntax
> > errors under this heading.
> >
> > 3. -matrix list- will only list one matrix at a time.
> >
> > 4. -matrix symeigen- will only play if your matrices are
> > symmetric.
> >
> > This code should be more nearly legal, but it is not tested:
> >
> > forval i = 1/43 {
> > matrix K = (A[`i'], B[`i'] \ B[`i'], A[`i'])
> > matrix symeigen X L = K
> > di "`i'"
> > matrix list L
> > }
> >
> > However, I get the impression that you think -matrix symeigen-
> > will oblige you if your matrices are asymmetric. It will not.
> > In Stata 8.2, however, you could write your own code to
> > extract your eigenvalues as the roots of each characteristic
> > equation, which in this case is always a quadratic. In general,
> > some eigenvalues may be complex.
> >
> > Alternatively, Stata 9 will happily oblige, or there are
> > other programs that will do this.
> >
> > Nick
> > [email protected]
> >
> > Asgar Khademvatani [edited]
> >
> > I have generated four variables A, B, C, and D that
> > each contain 43 observations, in Stata 8.2. I want to make 43 square
> > matrices (2 by 2) using each of the observations. Then I want to
> > calculate the real eigenvalues of each matrix and list the 43 matrices
> > and their eigenvalues. I need to write a loop to do this job.
> >
> > I have already written the following loop using -foreach- command but
> > I am getting the following error as follows;
> >
> > foreach i = 1/43 {
> > matrix K[`i'] = (A[`i'], B[`i'] \ C[`i'], D[`i'])
> > matrix symeigen X[`i'] V[`i'] = K[`i']
> > matrix list K[`i'] V[`i']
> > }
> > invalid syntax
> > r(198);
> >
> > end of do-file
> > r(198);
> >
> >
> > Also, alternatively, I have written another alternative do file
> > with a -while- loop but it is also subject to error as follows;
> >
> > 1.local i 1
> > 2. while `i' < 43 {
> > 3. matrix K[`i'] = (lpl_m[`i'], lpm_m[`i'] \ le_m[`i'],lk_m[`i'])
> > 4. matrix symeigen X[`i'] V[`i'] = K[`i']
> > 5. matrix list V[`i']
> > 6. local i = `i' + 1
> > 7. }
> > too many ')' or ']'
> > r(132);
> >
> > end of do-file
> > r(132);
> >
> > Could you help me out on this matter and say what is wrong with any of
> > these alternative loops?
> >
> > *
> > * For searches and help try:
> > * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> > * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> > * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
> >
> >
>
> *
> * For searches and help try:
> * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
*
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
