Interactive Educational Modules in
Scientific Computing

Matrix Condition Number

This module graphically illustrates the effect of transforming the unit circle in two dimensions by matrices having various condition numbers. An ill-conditioned matrix skews the unit circle into a thin ellipse.

The user enters a 2 × 2 matrix. Its condition number (in the 2-norm) is printed and the transformed unit circle is drawn.

Reference: Michael T. Heath, Scientific Computing, An Introductory Survey, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002. See Section 2.3.3, especially Example 2.6.

Developers: Nicholas Exner and Michael Heath