Multilinear algebra

Branch of mathematics

Multilinear algebra is the study of functions with multiple vector-valued arguments, with the functions being linear maps with respect to each argument. It involves concepts such as matrices, tensors, multivectors, systems of linear equations, higher-dimensional spaces, determinants, inner and outer products, and dual spaces. It is a mathematical tool used in engineering, machine learning, physics, and mathematics.^[1]

Origin

While many theoretical concepts and applications involve single vectors, mathematicians such as Hermann Grassmann considered structures involving pairs, triplets, and multivectors that generalize vectors. With multiple combinational possibilities, the space of multivectors expands to 2ⁿ dimensions, where n is the dimension of the relevant vector space.^[2] The determinant can be formulated abstractly using the structures of multilinear algebra.

Multilinear algebra appears in the study of the mechanical response of materials to stress and strain, involving various moduli of elasticity. The term "tensor" describes elements within the multilinear space due to its added structure. Despite Grassmann's early work in 1844 with his Ausdehnungslehre, which was also republished in 1862, the subject was initially not widely understood, as even ordinary linear algebra posed many challenges at the time.

The concepts of multilinear algebra find applications in certain studies of multivariate calculus and manifolds, particularly concerning the Jacobian matrix. Infinitesimal differentials encountered in single-variable calculus are transformed into differential forms in multivariate calculus, and their manipulation is carried out using exterior algebra.^[3]

Following Grassmann, developments in multilinear algebra were made by Victor Schlegel in 1872 with the publication of the first part of his System der Raumlehre^[4] and by Elwin Bruno Christoffel. Notably, significant advancements came through the work of Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro and Tullio Levi-Civita,^[5] particularly in the form of absolute differential calculus within multilinear algebra. Marcel Grossmann and Michele Besso introduced this form to Albert Einstein, and in 1915, Einstein's publication on general relativity, explaining the precession of Mercury's perihelion, established multilinear algebra and tensors as important mathematical tools in physics.

In 1958, Nicolas Bourbaki included a chapter on multilinear algebra titled "Algèbre Multilinéaire" in his series Éléments de mathématique, specifically within the algebra book. The chapter covers topics such as bilinear functions, the tensor product of two modules, and the properties of tensor products.^[6]

Applications

Multilinear algebra concepts find applications in various areas, including:

References

^ Pandey, Divyanshu; Venugopal, Adithya; Leib, Harry (2024). "Linear to multi-linear algebra and systems using tensors". Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. 9. arXiv:2304.10658. doi:10.3389/fams.2023.1259836. ISSN 2297-4687.
^ Grassmann, Hermann (2000) [1862]. Extension Theory [Die Ausdehnungslehre]. Translated by Kannenberg, Lloyd. American Mathematical Society. ISBN 978-0-8218-9049-3.
^ Fleming, Wendell H. (1977). "Exterior algebra and differential calculus". Functions of Several Variables. Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 275–320. doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-9461-7_7. ISBN 978-1-4684-9461-7. OCLC 2401829.
^ Schlegel, Victor (2018). System der Raumlehre: Nach den Prinzipien der Grassmann'schen Ausdehnungslehre und als Einleitung in Dieselbe; Geometrie; Die Gebiete des Punktes, der Geraden, der Ebene. Forgotten Books. ISBN 978-0-364-22177-8.
^ Ricci-Curbastro, Gregorio; Levi-Civita, Tullio (1900). "Méthodes de calcul différentiel absolu et leurs applications". Mathematische Annalen. 54 (1): 125–201. doi:10.1007/BF01454201. ISSN 1432-1807. S2CID 120009332.
^ Nicolas Bourbaki (1958) Algèbra Multilinéair, chapter 3 of book 2 Algebra, in Éléments de mathématique, Paris: Hermann

Greub, W. H. (1967) Multilinear Algebra, Springer
Douglas Northcott (1984) Multilinear Algebra, Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-26269-0
Shaw, Ronald (1983). Multilinear algebra and group representations. Vol. 2. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-639202-9. OCLC 59106339.

Major mathematics areas

Mathematics portal
Category
Commons
WikiProject

v t e Linear algebra
Outline Glossary
Basic concepts	Scalar Vector Vector space Scalar multiplication Vector projection Linear span Linear map Linear projection Linear independence Linear combination Basis Change of basis Row and column vectors Row and column spaces Kernel Eigenvalues and eigenvectors Transpose Linear equations
Matrices	Block Decomposition Invertible Minor Multiplication Rank Transformation Cramer's rule Gaussian elimination
Bilinear	Orthogonality Dot product Hadamard product Inner product space Outer product Kronecker product Gram–Schmidt process
Multilinear algebra	Determinant Cross product Triple product Seven-dimensional cross product Geometric algebra Exterior algebra Bivector Multivector Tensor Outermorphism
Vector space constructions	Dual Direct sum Function space Quotient Subspace Tensor product
Numerical	Floating-point Numerical stability Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms Sparse matrix Comparison of linear algebra libraries
Category

Tensors

Glossary of tensor theory

Scope

Mathematics	Coordinate system Differential geometry Dyadic algebra Euclidean geometry Exterior calculus Multilinear algebra Tensor algebra Tensor calculus
Physics Engineering	Computer vision Continuum mechanics Electromagnetism General relativity Transport phenomena

Notation

Tensor
definitions

Operations

Related
abstractions

Affine connection
Basis
Cartan formalism (physics)
Connection form
Covariance and contravariance of vectors
Differential form
Dimension
Exterior form
Fiber bundle
Geodesic
Levi-Civita connection
Linear map
Manifold
Matrix
Multivector
Pseudotensor
Spinor
Vector
Vector space

Notable tensors

Mathematics	Kronecker delta Levi-Civita symbol Metric tensor Nonmetricity tensor Ricci curvature Riemann curvature tensor Torsion tensor Weyl tensor
Physics	Moment of inertia Angular momentum tensor Spin tensor Cauchy stress tensor stress–energy tensor Einstein tensor EM tensor Gluon field strength tensor Metric tensor (GR)