Matrises

Matrises is not a standard term in English mathematics. It may appear as an attempted plural of matrice or as a nonstandard plural of matrix in some texts. The conventional plural of matrix in English is matrices; “matrixes” is occasionally used but is less common. In other languages that use a singular form similar to matrice or matrise, the corresponding plural can vary, and “matrises” might be the correct plural there. When writing in English, it is best to use matrices unless you are following a specific language rule.

A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns. Matrices are fundamental in linear algebra and are used to represent linear transformations, systems of linear equations, and data sets. They provide a compact way to encode relational information between quantities and to perform computations that would be cumbersome with individual numbers.

Common operations on matrices include addition and subtraction (element-wise), multiplication (composing linear transformations), transposition (swapping rows and columns), and various specialized procedures such as finding determinants, inverses, and eigenvalues. Matrices also underpin areas such as computer graphics, statistics, economics, and engineering through their use in solving equations, transforming spaces, and modeling relationships.

In practice, when writing in English, prefer the term matrices for the plural. If a text uses matrises, verify whether it reflects a language-specific plural form or an informal usage. In most contexts, matrices is the clear, widely understood choice. See also matrix, linear algebra, and eigenvalues.