[boost] Re: Boost Mathematicians

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-07-06 07:55:46

Deane Yang <deane_yang_at_[hidden]> writes:

> Michael Stevens wrote:
>
>> This is very odd. In linear algebra there is no such thing as a
>> matrix of matrices.
>> 
>
> Yes, there is. It's a linear transformation mapping
> a space of matrices to another space of matrices.
>
> But could Jeremy or David provide some examples of useful applications
> of such an object? They are immensely useful in pure mathematics;
> I would love to know how they arise in more practical areas.

They're used in numerical simulations in the frequency domain
(http://www.cercom.polito.it/Publication/Pdf/28.pdf), and they form
the basis for the validity of many blocked matrix operations.  The
fact that you can view it as an optimization or an operation on a
matrix of matrices should mean that you can achieve better code reuse
in the library.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com