Least squares solutions with special structure to the linear matrix equation \(AXB = C\) (Q555426)

The equation \(AXB=C\) with given matrices \(A\), \(B\), \(C\) plays a very important role in matrix theory and applications and has been studied extensively. It is, in particular, connected with a certain growth curve model where it is important to be able to estimate the parameter matrix \(X\). The authors derive the maximal and minimal ranks of the submatrices of a least squares solution matrix \(X\) and from these formulas they derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the submatrices to be \(0\) or other special forms. Finally, they obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for a least squares solution matrix \(X\) to be Hermitian or locally Hermitian.