Extremal definitions of generalized inverses (Q1184485)

It is shown that, with respect to suitable partial orders on the set of \(n\times n\) complex matrices, and sets \(X_a\), \(Z_a\), the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse \(a^\dag\) and the pseudoinverse \(a'\) introduced by the author [Am. Math. Mon. 65, 506--514 (1958; Zbl 0083.02901)] are both simultaneously the (unique) \(P\)-maximum of \(X_a\) and the \(P\)-minimum of \(Z_a\). When \(a\) is a row-and-column-finite infinite matrix, then \(a^\dag\) and/or \(a'\) as originally defined may fail to exist. This occurs if and only if \(Z_a\) is empty. Redefining \(a^\dag\) and \(a'\) simply as \(P\)-max \(X_a\) yields second- generation generalized inverses which coincide with the original \(a^\dag\) and \(a'\) whenever they exist. The new \(a'\) exists for a larger class of matrices and keeps some of the useful properties of the original \(a'\).