Notes from Math 223: Olga Taussky Todd's matrix theorem course, 1976--1977 (Q1361154)

This study is devoted to the mathematical preoccupations of Olga Taussky-Todd, as evidence in the course on Matrix Theory held between 1976-1977, at Caltech. A first observation was that the participants should have been familiar with the main ideas and methods of linear algebra. The students were impressed to see how linear algebra and matrix theory were applied in quite various areas of mathematics -- quite unexpectedly, in fact. The three main problems discussed in this study are: -- Simultaneous triangularization of sets of matrices; -- Higher-order commutators: the Kato-Taussky-Wielandt commutator relations; -- Results about multiplicative commutators of unitary matrices and cramped matrices. These aspects are presented in detail, in a clearly mathematical outlook.