Invariance properties of a triple matrix product involving generalized inverses (Q2497947)

Some invariance properties of the product \(AXC\) are studied, where \(A, B, C\) are complex valued matrices of appropriate dimensions and \(X\) is a generalized inverse of \(B\). A matrix \(X\) is called an \(\{i,j,\dots,k\}\)-inverse of \(B\) and it is denoted by \(B^{(i,j,\dots,k)}\) if \(X\) satisfies the equations \((i), (j),\dots, (k)\) among the four Penrose equations \[ (1)\;BXB=B\quad (2) XBX=X\quad (3)\;(BX)^{*}=BX\quad (4)\;(XB)^{*}=XB. \] If \(X=B^{(1,\dots)}\) then \(X\) is also called a generalized inverse of \(B\). In the case \(X=B^{(1)}\) some known results are reviewed or generalized, results concerning the invariance of the product \(AB^{(1)}C\), the range inclusion invariance and the rank invariance. Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for similar invariances in the cases \(X=B^{(1,2)}, X=B^{(1,3)}\) and \(X=B^{(1,4)}\). The cases \(X=B^{(1,2,3)}\) and \(X=B^{(1,3,4)}\) are discussed, as well as some miscellaneous invariance results, involving eigenvalues or the trace. The connection between the invariance properties and the concept of extremal rank of matrices is emphasized.