Almost principal minors of inverse \(M\)-matrices (Q5954133)

\(M\)-matrices known as \(n \times n\) matrices with nonpositive off-diagonal entries that are invertible and have an entry-wise nonnegative inverse are studied. Square submatrices that are defined by index sets differing in only one index or the minors that are their determinants are called almost principal minors. The relations between such almost principal minors in an inverse \(M\)-matrix are discussed and answers are looked for to the following three questions: 1) If the inverse of a proper principal submatrix of an inverse \(M\)-matrix contains a block of \(0\)'s, does this imply that the inverse of the matrix itself has a larger block of \(0\)'s, even in somewhat related positions? 2) If the inverse of an inverse \(M\)-matrix contains a block of \(0\)'s, does this imply that there is a block of \(0\)'s in the inverse of some other principal submatrix? 3) If the inverse of a proper principal submatrix of an inverse \(M\)-matrix contains a \(0\), does this imply that the inverse of some other proper principal submatrix of the same size must also contain a \(0\)? Answers to the first and third questions are not true for invertible matrices in general.