(octave.info)Techniques Used for Linear Algebra

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18.1 Techniques Used for Linear Algebra
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Octave includes a polymorphic solver that selects an appropriate matrix
factorization depending on the properties of the matrix itself.
Generally, the cost of determining the matrix type is small relative to
the cost of factorizing the matrix itself.  In any case the matrix type
is cached once it is calculated so that it is not re-determined each
time it is used in a linear equation.

   The selection tree for how the linear equation is solved or a matrix
inverse is formed is given by:

  1. If the matrix is upper or lower triangular sparse use a forward or
     backward substitution using the LAPACK xTRTRS function, and goto 4.

  2. If the matrix is square, Hermitian with a real positive diagonal,
     attempt Cholesky factorization using the LAPACK xPOTRF function.

  3. If the Cholesky factorization failed or the matrix is not Hermitian
     with a real positive diagonal, and the matrix is square, factorize
     using the LAPACK xGETRF function.

  4. If the matrix is not square, or any of the previous solvers flags a
     singular or near singular matrix, find a least squares solution
     using the LAPACK xGELSD function.

   The user can force the type of the matrix with the ‘matrix_type’
function.  This overcomes the cost of discovering the type of the
matrix.  However, it should be noted that identifying the type of the
matrix incorrectly will lead to unpredictable results, and so
‘matrix_type’ should be used with care.

   It should be noted that the test for whether a matrix is a candidate
for Cholesky factorization, performed above, and by the ‘matrix_type’
function, does not make certain that the matrix is Hermitian.  However,
the attempt to factorize the matrix will quickly detect a non-Hermitian
matrix.