How do four seemingly different conditions — positive eigenvalues, positive leading determinants, positive pivots, and xᵀAx > 0 — all turn out to test the same thing about a symmetric matrix?
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The four equivalent tests for a symmetric matrix
List all four tests for a symmetric matrix: positive eigenvalues, with , positive pivots and , and for every nonzero .
The defining condition among the four
Record that for all nonzero is taken as the definition and that the eigenvalue, determinant and pivot conditions are derived tests.
Worked family with rows and
Apply the determinant, pivot and quadratic-form tests for , and , including the sample vector on the indefinite case, and record each verdict.
Positive semi-definite as the borderline
Write the semi-definite case with eigenvalues and , a single pivot and zero determinant, and record where it sits between positive definite and indefinite.