11. Rank of a quadratic form
The rank of the coefficient matrix A is called the rank of the
quadratic form 𝑥𝑇𝐴𝑥. The number of nonzero eigenvalues of A also
gives the rank of the quadratic form of A
Index
The number of positive terms in the canonical form is called
the index of the quadratic form and is denoted by p.
Calculus and Linear Algebra 11
12. Signature
The difference between the number of positive and negative terms in the
canonical form is called the signature of the quadratic form and is denoted by s.
Calculus and Linear Algebra 12
13. Reduce the quadratic form 6x1
2
+ 3x2
2
+ 3x3
2
− 4x1x2 + 4x1x3 −
2x2x3 to a canonical form using orthogonal transformation. Also
find its nature, rank, index and signature.
Solution:
Given QF: 6x1
2
+ 3x2
2
+ 3x3
2
− 4x1x2 + 4x1x3 − 2x2x3
The matrix form of the QF is 𝑋𝑇𝐴𝑋, where 𝑋 =
𝑥1
𝑥2
𝑥3
13
40. Let 𝑋 = 𝑁𝑌 be an orthogonal transformation which changes the
quadratic form to canonical form where 𝑌 =
𝑦1
𝑦2
𝑦3
We know 𝑄𝐹 = 𝑋𝑇𝐴𝑋 ⟹ 𝑄 = 𝑁𝑌 𝑇𝐴(𝑁𝑌)
𝑄 = 𝑌𝑇𝑁𝑇𝐴𝑁𝑌
𝑄 = 𝑌𝑇(𝑁𝑇𝐴𝑁)𝑌
𝑄 = 𝑌𝑇𝐷𝑌
⟹ (𝑦1 𝑦2 𝑦3)
8 0 0
0 2 0
0 0 2
𝑦1
𝑦2
𝑦3
40
41. 8𝑦1
2
+ 2𝑦2
2
+ 2𝑦3
2
which is the canonical form of the canonical form.
• Nature of Quadratic Form is positively definite [Since all the Eigen
values are positive]
• Rank of the Quadratic Form is 3 [No. of non-zero Eigen values ]
• Index of the Quadratic Form is 3 [No. of positive Eigen values ]
• Signature of the Quadratic Form is 3. [No. of positive Eigen
values−No. of negative Eigen values ]
41