AI engineering glossary · Linear algebra
What is pivot?
Pivot: The first non-zero entry in a row used to eliminate the entries below it during row reduction. The number of pivots equals the rank, and picking large pivots keeps calculations numerically stable.
Pivot: an example
In [[2,1],[4,3]], using 2 as pivot lets you subtract 2 times row 1 from row 2 to get [0, 1].
Related terms
More Linear algebra terms
- Positive definite matrix
- Positive semi-definite matrix
- Power iteration
- Projection
- Projection matrix
- Pseudoinverse
- QR decomposition
- Quadratic form
Where you learn it
Pivot is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.