AI engineering glossary · Linear algebra
What is trace?
Trace: The sum of the entries along the main diagonal of a square matrix. It also equals the sum of the matrix's eigenvalues and is unchanged by cyclic reordering of a product, which makes it handy in derivations and loss formulas.
Trace: an example
The trace of [[2,7],[1,5]] is 2 + 5 = 7.
Related terms
More Linear algebra terms
- Transpose
- Triangular matrix
- Unit vector
- Vector
- Vector addition
- Vector space
- Whitening transformation
- Affine transformation
Where you learn it
Trace is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.