row echelon form (original) (raw)

Let us give the precise definition. Let (Mi⁢j) be an n×mmatrix. For each row i=1,…,n define the pivot position Pi to be either the minimum value of j=1,…,m for which Mi⁢j≠0, or ∞ if the row consists entirely of zeros. A matrix is inechelon form if for all i>1, either Pi=∞ or Pi-1<Pi.

Examples of matrices in row echelon form include,

Note that if a matrix is an echelon form, then necessarily rows which are composed completely of zeros will be grouped at the bottom of the matrix. Also note that if several rows have the same number of leading zeros then the matrix is not in row echelon form unless the rows in question are composed entirely of zeros.