Elementary matrix

In mathematics, an elementary matrix is a matrix which differs from the identity matrix by one single elementary row operation. The elementary matrices generate the general linear group GL"n"(F) when F is a field. Left multiplication (pre-multiplication) by an elementary matrix represents elementary row operations, while right multiplication (post-multiplication) represents elementary column operations.
Elementary row operations are used in Gaussian elimination to reduce a matrix to row echelon form. They are also used in Gauss-Jordan elimination to further reduce the matrix to reduced row echelon form.
Elementary row operations.
There are three types of elementary matrices, which correspond to three types of row operations (respectively, column operations):
If "E" is an elementary matrix, as described below, to apply the elementary row operation to a matrix "A", one multiplies "A" by the elementary matrix on the left, "EA". The elementary matrix for any row operation is obtained by executing the operation on the identity matrix. This fact can be understood as an instance of the Yoneda lemma applied to the category of matrices.
Row-switching transformations.
The first type of row operation on a matrix "A" switches all matrix elements on row "i" with their counterparts on row "j". The corresponding elementary matrix is obtained by swapping row "i" and row "j" of the identity matrix. 
So "T""ij""A" is the matrix produced by exchanging row "i" and row "j" of "A".
Row-multiplying transformations.
The next type of row operation on a matrix "A" multiplies all elements on row "i" by "m" where "m" is a non-zero scalar (usually a real number). The corresponding elementary matrix is a diagonal matrix, with diagonal entries 1 everywhere except in the "i"th position, where it is "m".
So "D""i"("m")"A" is the matrix produced from "A" by multiplying row "i" by "m".
Row-addition transformations.
The final type of row operation on a matrix "A" adds row "j" multiplied by a scalar "m" to row "i". The corresponding elementary matrix is the identity matrix but with an "m" in the ("i", "j") position.
So "L""ij"("m")"A" is the matrix produced from "A" by adding "m" times row "j" to row "i". 
And "A" "L""ij"("m") is the matrix produced from "A" by adding "m" times column "i" to column "j".