Joint Mathematics Colloquium 

University of Idaho

Washington State University


Spring 2013

Thursday,  March 7, 4:10-5:00 pm, room Neill Hall 5W

Refreshments in Neill 216 Hacker Reading Lounge at 3:30 pm

Matrices and Their Kirchhoff Graphs

 

Joseph Fehribach


Department of Mathematical Sciences

Worcester Polytechnic Institute


Abstract

Given a matrix with integer or rational elements, this talk will introduce the concept of a Kirchhoff or fundamental graph for the matrix. A Kirchhoff graph represents the fundamental theorem of linear algebra for the matrix. The construction of these graphs and some of their properties will be discussed. The final portion of this talk  describes the connection between these graphs and chemical reaction networks (such as those in batteries and fuel cells) which motivates their definition.