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109

answers:

2

I have this matrix:

1 2 3
4 5 6

and I transpose the matrix:

1 4
2 5
3 6

How can I get the original matrix back, after the transpose?

"untranspose" =
1 2 3
4 5 6

I am making a simple cryptographic algorithm in Java and need that to solve that problem.

+11  A: 

You simply transpose the matrix again.

Description of the transposition operation properties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transpose#Properties

dark_charlie
more formally it is called involution, like "Transposition is involution" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involution_(mathematics))
Andrey
@Andrey: Thanks for the specification. I think that calling transpose an operation isn't a mistake though, is it?
dark_charlie
@dark_charlie Transpose is verb, noun is transposition. So operation is transposition, action is transpose.
Andrey
@Andrey: Thanks, fixed my post :)
dark_charlie
+1  A: 

If some linear algebra review might help, recall that U = (U^t)^t where U is your matrix and t is the symbol for the transpose operation

In short, you just flip the indices again, to get back the original matrix.

and nope... LaTeX does not work on StackOverflow :(

ina