Matrices (Maxima 5.47.0 Manual)

23.1.2 Matrices

Matrices are handled with speed and memory-efficiency in mind. This means that assigning a matrix to a variable will create a reference to, not a copy of the matrix. If the matrix is modified all references to the matrix point to the modified object (See copymatrix for a way of avoiding this):

(%i1) M1: matrix([0,0],[0,0]);
                            [ 0  0 ]
(%o1)                       [      ]
                            [ 0  0 ]

(%i2) M2: M1;
                            [ 0  0 ]
(%o2)                       [      ]
                            [ 0  0 ]

(%i3) M1[1][1]: 2;
(%o3)                           2

(%i4) M2;
                            [ 2  0 ]
(%o4)                       [      ]
                            [ 0  0 ]

Converting a matrix to nested lists and vice versa works the following way:

(%i1) l: [[1,2],[3,4]];
(%o1)                   [[1, 2], [3, 4]]

(%i2) M1: apply('matrix,l);
                            [ 1  2 ]
(%o2)                       [      ]
                            [ 3  4 ]

(%i3) M2: transpose(M1);
                            [ 1  3 ]
(%o3)                       [      ]
                            [ 2  4 ]

(%i4) args(M2);
(%o4)                   [[1, 3], [2, 4]]