An Iterative Block Matrix Inversion (IBMI) Algorithm for Symmetric Positive Definite Matrices with Applications to Covariance Matrices

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Paterson, Ann, Pestana, Jennifer, Dolean, Victorita
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866909764646076416
author Paterson, Ann
Pestana, Jennifer
Dolean, Victorita
author_facet Paterson, Ann
Pestana, Jennifer
Dolean, Victorita
contents Obtaining the inverse of a large symmetric positive definite matrix $\mathcal{A}\in\mathbb{R}^{p\times p}$ is a continual challenge across many mathematical disciplines. The computational complexity associated with direct methods can be prohibitively expensive, making it infeasible to compute the inverse. In this paper, we present a novel iterative algorithm (IBMI), which is designed to approximate the inverse of a large, dense, symmetric positive definite matrix. The matrix is first partitioned into blocks, and an iterative process using block matrix inversion is repeated until the matrix approximation reaches a satisfactory level of accuracy. We demonstrate that the two-block, non-overlapping approach converges for any positive definite matrix, while numerical results provide strong evidence that the multi-block, overlapping approach also converges for such matrices.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_06377
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An Iterative Block Matrix Inversion (IBMI) Algorithm for Symmetric Positive Definite Matrices with Applications to Covariance Matrices
Paterson, Ann
Pestana, Jennifer
Dolean, Victorita
Numerical Analysis
Statistics Theory
65F05 (Primary) 15A09 (Secondary)
G.1.3
Obtaining the inverse of a large symmetric positive definite matrix $\mathcal{A}\in\mathbb{R}^{p\times p}$ is a continual challenge across many mathematical disciplines. The computational complexity associated with direct methods can be prohibitively expensive, making it infeasible to compute the inverse. In this paper, we present a novel iterative algorithm (IBMI), which is designed to approximate the inverse of a large, dense, symmetric positive definite matrix. The matrix is first partitioned into blocks, and an iterative process using block matrix inversion is repeated until the matrix approximation reaches a satisfactory level of accuracy. We demonstrate that the two-block, non-overlapping approach converges for any positive definite matrix, while numerical results provide strong evidence that the multi-block, overlapping approach also converges for such matrices.
title An Iterative Block Matrix Inversion (IBMI) Algorithm for Symmetric Positive Definite Matrices with Applications to Covariance Matrices
topic Numerical Analysis
Statistics Theory
65F05 (Primary) 15A09 (Secondary)
G.1.3
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06377