# LU decomposition

(Difference between revisions)
 Revision as of 22:38, 18 December 2005 (view source)Jasond (Talk | contribs)m (→Algorithm)← Older edit Revision as of 22:45, 18 December 2005 (view source)Jasond (Talk | contribs) (→Description)Newer edit → Line 29: Line 29: x_i  = {1 \over {u_{ii} }}\left( {y_i  - \sum\limits_{j = i + 1}^n {u_{ij} x_j } } \right), x_i  = {1 \over {u_{ii} }}\left( {y_i  - \sum\limits_{j = i + 1}^n {u_{ij} x_j } } \right), i = n,n-1,\ldots,1.[/itex] i = n,n-1,\ldots,1.[/itex] + + + LU decomposition essentially stores the operations of Gaussian elimination in "higher-level" form, so repeated solutions using the same left-hand side are computed without repetition of operations that are independent of the right-hand side. == Algorithm == == Algorithm ==

## Description

Consider the system of equations $A\vec{x}=\vec{b}$, where $A$ is an $n\times n$ nonsingular matrix. $A$ may be decomposed into an lower triangular part $L$ and an upper triangular part $U$ that will lead us to a direct procedure for the solution of the original system. This decomposition procedure is quite useful when more than one right-hand side (more than one $\vec{b}$) is to be used.

The algorithm is relatively straightforward - first, we determine the upper and lower triangular parts:

$A = LU.$

Then,

$A \vec{x} = (LU) \vec{x} = L(U\vec{x})=L\vec{y},$

where $y=Ux$. Once we solve the system

$L\vec{y} = \vec{b},$

we will be able to find the solution to the original system by solving

$U\vec{x} = \vec{b}$

The first solution is a foward substitution, while the second solution is a backward substitution. Both can be done efficiently once the factorization is available. The forward substitution may be expressed as

$y_i = {1 \over {l_{ii} }}\left( {b_i - \sum\limits_{j = 1}^{i-1} {l_{ij} y_j } } \right), i = 1,2,\ldots,n$

and the backward substitution process may be expressed as

$x_i = {1 \over {u_{ii} }}\left( {y_i - \sum\limits_{j = i + 1}^n {u_{ij} x_j } } \right), i = n,n-1,\ldots,1.$

LU decomposition essentially stores the operations of Gaussian elimination in "higher-level" form, so repeated solutions using the same left-hand side are computed without repetition of operations that are independent of the right-hand side.

## Algorithm

Forward substitution

for k:=1 step until n do
for i:=1 step until k-1
$b_k=b_k-l_{ki}b_{i}$
end loop (i)
$b_{k}=b_{k}/l_{kk}$
end loop (k)

Backward substitution

for k:=n stepdown until 1 do
for i:=k+1 step until n
$b_k=b_k-u_{ki}b_{i}$
end loop (i)
$x_{k}=b_{k}/u_{kk}$
end loop (k)

## Important Considerations

As with Gaussian elimination, LU decomposition is probably best used for relatively small, relatively non-sparse systems of equations (with small and non-sparse open to some interpretation). For larger and/or sparse problems, it would probably be best to either use an iterative method or use a direct solver package (e.g. DSCPACK) as opposed to writing one of your own.

If one has a single lefthand-side matrix and many right-hand side vectors, then LU decomposition would be a good solution procedure to consider. At the very least, it should be faster than solving each system separately with Gaussian elimination.