Binomial formula for matrices

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I have two matrices A and B , whose multiplication doesn't commute. So, if i apply the binomial formula , i get $(A+B)^{n} \neq (B+A)^{n}$.

This is a personal deduction, i haven't find any theorem about this property. Do you know if there exist one ?

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1 Answer

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As others have remarked, $(A+B)^n=(B+A)^n$ for arbitrary square matrices $A$, $B$. The problem is with the binomial formula.

If you want to compute, e.g., $(A+B)^3$ for two matrices $A$, $B$ then the distributive law generates $8$ terms as follows: $$(A+B)^3=A^3+A^2B+ABA+AB^2+BA^2+BAB+B^2A+B^3\ .\tag{1}$$ When the matrices commute then you can write each of these terms in the form $A^jB^k$ and then collect similar terms. This leads to the binomial formula $$(A+B)^3=\sum_{k=0}^3{3\choose k}A^{3-k}B^k\ .\tag{2}$$ When the matrices $A$ and $B$ do not commute then $(1)$ is still true, but it is forbidden to convert the $2^n$ terms of $(1)$ into the $n+1$ simpler terms appearing in $(2)$.

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