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For finite matrices, the product of an matrix and an matrix is defined only when the inner dimensions agree, ; the resulting matrix has dimensions . The shared dimension governs whether multiplication is possible, while the outer dimensions determine the product’s size, independently of the matrix entries; block-matrix and other generalized product settings are not included.
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To determine the dimensions of a matrix product, compare the inner dimensions. The product is defined only if they match. If they do, the outer dimensions give the size of the result.
For example, suppose is a matrix and is a matrix. In the product :
Therefore, has dimensions . The entries of the matrices do not affect this dimension check.
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