Question:medium

Given data \(d = \begin{bmatrix} d_{11} \\ d_{21} \end{bmatrix}\) and the kernel \(G = \begin{bmatrix} G_{11} & G_{12} & G_{13} \\ G_{21} & G_{22} & G_{23} \end{bmatrix}\), which one of the following expressions correctly represents the generalized linear inverse formula for the model, \(m\), satisfying \(d = Gm\)?

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With 2 data and 3 model parameters the system is underdetermined; minimize ||m||^2 subject to Gm=d using a Lagrange multiplier to get m = G^T(GG^T)^{-1}d.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
  • \((G^TG)^{-1}G^T\)
  • \(G^T(GG^T)^{-1}\)
  • \((GG^T)^{-1}G\)
  • \(GG^TG^{-1}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

A quicker route is dimensional/rank bookkeeping instead of re-deriving the Lagrange-multiplier algebra: simply check which candidate expression is even matrix-conformable and produces the correct output shape \(3\times2\) (so that \(m_{3\times1} = [\,\cdot\,]_{3\times2}\,d_{2\times1}\)).

\(G\) is \(2\times3\), so \(G^T\) is \(3\times2\).

  • (A) \((G^TG)^{-1}G^T\): \(G^TG\) is \(3\times3\) but has rank at most 2 (since \(G\) only has 2 independent rows) -- it is SINGULAR and cannot be inverted. Discard.
  • (B) \(G^T(GG^T)^{-1}\): \(GG^T\) is \(2\times2\) and generically full rank 2 (invertible) when \(G\) has full row rank. The product \(G^T_{3\times2}\,(GG^T)^{-1}_{2\times2}\) is \(3\times2\) -- exactly the shape needed to map \(d_{2\times1}\to m_{3\times1}\). Valid and well-posed.
  • (C) \((GG^T)^{-1}G\): \((GG^T)^{-1}_{2\times2}\,G_{2\times3}\) gives a \(2\times3\) matrix, which cannot even be multiplied by \(d_{2\times1}\) to give a \(3\times1\) model vector. Dimensionally wrong.
  • (D) \(GG^TG^{-1}\): requires \(G^{-1}\), but \(G\) is rectangular (\(2\times3\)) and has no ordinary inverse at all. Meaningless.

Only option (B) survives both the invertibility check and the shape/dimension check, confirming it is the correct generalized inverse for this underdetermined (more unknowns than data) system -- exactly the minimum-norm inverse \(G^T(GG^T)^{-1}\).

\(\boxed{\text{Answer: (B)}}\)

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