2×2 Condition Number Calculator

Separate columns with commas/spaces and rows with semicolons/newlines. Example: 1, 2; 3, 4.
Math

2×2 Condition Number with stated conventions, validation and a worked example.

Formula

κ₁(A)=||A||₁ ||A⁻¹||₁; ||A||₁ is the largest absolute column sum.

Example Calculation

Example inputs
  • Matrix: 2, 0; 0, 4

diag(2,4) has ||A||₁=4, ||A⁻¹||₁=1/2 and condition number 2.

Method references

Frequently asked questions

How do I use this calculator?

Enter matrix. The result updates automatically. Use Reset to restore the example values.

What method does it use?

κ₁(A)=||A||₁ ||A⁻¹||₁; ||A||₁ is the largest absolute column sum.. Real matrices only, at most 6 rows and 6 columns; each entry has magnitude at most 10⁹. Numerical rank uses a relative pivot threshold of 10⁻¹² after scaling by the largest entry. Near-singular matrices may be rejected or treated as lower rank. Displayed entries use 12 significant digits. Uses the induced 1-norm, not the 2-norm. Singular/near-singular matrices are rejected.

Why might a rounded result differ?

The calculation keeps full numeric precision internally, then rounds the displayed result. Rounding intermediate steps by hand can produce a slightly different answer.

Are my inputs saved online?

No. This calculator processes your inputs in your browser. A recently used list stores only calculator names on this device, not your entered values.

Check the assumptions and units before using this result. Read about calculation methods.