The eye() Function in Scilab

Scilab's eye() function is a powerful tool designed for generating identity matrices.

eye(n,m)

In this context, `m` denotes the number of rows, while `n` signifies the number of columns of the matrix.

Utilizing the eye() function, you can obtain an n x m identity matrix.

But what is an identity matrix? An identity matrix is a distinct square matrix where all elements on the primary diagonal are set to 1, with all other elements being 0. Notably, Scilab offers the flexibility to create not just square, but also rectangular matrices exhibiting this feature.

For a practical demonstration.

To craft a 3x3 identity matrix using the eye() function, input:

eye(3,3)

This command yields an identity matrix encompassing 3 rows and 3 columns.

ans =
1. 0. 0.
0. 1. 0.
0. 0. 1.

While identity matrices are conventionally square, Scilab's versatility allows for the creation of rectangular matrices as well.

For example, consider the following command:

eye(3,4)

Here, Scilab generates a rectangular matrix comprising three rows and four columns.

ans =
1. 0. 0. 0.
0. 1. 0. 0.
0. 0. 1. 0.

It's evident that the diagonal is populated with ones, while all other elements remain zeros.