Given the product of a matrix and its transpose, how do I find the original matrix??

Hello,

I have a matrix R which is the product of another matrix c and its transpose (R=c*c'). Is there a MATLAB function to find the matrix c if I have matrix R?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Answer 1

[Jan]

No, there is no way.

Proof:

With R = C * C' you can construct a 2nd solution:
C = E * F, with F is a rotation matrix. Then F' = inv(F) and:
R = C * C' = E * F * (E * F)' = E * F * F' * E' = E * Eye * E' = E * E';
Now you have another solution E and there is an infinite number of solutions.