Final answer:
The command to remove the 2nd row from a 3 by 4 matrix named A is 'A(2, :) = [];'. This syntax selects the entire second row and assigns it an empty array, effectively deleting it.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the variable A has been defined as a 3 by 4 matrix, the command to remove the 2nd row is A(2, :) = [];. This is because in most matrix-oriented programming languages such as MATLAB or Octave, you can remove a row or a column by assigning it an empty array. Let's go through the syntax: A(2, :) refers to the second row of matrix A, with the colon (:) indicating all columns in that row. By setting this equal to an empty array ([]), you essentially delete the entire row.