Question

Arguments must have different dimensions (must return an empty list of the two operands). Must create a new matrix that holds the sum.

For this exercise, you will design and implement a function that takes two matrix arguments and computes their sum (if and only if a sum can actually be computed, returning an empty list otherwise). Two matrices can only be added together if they have exactly the same dimensions. If the dimensions are acceptable, then the matrix sum will have the same dimensions as either of the operands, and the value of each element in the matrix sum is itself the sum of the corresponding elements in the operand matrices. And although it does make sense to test rectangularity before attempting addition, you need not perform this step (since you did it above). In order to complete this task, you will need to: • ensure you know how matrix addition can be performed.
Your submission for this exercise: • must be a source code file with filename 'comp1405_f22_#########_tutorial_07_b.py' must return an empty list if the two operands (i.e., the arguments) have different dimensions must create a new matrix that holds the sum (without overwriting either of the arguments)

Answer 1

The question requires writing a Python function for matrix addition, which verifies whether two matrices can be summed based on identical dimensions and computes their element-wise sum if possible. The function will return an empty list for operands with different dimensions, adhering to matrix arithmetic rules.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of matrix operations within Computers and Technology, the task described involves programming a function to perform matrix addition. According to the rules of matrix arithmetic, two matrices must have the same dimensions in order to be added; otherwise, such an operation is undefined. The requirement of the exercise is to write a Python function that checks if the two input matrices are of identical dimensions and if so, computes the element-wise sum, forming a new matrix that retains the same dimensions. The solution should not modify the original matrices and should return an empty list if the matrices cannot be added due to different dimensions.

The filename specified, 'comp1405_f22_#########_tutorial_07_b.py', indicates that this is for a college-level computer science or mathematics course, possibly involving a tutorial or practical lab exercise. Thus, understanding how to implement matrix addition is essential to coding an accurate and efficient solution. In programming, this operation typically involves nested loops that iterate through each element of the matrices, verifying dimensions and computing the sum. Proper handling of matrix elements and ensuring that the resultant matrix conforms to the specifications is vital for the task's successful completion.