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Basic math of the SVD

From standard linear algebra we know that a square matrix X can be diagonalized if and only it is a so-called normal matrix, that is if XRn×n we have XXT=XTX or if XCn×n we have XX=XX. The matrix has then a set of eigenpairs

(λ1,u1),,(λn,un),

and the eigenvalues are given by the diagonal matrix

Σ=Diag(λ1,,λn).

The matrix X can be written in terms of an orthogonal/unitary transformation U

X=UΣVT,

with UUT=I or UU=I.

Not all square matrices are diagonalizable. A matrix like the one discussed above

X=[1111]

is not diagonalizable, it is a so-called defective matrix. It is easy to see that the condition XXT=XTX is not fulfilled.