Strassen's Algorithm Made (Somewhat) More Natural: A Pedagogical Remark

Authors

Ann Q. Gates, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

11-2000

Comments

UTEP-CS-00-41.

Published in: Bulletin of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS), 2001, Vol. 73, pp. 142-145.

Abstract

Strassen's 1969 algorithm for fast matrix multiplication is based on the possibility to multiply two 2 x 2 matrices A and B by using 7 multiplications instead of the usual 8. The corresponding formulas are an important part of any algorithms course, but, unfortunately, even in the best textbook expositions. they look very ad hoc. In this paper, we show that the use of natural symmetries can make these formulas more natural.