Sylvester's criterion

proper noun

A necessary and sufficient criterion to determine whether a Hermitian matrix is positive-definite: specifically, when all of the leading principal minors have a positive determinant.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. mathematicsA necessary and sufficient criterion to determine whether a Hermitian matrix is positive-definite: specifically, when all of the leading principal minors have a positive determinant.

Origin

Named after James Joseph Sylvester.

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Cite this entry
APA

Sylvester's criterion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Sylvester's%20criterion

MLA

“Sylvester's criterion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Sylvester's%20criterion. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Sylvester's criterion,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Sylvester's%20criterion.

Source: Sylvester's criterion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.