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nonconvexcard

Frobenius versus operator norm for random matrices

NumericalIntermediate⏱ 30 minRandom Matricesoperator normfrobeniusconditioning

Problem

Let A∈Rn×pA\in\R^{n\times p} have i.i.d. standard Gaussian entries.

  1. Compute E∥A∥F2\E\|A\|_F^2 exactly.
  2. State the order of E∥A∥\E\|A\| from the spectral-norm theorem.
  3. For n=p=1000n=p=1000, compare the two numerically and compute the ratio.
  4. What would ∥A∥\|A\| be if all the "mass" were in a single singular value? Compare.

Compute the requested quantities and say what they mean. A number without an interpretation is not an answer.

Solution

Opening this before you have a real attempt on paper is the fastest way to feel like you understand something you cannot reproduce.

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