For each integer n≥1n\geq1, Mn(Cs)M_{n}(\mathbb C_s) consists of nn-by-nn matrices with entries in , with entrywise addition and scalar multiplication and product

(XY)ij=∑r=1nXirYrj.(XY)_{ij}=\sum_{r=1}^{n}X_{ir}Y_{rj}.

Its unit is InI_{n}. The scalar field for this catalogue object is R\mathbb R.

Dimension and multiplication

Each of the n2n^2 entries contributes 22 real coordinates, so the real dimension is 2n22n^2.

Matrix multiplication is associative because the coefficient algebra is associative; distributivity and rebracketing justify the equality of each entry of (XY)Z(XY)Z and X(YZ)X(YZ).

Size convention

The entries for sizes one, two, and three are separate catalogue objects; this record is the parameterized family. Matrix size is not the dimension of the algebra.