How to denote matrix with dots symbol in LaTeX?

When a large number of rows or columns are used in the matrix. In that case, when denoting the matrix, two to three elements are used and the remaining elements are represented by a 3dots symbol.

Notice the table below, where different types of dot symbols have been used. With that, it has been mentioned where the dot symbols will be located in the matrix.

Horizontal \ldots
Vertical \vdots
Diagonal \ddots
Inverse Diagonal \iddots

Use dots symbol in n * n square matrix

Three types of dot symbols are used to represent the n * n matrix. For example

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}
 \begin{bmatrix}
   a_{1,1} & a_{1,2} & \cdots & a_{1,n} \\
   a_{2,1} & a_{2,2} & \cdots & a_{2,n} \\
   \vdots  & \vdots  & \ddots & \vdots  \\
   a_{n,1} & a_{n,2} & \cdots & a_{n,n} 
 \end{bmatrix}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

n * n square matrix with three types of dots symbols

Use vertical dots for the row matrix

Since each element of the row matrix is ​​located along the horizontal, horizontal dots are used to represent the elements of the matrix.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}
 \begin{bmatrix}
    a_{1} & a_{2} & \cdots & a_{n}\\  
 \end{bmatrix}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

row matrix with horizantal dots

Use vertical dots for column matrix

In the case of a column matrix, the elements will be located along a column of the matrix.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}
 \begin{bmatrix} 
   a_{1} \\ a_{2} \\ \vdots \\ a_{n} 
\end{bmatrix}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

column matrix with vertical dots

Use diagonal dots for diagonal matrix

In the case of a diagonal matrix, only diagonal dots are used to represent the elements of the matrix along the diagonal.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}
 \begin{bmatrix}
    a_{1} &  & \\ 
    & \ddots & \\ 
    &  &  a_{n}
 \end{bmatrix}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

diagonal dots for diagonal matrix

And you can use inverse diagonal dots in the matrix, especially in cases. For example

\documentclass{article} 
\usepackage{amsmath,mathdots} 
\begin{document} 
\begin{equation*}
  \begin{bmatrix} 
   & & a_{1} \\ 
   & \iddots & \\ 
  a_{n} &  &  
 \end{bmatrix} 
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

inverse diagonal dots for diagonal matrix

The bmatrix environment has been used to denote the above matrix. This will keep the entire matrix bound by the square bracket.

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