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How do I write a recursive equation to compute a list of answers? I tried NestList, but it didn't work. 

A = {{.5, -.6}, {.75, 1.1}};
x0 = {2, 0};

Dot[A,x0]
(* {1., 1.5} *)

Dot[A, {1.`, 1.5`}]
(* {-0.4, 2.4} *)

Dot[A, Dot[A, {1.`, 1.5`}]]
(* {-1.64, 2.34} *)
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3 Answers 3

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You were correct. NestList is exactly the function you want to use.

NestList[Dot[A, #]&, x0, 5]

(* {{2, 0}, {1., 1.5}, {-0.4, 2.4}, {-1.64, 2.34}, {-2.224, 
   1.344}, {-1.9184, -0.1896}} *)

Note that the first argument of NestList must be a function.

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  • $\begingroup$ @ JHM foolish me that I didn't realize x0 is the one being operated on, thanks. $\endgroup$
    – DSL
    Oct 27, 2016 at 3:40
  • $\begingroup$ How to visualize the change in x0,x1,x2.. with the no. of operations? $\endgroup$
    – thils
    Oct 27, 2016 at 4:49
  • $\begingroup$ @thils ListPlot would work. $\endgroup$
    – JungHwan Min
    Oct 27, 2016 at 5:26
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Your can use MatrixPower for this example:

f[n_] := MatrixPower[{{.5, -.6}, {.75, 1.1}}, n].{2, 0}
f /@ Range[0, 5]

yields:

{{2., 0.}, {1., 1.5}, {-0.4, 2.4}, {-1.64, 2.34}, {-2.224, 
  1.344}, {-1.9184, -0.1896}}
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  • $\begingroup$ Or #.x0 & /@ NestList[Dot[A, #] &, A, 5] to make it a recursion (starts at matrix power 1). $\endgroup$
    – Jacob Akkerboom
    Nov 2, 2016 at 9:14
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    $\begingroup$ @JacobAkkerboom thank you. Yes, the best recursive answer was already provided. I was just providing another in-built approach. :) $\endgroup$
    – ubpdqn
    Nov 2, 2016 at 9:17
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You can also do this recursively, very nearly as you wrote it:

a[k_] := a[k] = A.a[k - 1];
a[1] = x0;

Now you can calculate any desired iterate by asking for a[5] or a[10]. Or calculate a range of values:

a[#] & /@ Range[5]
{{2, 0}, {1., 1.5}, {-0.4, 2.4}, {-1.64, 2.34}, {-2.224, 1.344}}
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