Derivatives of the spectral radius as a function of non-negative matrix elements

Abstract

Let A = (aij) be a non-negative n × n matrix, that is, aij ≥ 0, i, j = 1, …, n; n > 1. We write A ≥ 0. Let r = r(A) be the spectral radius of A; assume r > 0 throughout to avoid trivial cases. Let be the mth derivative of r with respect to the element aij, all other elements of A being held constant.