pdFactor package:nlme R Documentation _S_q_u_a_r_e-_R_o_o_t _F_a_c_t_o_r _o_f _a _P_o_s_i_t_i_v_e-_D_e_f_i_n_i_t_e _M_a_t_r_i_x _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n: A square-root factor of the positive-definite matrix represented by 'object' is obtained. Letting S denote a positive-definite matrix, a square-root factor of S is any square matrix L such that S = L'L. This function extracts L. _U_s_a_g_e: pdFactor(object) _A_r_g_u_m_e_n_t_s: object: an object inheriting from class 'pdMat', representing a positive definite matrix, which must have been initialized (i.e. 'length(coef(object)) > 0'). _V_a_l_u_e: a vector with a square-root factor of the positive-definite matrix associated with 'object' stacked column-wise. _N_o_t_e: This function is used intensively in optimization algorithms and its value is returned as a vector for efficiency reasons. The 'pdMatrix' function can be used to obtain square-root factors in matrix form. _A_u_t_h_o_r(_s): Jose Pinheiro Jose.Pinheiro@pharma.novartis.com and Douglas Bates bates@stat.wisc.edu _R_e_f_e_r_e_n_c_e_s: Pinheiro, J.C., and Bates, D.M. (2000) "Mixed-Effects Models in S and S-PLUS", Springer. _S_e_e _A_l_s_o: 'pdMatrix' _E_x_a_m_p_l_e_s: pd1 <- pdCompSymm(4 * diag(3) + 1) pdFactor(pd1)