Numerical Garbage value in Matrix

Hi, I have two n*n matrices and I am computing their sum. The sum is

[124.449917129290 + 0.00000000000000i -43.6298898009808 - 7.10542735760100e-15i -43.6298898009808 + 7.10542735760100e-15 i 124.449917129290 + 0.00000000000000i]. The bold value should be zero as I am using this result in an optimization problem and these 7^(-15) terms are introducing numerical garbage in my optimization problem. Any suggestions on how to make these terms exact zero when I perform the sum of matrices?

[KALYAN ACHARJYA]

Can you clarify more, why zero, its doesn't affect in sum value, (+ and - equal value cancel each other)?

[Muhammad]

Hi, Sorry, the sum is a matrix Sum = [124.44+0i -43.629-7.105e-15i; -43.623+7.105e-15i 124.44+0i]... The thing is my matrix is quite big and it is just a snippet of my resultant matrix. As I am utilizing in SDP programming, these tiny imaginary values should be zero. Otherwise, deterministic solvers see the coefficient range as being from a very small value (^-15) to a very large value (which is dependant on other parameters). That's why it should be zero. Any suggestions now on how to deal with this problem?

Answer 1

[John D'Errico]

help real

Better yet, compare the results of abs(real(A)) to abs(imag(A)). As long as the imaginary part is small, just delete it, replacing the value with real(A).

If abs(imag(A)) is ever too large, then raise a stink, since then you arguably have a problem that cannot just be dismissed as floating point trash. But at least then you know if there was a problem.