On "A method for simplifying linear dynamic systems"

TLDR: A method is proposed for reducing large matrices by constructing a matrix of lower order which has the same dominant eigenvalues and eigenvectors as the original system.

Abstract: Often it is possible to represent physical systems by a number of simultaneous linear differential equations with constant coefficients, \dot{x} = Ax + r but for many processes (e.g., chemical plants, nuclear reactors), the order of the matrix A may be quite large, say 50×50, 100×100, or even 500×500. It is difficult to work with these large matrices and a means of approximating the system matrix by one of lower order is needed. A method is proposed for reducing such matrices by constructing a matrix of lower order which has the same dominant eigenvalues and eigenvectors as the original system.