ELT Linear Algebra

Exploded layered tropical (ELT) algebra is an extension of tropical algebra with a structure of layers. These layers allow us to use classical algebraic results in order to easily prove analogous tropical results. Specifically we study the connection between the ELT determinant and linear dependency, and use a generalized version of Kapranov Theorem proved in [5] (called the Fundamental Theorem). In this paper we prove that an ELT matrix is singular if and only if its rows are linearly dependent and that the row rank and submatrix rank of an ELT matrix are equal. We also define an ELT rank for a tropical matrix, and prove that it is equal to its Kapranov rank.