 Solution

Suppose an invertible matrix has two LU factorizations, $A=L_1{U}_1=L_2{U}_2$, with $L_1,L_2$ unit lower triangular matrices and $U_1,U_2$ upper triangular matrices. All four factors are invertible matrices, since their square products are invertible. Multiplication by the appropriate inverse matrices givesBy the supplied closure properties, the left side is a unit lower triangular matrix and the right side is an upper triangular matrix. A matrix of both types is diagonal; its diagonal entries are all one. Thus both sides are the identity matrix, whenceQualification of the printed wording: this establishes uniqueness if the specified LU factorization exists. Invertibility alone does not guarantee an unpivoted LU factorization. For example $\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right)$ is invertible, but in a product $\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ \ell & 1\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{cc}{u}_{11}& u_{12}\\ 0& u_{22}\end{array}\right)$, the zero top-left entry forces $u_{11}=0$, making the bottom-left entry $\ell u_{11}=0$ as well, contrary to the required value one. A permutation matrix is needed in general, as in PLU factorization.