Elementary-matrix factorization theorem ($A\text{ invertible}⟺A=E_1\cdots E_r$)

Every invertible square matrix is a product of elementary matrices. Gaussian elimination reduces $A$ to the identity matrix by elementary row operations, giving $F_r\cdots F_{1}A=I$. Reverse their order and invert them to write $A=F_1^{-1}\cdots F_r^{-1}$. Each inverse is again elementary. Conversely every elementary matrix is invertible, so every such product is invertible. The identity may be represented by the empty product.