
Chapter 2 Additive Error Reduction
© National Instruments Corporation 2-7 Xmath Model Reduction Module
function matrix. Consider the way the associated impulse response maps 
inputs defined over (–∞,0] in L2 into outputs, and focus on the output over 
[0,∞). Define the input as u(t) for t< 0, and set v(t)=u(–t). Define the 
output as y(t) for t> 0. Then the mapping is
if G(s)=C(sI-A)–1B. The norm of the associated operator is the Hankel 
norm  of G. A key result is that if σ1≥σ
2≥···, are the Hankel singular 
values of G(s), then  .
To avoid minor confusion, suppose that all Hankel singular values of G are 
distinct. Then consider approximating G by some stable   of prescribed 
degree k much that   is minimized. It turns out that
and there is an algorithm available for obtaining  . Further, the 
optimum  which is minimizing   does a reasonable job 
ofminimizing  , because it can be shown that
where n=deg G, with this bound subject to the proviso that G and   are 
allowed to be nonzero and different at s=∞. 
The bound on   is one half that applying for balanced truncation. 
However,
• It is actual error that is important in practice (not bounds).
• The Hankel norm approximation does not give zero error at ω=∞ 
orat ω= 0. Balanced realization truncation gives zero error at ω=∞, 
andsingular perturbation of a balanced realization gives zero error 
atω=0. 
There is one further connection between optimum Hankel norm 
approximation and L∞ error. If one seeks to approximate G by a sum  + F, 
with   stable and of degree k and with F unstable, then:
yt() CexpAt r+()Bv r()dr
0
∞
∫
=
GH
GHσ1
=
G
ˆ
GG
ˆ
–H
infG
ˆofdegree k GG
ˆ
–Hσk1+G()=
G
ˆ
G
ˆGG
ˆ
–H
GG
ˆ
–∞
GG
ˆ
–∞σj
jk1+=
∑
≤
G
ˆ
GG
ˆ
–
G
ˆ
G
ˆ
infG
ˆofdegree k and F unstable GG
ˆ
–F–∞σk1+G()=