$$
\newcommand{\uex}{{u_{\small\mbox{e}}}}
\newcommand{\Aex}{{A_{\small\mbox{e}}}}
\newcommand{\half}{\frac{1}{2}}
\newcommand{\tp}{\thinspace .}
\newcommand{\Oof}[1]{\mathcal{O}(#1)}
\newcommand{\x}{\boldsymbol{x}}
\newcommand{\X}{\boldsymbol{X}}
\renewcommand{\u}{\boldsymbol{u}}
\renewcommand{\v}{\boldsymbol{v}}
\newcommand{\e}{\boldsymbol{e}}
\newcommand{\f}{\boldsymbol{f}}
\newcommand{\dfc}{\alpha} % diffusion coefficient
\newcommand{\Ix}{\mathcal{I}_x}
\newcommand{\Iy}{\mathcal{I}_y}
\newcommand{\Iz}{\mathcal{I}_z}
\newcommand{\If}{\mathcal{I}_s} % for FEM
\newcommand{\Ifd}{{I_d}} % for FEM
\newcommand{\Ifb}{{I_b}} % for FEM
\newcommand{\sequencei}[1]{\left\{ {#1}_i \right\}_{i\in\If}}
\newcommand{\basphi}{\varphi}
\newcommand{\baspsi}{\psi}
\newcommand{\refphi}{\tilde\basphi}
\newcommand{\psib}{\boldsymbol{\psi}}
\newcommand{\sinL}[1]{\sin\left((#1+1)\pi\frac{x}{L}\right)}
\newcommand{\xno}[1]{x_{#1}}
\newcommand{\Xno}[1]{X_{(#1)}}
\newcommand{\xdno}[1]{\boldsymbol{x}_{#1}}
\newcommand{\dX}{\, \mathrm{d}X}
\newcommand{\dx}{\, \mathrm{d}x}
\newcommand{\ds}{\, \mathrm{d}s}
$$
General result: the coefficient matrix is sparse
- Sparse = most of the entries are zeros
- Below: P1 elements
$$
A = \frac{h}{6}
\left(
\begin{array}{cccccccccc}
2 & 1 & 0
&\cdots & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots & 0 \\
1 & 4 & 1 & \ddots & & & & & \vdots \\
0 & 1 & 4 & 1 &
\ddots & & & & \vdots \\
\vdots & \ddots & & \ddots & \ddots & 0 & & & \vdots \\
\vdots & & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots & & \vdots \\
\vdots & & & 0 & 1 & 4 & 1 & \ddots & \vdots \\
\vdots & & & & \ddots & \ddots & \ddots &\ddots & 0 \\
\vdots & & & & &\ddots & 1 & 4 & 1 \\
0 &\cdots & \cdots &\cdots & \cdots & \cdots & 0 & 1 & 2
\end{array}
\right)
$$
