A matrix is a vital tool for solving equations that are difficult to compute using pen and paper.
Video on Matrix Multiplication. Matrices can be multiplied when the number of rows and the number of columns are equal.
Video on Powers of Matrices. Matrices can be multiplied when the number of rows and the number of columns are equal which means that finding the power of a matrx requires the matrix to have the same number of columns as rows (ie be a square).