Normalize blocks/sub-matrices within a matrix

Question

I want to normalize (i.e., 0-1) blocks/sub-matrices within a square matrix based on row/col names. It is important that the normalized matrix correspond to the original matrix. The below code extracts the blocks, e.g. all col/row names == "A" and normalizes it by its max value. How do I put that matrix of normalized blocks back together so it corresponds to the original matrix, such that each single value of the normalized blocks are in the same place as in the original matrix. I.e. you cannot put the blocks together and then e.g. sort the normalized matrix by the original's matrix row/col names.

#dummy code
mat <- matrix(round(runif(90, 0, 50),),9,9)
rownames(mat) <- rep(LETTERS[1:3],3)
colnames(mat) <- rep(LETTERS[1:3],3)

mat.n <- matrix(0,nrow(mat),ncol(mat), dimnames = list(rownames(mat),colnames(mat)))
for(i in 1:length(LETTERS[1:3])){
    ? <- mat[rownames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i],colnames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i]] / max(mat[rownames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i],colnames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i]])
    #For example,
    mat.n[rownames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i],colnames(mat)==LETTERS[1:3][i]] <- # doesn't work
}

UPDATE

Using ave() as @G. Grothendieck suggested works for the blocks, but I'm not sure how it's normalizing beyond that.

mat.n <- mat / ave(mat, rownames(mat)[row(mat)], colnames(mat)[col(mat)], FUN = max)

Within block the normalization works, e.g.

mat[rownames(mat)=="A",colnames(mat)=="A"]
   A  A  A
A 13 18 15
A 38 33 41
A 12 18 47
mat.n[rownames(mat.n)=="A",colnames(mat.n)=="A"]
         A         A         A
A 0.2765957 0.3829787 0.3191489
A 0.8085106 0.7021277 0.8723404
A 0.2553191 0.3829787 1.0000000

But beyond that, it looks weird.

> round(mat.n,1)
 A   B   C   A   B   C   A   B   C
A 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.3 0.9 1.0
B 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.0
C 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.0
A 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.4 0.4
B 0.1 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.5 0.1 1.0 0.8
C 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.0 0.4 1.0
A 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.3
B 0.6 0.2 0.5 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.3 1.0
C 0.5 0.9 0.7 1.0 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.0 0.9 

In this case, I would expect 3 1s across the whole matrix- 1 for each block. But there're 10 1s, e.g. mat.n[3,2], mat.n[1,9]. I'm not sure how this function normalized between blocks.

UPDATE 2

#Original matrix.
#Suggested solution produces `NaN` 

mat <- as.matrix(read.csv(text=",1.21,1.1,2.2,1.1,1.1,1.21,2.2,2.2,1.21,1.22,1.22,1.1,1.1,2.2,2.1,2.2,2.1,2.2,2.2,2.2,1.21,2.1,2.1,1.21,1.21,1.21,1.21,1.21,2.2,1.21,2.2,1.1,1.22,1.22,1.22,1.22,1.21,1.22,2.1,2.1,2.1,1.22
1.21,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,292,13,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,22,0,0,94,19,79,0,9,0,126,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,0,0,155,166,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,76,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,34,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,201,0,0,79,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,11,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,33,0,91,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,9,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,404,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,37,26,18,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,9,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,162,79,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,27,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,9,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,33,17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,207,0,0,0,0,1644,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,8,0,0,16,17,402,0,0,0,606,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.22,13,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,12,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,26,0,0,15,0,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,71,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,374,6,121,6,21,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,0,0,44,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,103,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,33,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,0,0,24,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,12,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,18,0,0,0,0,353,116,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,29,0,5,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,37,0,0,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,36,46,62,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,73,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,61,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,38,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0
         2.2,17,0,23,0,0,0,444,65,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,78,0,0,42,30,15,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,0,18,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,75,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,87,0,74,0,85,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,19,0,25,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,13,0,0,0,12,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,118,0,29,92,0,25,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,16,0,48,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,14,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,204,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,133,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,44,0,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,67,0,0,0,0,0,0,143,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,12,15,0
         1.21,79,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,34,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,38,26,6,9,0,112,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,11,0,0,0,0,17,0,0,49,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,28,0,0,0,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,122,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,0,24,11,0,887,20,0,389,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,14,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,8,0,50,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,34,0,0,0,0,26,0,0,56,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,54,9,297,13,0,0,16,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,39,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,25,0,17,12,20,25,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,393,0,7,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.21,177,0,0,0,0,8,0,0,775,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,113,0,227,0,6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         2.2,0,0,0,0,0,0,21,17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,42,30,16,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,165,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.1,0,6,0,28,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,9,30,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,37,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,14,7,0,0,18,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,44,785,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,21,0,44,177,13,24,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,30,0,0,182,9,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,7,12,0,1231,135,17,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,73,1308,0,669,16,0,0,0,8
         1.21,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,15,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,13,33,197,626,0,44,0,0,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24,37,12,80,0,0,0,0,16
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24,0,6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24,54,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,27,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,75,0,0,0
         2.1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,58,0,1,0,0,0,0,28,24,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,61,2,0,0
         1.22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,31,9,0,0,0,0"))

ids <- read.csv(text=",x
1,1.21
                2,1.1
                3,2.2
                4,1.1
                5,1.1
                6,1.21
                7,2.2
                8,2.2
                9,1.21
                10,1.22
                11,1.22
                12,1.1
                13,1.1
                14,2.2
                15,2.1
                16,2.2
                17,2.1
                18,2.2
                19,2.2
                20,2.2
                21,1.21
                22,2.1
                23,2.1
                24,1.21
                25,1.21
                26,1.21
                27,1.21
                28,1.21
                29,2.2
                30,1.21
                31,2.2
                32,1.1
                33,1.22
                34,1.22
                35,1.22
                36,1.22
                37,1.21
                38,1.22
                39,2.1
                40,2.1
                41,2.1
                42,1.22")
mat <- mat[,-1]
rownames(mat) <- ids$x
colnames(mat) <- ids$x
ans <- mat / ave(mat, rownames(mat)[row(mat)], colnames(mat)[col(mat)], FUN = max)

Any help is much appreciated, thanks.

Answer 1

Use ave to get the maxima:

mat / ave(mat, rownames(mat)[row(mat)], colnames(mat)[col(mat)], FUN = max)

For example, there are 9 ones, as expected, and there is one 1 in each block also as expected. (There could be more than 9 if the matrix happened to have multiple maxima in one or more blocks but there shoud not be less than 9.)

set.seed(123)
mat <- matrix(round(runif(90, 0, 50),),9,9)
rownames(mat) <- rep(LETTERS[1:3],3)
colnames(mat) <- rep(LETTERS[1:3],3)
ans <- mat / ave(mat, rownames(mat)[row(mat)], colnames(mat)[col(mat)], FUN = max)

sum(ans == 1)
## [1] 9

# there are no duplicates (i.e. a block showing up more than once) hence 
# there is exactly one 1 in each block

w <- which(ans == 1, arr = TRUE)
anyDuplicated(cbind(rownames(mat)[w[, 1]], colnames(mat)[w[, 2]]))
## [1] 0

ADDED

If some blocks are entirely zero (which is the case in UPDATE 2) then you will get NaNs for those blocks. If you want 0s instead for the all-zero blocks try this:

xmax <- function(x) if (all(x == 0)) 0 else x/max(x)
ave(mat, rownames(mat)[row(mat)], colnames(mat)[col(mat)], FUN = xmax)