a method of generating a sequence of matrix factors for a transformation matrix having a plurality of rows and columns using a computer , wherein the transformation matrix stores data values representing a wavelet transform . in a first aspect , at least one plurality of row reduction operations are applied to the transformation matrix . the sequence of matrix factors is generated from the reduced transformation matrix and the row reduction operations . a scaling factor may be removed from the transformation matrix before applying the row reduction operations , wherein the scaled transformation matrix has a determinant with a coefficient equal to 1 or − 1 . in yet another aspect , the transformation matrix may have a nonzero monomial determinant and the sequence of matrix factors further includes a scaling matrix . the method may include further alternative features described herein .