//merge values in simsMatrix
for (int n = 0; n < simMatrix.size(); n++) {
//row becomes merge of 2 groups
simMatrix[row][n] = (simMatrix[row][n] + simMatrix[column][n]) / 2;
simMatrix[n][row] = simMatrix[row][n];
//delete column
//merge values in simsMatrix
for (int n = 0; n < simMatrix.size(); n++) {
//row becomes merge of 2 groups
simMatrix[row][n] = (simMatrix[row][n] + simMatrix[column][n]) / 2;
simMatrix[n][row] = simMatrix[row][n];
//delete column