The question
If
A=231−3215−4−2,
find A−1. Use A−1 to solve the following system of equations
2x−3y+5z=11, 3x+2y−4z=−5, x+y−2z=−3
Exam answer
A=231−3215−4−2
∣A∣=2(−4+4)+3(−6+4)+5(3−2)=2(0)+3(−2)+5(1)=−1=0
Why?
Expand along the first row, with the signs +,−,+. Each entry multiplies the 2 by 2 determinant left after deleting its row and column:
2[(2)(−2)−(−4)(1)]−(−3)[(3)(−2)−(−4)(1)]+5[(3)(1)−(2)(1)]
The three 2×2 determinants, each as (top left)(bottom right) minus (top right)(bottom left):
21−4−231−4−23121=(2)(−2)−(−4)(1)=−4+4=0=(3)(−2)−(−4)(1)=−6+4=−2=(3)(1)−(2)(1)=3−2=1
Watch out: the middle entry is −3, and with its minus sign it gives −(−3)=+3.
Multiply by the entries and their signs, then add:
2(0)+3(−2)5(1)0−6−6+5=0=−6=5=−6=−1
So A−1 exists, and A−1=∣A∣1adjA.
Why?
A square matrix has an inverse exactly when its determinant is not zero. Then the inverse is the adjoint divided by the determinant.
The cofactors of the elements of A are
A11A21A31=0, A12=2, A13=1=−1, A22=−9, A23=−5=2, A32=23, A33=13
Why?
The cofactor of the entry in row i, column j is
Aij=(−1)i+jMij
where the minor Mij is the determinant left after deleting row i and column j. The sign is − when i+j is odd.
The signs (−1)i+j follow the pattern
+−+−+−+−+ on A=231−3215−4−2
Row 1 (cover row 1 and one column each time):
A11A12A13=+21−4−2=+((2)(−2)−(−4)(1))=+(−4+4)=0=−31−4−2=−((3)(−2)−(−4)(1))=−(−6+4)=−(−2)=2=+3121=+((3)(1)−(2)(1))=+(3−2)=1
Row 2 (cover row 2):
A21A22A23=−−315−2=−((−3)(−2)−(5)(1))=−(6−5)=−1=+215−2=+((2)(−2)−(5)(1))=+(−4−5)=−9=−21−31=−((2)(1)−(−3)(1))=−(2+3)=−5
Row 3 (cover row 3):
A31A32A33=+−325−4=+((−3)(−4)−(5)(2))=+(12−10)=2=−235−4=−((2)(−4)−(5)(3))=−(−8−15)=−(−23)=23=+23−32=+((2)(2)−(−3)(3))=+(4+9)=13
adjA=021−1−9−522313
Why?
The adjoint is the transpose of the matrix of cofactors: the cofactors of row 1 (0,2,1) become column 1, and so on.
A−1=(−1)1021−1−9−522313
The given system is AX=B, where
X=xyz,B=11−5−3
Why?
The rows of A hold the coefficients of x, y, z in the three equations, in order. B holds the right-hand sides.
Since ∣A∣=0, the system has a unique solution, given by X=A−1B.
Why?
Multiply AX=B on the left by A−1. Since A−1A=I and IX=X, this gives X=A−1B.
xyz=(−1)1021−1−9−52231311−5−3=(−1)10+5−622+45−6911+25−39=(−1)1−1−2−3=123
Why?
Each entry of the product is a row of adjA times the column B. For the first row:
0(11)+(−1)(−5)+2(−3)=0+5−6=−1
The other two rows the same way:
Row 2: (2)(11)+(−9)(−5)+(23)(−3)=22+45−69=67−69=−2Row 3: (1)(11)+(−5)(−5)+(13)(−3)=11+25−39=36−39=−3
Then multiply every entry by (−1)1, which changes every sign.
−1−1−1−2−1−3=1=2=3
Check in the first equation: 2(1)−3(2)+5(3)=11.
2(1)−3(2)+5(3)=2−6+15=−4+15=11 ✓
∴ x=1, y=2, z=3
Where this comes fromChapter 4, Determinants: Inverse by the adjoint; solving a system by A⁻¹.
Question type: Solve equations by the matrix method
How to spot it: click to see
Type 9. Solve equations by the matrix method
Spot it: "solve, using the matrix method", with two or three equations. A word problem (prices, three numbers) is the same: write the equations first.
Here: A−1 is found and then used: ∣A∣=−1=0, nine cofactors give adjA, and the equations are AX=B with B=(11,−5,−3), so X=A−1B.
Quick lesson · Worked NCERT solutions · Interactive lesson
Also uses Chapter 3, Matrices.