CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

Calculating the Determinant of a Matrix

( )
¿a ¿b
If A = ¿ ¿
c d 2 ×2

then the determinant of A = a × d−b × c .

Examples:

( )
¿ 2 ¿1
1. If B = ¿ ¿ , then find the determinant of B
3 5

Solution:

determinant of B = a × d−b × c
= 2 ×5−1× 3
= 10  3
= 7 ans.
HW
2. Find the inverse of:

(a) (13 12)

(b) ( 04 20 )
(c) (69 32 )
(d) (−26 −4
0 )
(e) (13 −1
3 )

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

3. Calulate the value of x for which the determinant is 5.

( )
¿5 ¿2
¿ ¿
2 x−1 x

Solution:

determinant = 5
a × d−b × c = 5
5 x−2 ( 2 x−1 ) = 5
5 x−4 x+2 = 5
5 x−4 x = 5  2
x = 3 ans.

Note:

 If the determinant of a matrix is 0 then the matrix has no inverse. It is called a singular matrix.

Questions: HW

1. N is the singular matrix ( 46 2k ). Find the value of k.

2. Determine the value of g given that M is the singular matrix ( 2p 48 ).
3. M is the matrix (−10
−4 x
−5 )
. Calculate the value of x which would make M a singular matrix.

4. If (m−1
5
2)
4
is a singular matrix, calculate the value of m.

5. M is the matrix ( 3p 4q). If M is a singular matrix and p = 2, calculate the value of q.

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

The inverse of a 2 by 2 matrix

If A = ( ac db ), then A 1 =
1
(
× d −b .
a ×d −b ×c −c a )
 A 1 is the symbol for the inverse of the matrix A.

Note:

 When a matrix has no inverse, then it is called a singular matrix.

 If the determinant of a matrix is 0 then the matrix has no inverse.

Given that A = (31 62), then determinant = 3 × 2 – 6 × 1 = 0 .

The matrix A does not have an inverse, because the determinant is equal to zero.
This type of matrix is known as singular matrix.

 A × A1 = 1

Examples:

1. Given that P = (75 86), find the inverse of the matrix P.

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate the determinant:

Step 2: Finding the adjoint:

Step 3: Substituting in the formula:

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

( )
3 −4
P -1
= −5 −7 ans.
2 2

2. Given that M = [52 155 ]

(a) Show that M is a non-singular matrix.

(b) Write down the inverse of M.

(c) Write down the 2  2 matrix which is equal to the product of M × M −1.

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

Using a problem using the method of matrices

Example:

A store sells large and small sizes of blue shirts and yellow shirts. The selling price of either shirt is $x for
a large size and $y for a small size. The table shows the number of shirts sold in a day.

large small
blue shirt 5 3
yellow shirt 6 4

The total income from the sale of the blue shirt was $84 and from the yellow shirt was $104.

1. Given that A = (56 34 ), B = ( xy ) and C = (104

84
),
(a) write down an equation connecting A, B and C

(b) find A-1

(c) calculate A -1C

(d) Explain the significance of your answer to part (c)

Solution:

1. (a) A×B = C

(b) Step 1: Calculate determinant: a × d−b × c

Determinant = 5 × 4 – 3 × 6
=2

Step 2: Determine the inverse:

1
× (
d −b
a ×d −b ×c −c a
. )

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CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices I & transformations I

(c) (
2 −1.5 84
A−1 C = −3 2.5 104 )( )
= ( )
12
8

(d) The answers in part (c) are the answers for the matrix B.

 The cost of large size shirt (x) = $12 and the cost of small size shirt (y) = $8

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