INVERSE OF A MATRIX USING MINORS, COFACTORS AND

ADJUGATE

We can calculate the inverse of a matrix by the following steps:

a. Calculate the matrix of minors,

b. Turn the matrix of minors into matrix of cofactors,

c. Form the adjugate, and

1
d. Multiply the adjugate by 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡
EXAMPLE 1:
Find the inverse of matrix A
3 0 2
𝐴= 2 0 −2
0 1 1
Solution:
Step 1: Matrix of minors
For each element of the matrix:
• ignore the values on the current row and column,
• Calculate the determinant of the remaining values

For the element of row 1 column 1

0 −2
𝑚11 = = 0𝑥1 − 1𝑥 −2 = 2
1 1

For the element of row 1 column 2

2 −2
𝑚12 = = 2𝑥1 − 0𝑥 −2 = 2
0 1
For the element of row 3 column 2

3 2
𝑚32 = = 3 𝑥 − 2 − 2 𝑥 2 = −10
2 −2

For the element of row 3 column 3

3 0
𝑚33 = = 3𝑥0 − 2𝑥0 =0
2 0

And here is the calculated minor values for the whole matrix

2 2 2
−2 3 3
0 −10 0
Step 2: Matrix of Cofactors

Just apply a “checkerboard” of minuses to the “matrix of minors”. In

other words, we need to change the sign of alternate cells,

Matrix of Minors Matrix of Cofactors

2 2 2 + − + 2 −2 2
−2 3 3 ⟹ − + − = 2 3 −3
0 −10 0 + − + 0 10 0

Step 3: Adjugate (also called Adjoint)

Now “transpose” all elements of the matrix of cofactors . . . In other

words swap their position over the diagonal (the diagonal stays the
same):
Matrix of Cofactors Adjugate
2 −2 2 2 2 0
2 3 −3 ⟹ −2 3 10
0 10 0 2 −3 0
 𝟏
Step 4: Multiply by 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕

We can just multiply each of the elements of the top row by the
cofactors for the same location:

Elements of row 1 of matrix A 3 0 2

Elements of row 1 of cofactor 2 −2 2

Determinant = 3)(2 + 0 −2 + 2 2 = 10

1
We now multiply the adjugate by 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑡

1 2 2 0 0.2 0.2 0
𝐴−1 = −2 3 10 = −0.2 0.3 1
10
2 −3 0 0.2 −0.3 0
Adjugate Inverse
EXAMPLE 2:
Find the inverse of matrix A
2 1 1
𝐴= 1 1 1
1 −1 2

Solution:
a. Matrix of minors
3 1 −2
3 3 −3
0 1 1

b. Matrix of Cofactors
3 −1 −2
−3 3 3
0 −1 1
c. Adjoint of a matrix
3 −3 0
−1 3 −1
−2 3 1

d. Determinant of matrix A

Elements of row 1 of matrix A 2 1 1

Elements of row 1 of cofactor 3 −1 −2

Determinant= 2 3 + 1 −1 + 1 −2 = 3

e. Inverse of matrix A
3 −3 0 1 −1 0
1 − 1
1 − 1
𝐴−1 = −1 3 −1 = 3 3
3
−2 3 1 −23 1 1
3
EXAMPLE 3:
Find the inverse of matrix A
5 −2 2 7
𝐴= 1 0 0 3
−3 1 5 0
3 −1 −9 4
Solution:
a. Matrix of minors
0 0 3
𝑚11 = 1 5 0 = −27 − −15 = −12
−1 −9 4
1 0 3
𝑚12 = −3 5 0 = 20 + 81 − 45 = 56
3 −9 4
1 0 3
𝑚13 = −3 1 0 = (4 + 9) − 9 = 4
3 −1 4
1 0 0
𝑚14 = −3 1 5 = −9 − −5 = −4
3 −1 −9
 −2 2 7
𝑚21 = 1 5 0 = (−40 − 63) − −35 + 8 = −76
−1 −9 4

5 2 7
𝑚22 = −3 5 0 = 100 + 189 − 105 − 24 = 208
3 −9 4

5 −2 7
𝑚23 = −3 1 0 = 20 + 21 − 21 + 24 = −4
3 −1 4

5 −2 2
𝑚24 = −3 1 5 = −45 − 30 + 6 − 6 − 54 − 25 = 4
3 −1 −9
 −2 2 7
𝑚31 = 0 0 3 = (−6) − 54 = −60
−1 −9 4

5 2 7
𝑚32 = 1 0 3 = 18 − 63 − 8 − 135 = 82
3 −9 4

5 −2 7
𝑚33 = 1 0 3 = −18 − 7 − −8 − 15 = −2
3 −1 4

5 −2 2
𝑚34 = 1 0 0 = −2 − 18 = −20
3 −1 −9
 −2 2 7
𝑚41 = 0 0 3 = (6) − −30 = 36
1 5 0

5 2 7
𝑚42 = 1 0 3 = −18 + 35 − 75 = −58
−3 5 0

5 −2 7
𝑚43 = 1 0 3 = 18 + 7 − 15 = 10
−3 1 0

5 −2 2
𝑚44 = 1 0 0 = 2 − −10 = 12
−3 1 5
The matrix of minors

−12 56 4 −4
−76 208 −4 4
−60 82 −2 −20
36 −58 10 12

b. Matrix of Cofactors
−12 −56 4 4
76 208 4 4
−60 −82 −2 20
−36 −58 −10 12
c. Adjoint of a matrix
−12 76 −60 −36
−56 208 −82 −58
4 4 −2 −10
4 4 20 12

d. Determinant of matrix A

Elements of row 2 of matrix A 1 0 0 3

Elements of row 2 of cofactor 76 208 4 4
Determinant= 76 + 12 = 88

e. Inverse of matrix A
3 9
−22 22 −15
22
9
22
−12 76 −60 −36 7 26
1 −56 208 −82 −58 = −11 11 −41
44
29
−44
𝐴−1 = 1 1 1 5
88 4 4 −2 −10 −44 −44
22 22
4 4 20 12 1 1 5 3
22 22 22 22
Example 4: Use the inverse of a matrix to solve the following system
of linear equations:

𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 1
4𝑥 + 2𝑧 = −4

Solution:

If
1 2 1
𝐴= 1 3 0
4 0 2
a. Matrix of minors
6 2 −12
4 −2 −8
−3 −1 1

b. Matrix of Cofactors
6 −2 −12
−4 −2 8
−3 1 1

c. Adjoint of a matrix
6 −4 −3
−2 −2 1
−12 8 1
d. Determinant of matrix A

Elements of row 1 of matrix A 1 2 1

Elements of row 1 of cofactor 6 −2 −12

Determinant= 1 6 + 2 −2 + 1 −12 = −10

e. Inverse of matrix A
3 2 3
−5
1 6 −4 −3
1
5
1
10
1
𝐴−1 =− −2 −2 1 = 5 5 −10
10
−12 8 1 6
−45 1
−10
5

f. Solution set
3 2 3
−
𝑥 5 5 10 2 −2
1 1 1
𝑦 = 5 5
−10 1 = 1
𝑧 6
−45 1
−10 −4 2
5