Core 1: Chapter 6: Matrices

Lesson 1: Basic matrix operations, multiplying matrices and inverting a 2x2 matrix

Dimensions of a matrix and basic operations

A matrix is an array of numbers (elements), written inside brackets. The size or dimension of a matrix is written m ×
n where m is the number of rows and n is the number of columns.
Example 1 Write down the dimension of each of the following matrices:

You can only add or subtract matrices if they have the same dimension. If they do, simply add or subtract the
corresponding elements.
Example 2

To multiply a matrix by a scalar (a numerical constant), simply multiply each element by the scalar.
Example 3

Example 4

Special Matrices
If m = n, this is called a square matrix.
If all the elements (values) inside the matrix are zero, this is called the zero matrix, 0.
If every element is zero except for the leading diagonal which is all ones, this is called the Identity matrix, I
1 0 0
1 0
( ) is the 2×2 Identity matrix, (0 1 0) is the 3×3 Identity matrix, etc
0 1
0 0 1
Multiplying Matrices
You can only multiply two matrices if the number of columns on the first matrix is equal to the number of rows of the
second matrix (they are called multiplicatively conformable matrices). Otherwise, you end up with not enough
elements to multiply together.
If matrix A is m × n and matrix B is n × p then you can find AB, which will end up being m × p.
! Why can you not calculate BA?

To multiply two matrices, multiply each element in the first row in the first matrix by each element in the first column
in the second matrix. Then the total product goes in the corresponding place in the answer matrix. Continue like this.
Example 5

Example 6

*Now do the above examples on your calculator.

In general, matrix multiplication is not commutative i.e. AB ≠ BA, but it is associative i.e. ABC = (AB)C = A(BC)
Example 8
Determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix
The determinant of a matrix is a way of describing its size. It is also linked to enlarging a matrix (chapter 7).
𝑎 𝑏
For a general non-zero 2 × 2 matrix A = ( ), the determinant of A is det(A) = |A| = ad – bc.
𝑐 𝑑

If the determinant is zero, then the matrix is said to be singular.

Example 9

*Now re-do the above example using your calculator.

Example 10

Past Exam Question (New Spec SAM paper)

Hint: “Show that” means non-calculator. You also have to give a conclusion i.e. what have you just shown?
Finding the inverse of a 2×2 matrix
The inverse of a matrix M is another matrix, denoted M-1 such that MM-1 = M-1M = I.

𝑎 𝑏 1 𝑑 −𝑏
For a general non-zero 2 × 2 matrix A = ( ), A-1 = |𝐴| ( )
𝑐 𝑑 −𝑐 𝑎

i.e. you swap the elements on the leading diagonal and swap the signs on the other two elements.
!Only non-singular matrices have inverses. Why?

Example 14

*Now re-do the above example using your calculator.

* You need to know the following proof:

Example 15

Example 16

Complete Exercises 6A, 6B, 6C but only for 2×2 matrices (we will do 3 × 3 matrices next lesson), 6D
 Lesson 2: Inverting a 3×3 matrix

Recap: 2 × 2 matrices
2 −3 0 2
If A = ( ) and B = ( ), find
𝑎 1 −2 𝑏
a) AB
b) BA
c) The value of a such that A is singular
d) A-1, assuming a is not equal to the value found in part (c)

Transpose of a matrix, AT
You can find the transpose of any matrix by swapping the elements in the rows with the elements in the columns
(effectively reflecting the elements in the leading diagonal).
7 0 0
Example If A = ( ) find AT.
3 −1 2

Note: If matrix A is m × n, then AT will be n × m.

Determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix
To find the determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix, you choose any row or column (usually the first row) and multiply each
element in that row by its minor determinant.
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
Eg if matrix A is ( 𝑑 𝑒 𝑓)
𝑔 ℎ 𝑖
then the minor determinant of a is the minor determinant of b is and the minor determinant of c is

You then add them up in this way to get det (A) =

It is possible to expand along any row or column but you have to be careful which terms to add and which to subject.

Example 12

Check that you can do the above example on your calculator but algebra may be used as in the example below.

Example 13
Finding the inverse of a 3 × 3 matrix
There are 5 steps to finding the inverse of a 3 × 3 matrix, A.
1) Find the determinant of A, |A|
2) Form the matrix of Minor Determinants, M (where all 9 elements are replaced by their minor determinants)
3) Form the matrix of Cofactors, C (where you swap the sign of the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th elements in M)
4) Form the Adjugate matrix CT (transpose C)
5) Finally divide by |A|
𝟏
i.e. A-1 = |𝑨| 𝑪𝑻

Example 17

Check that you can do the above example on your calculator by inputting the matrix and finding A-1.
Example 18

Read Example 19 and complete the rest of Exercise 6C (any 3 × 3 matrix questions) and 6E
 Lesson 3: Solving Systems of Equations part 1

Recap: Past Exam Question

Solving systems of linear simultaneous equations
How would you solve 2x = 9?

One way of solving linear simultaneous equations is to write the equation in matrix and column vector form and then
apply inverse matrices.
Example Use an inverse matrix to solve 2x + 3y = 7
5x - y = 26

The same idea applies for linear simultaneous equations in 3 variables.

Example 20

You might need to set up your own equations if the question is given in context. Give your answer in context too!
Example 21

Complete Exercise 6F page 120 qu 1-4

 Lesson 4: Solving Systems of Equations part 2
Consistent and Inconsistent sets of equations
So far, all the systems of equations have given “nice” answers but that is not always the case. Try to solve the
following:
a) 2x + 3y = 9 b) 2x + 3y = 9 c) 2x + 3y = 7
2x + 3y = 10 4x + 6y = 18 2x – 3y = -1

Thinking in terms of coordinates and linear graphs,

- in a) the two lines are parallel and therefore will never meet so the simultaneous equations have no solutions
- in b) the two lines are identical and therefore meet at every single point so they will have infinite solutions.
- in c), the lines are neither parallel nor identical so will have one unique solution.
Check that this works on your calculator.
The same principle works when we have three unknowns but this time we are not talking about lines, but planes and
how they intersect.
There are six different possibilities that can happen:

The first three are called consistent as there is at least one solution for all three equations.
The second three are inconsistent as there is no one solution that satisfies all three equations.

Always start by working out the determinant. If the matrix is non-singular (det is not zero), you will have one unique
solution for your equations i.e. diagram 1.

Example How many solutions do the following set of equations have? Circle the correct geometrical interpretation.
3x - 6z = 0
3y + 3z = 2
-3x – y +3z = -2
In the next two examples, watch out for equations that are multiples of each other. This means they are either identical
planes or parallel planes.
Example How many solutions do the following set of equations have? Circle the correct geometrical interpretation.
3x + 2y + z = 10
6x + 4y + 2z = 20
-3x – 2y – z = -10

Example How many solutions do the following set of equations have? Circle the correct geometrical interpretation.
x+y+z=8
2x + 2y + 2z = 14
3x – y – z = 10

In the following examples, the equations are not multiples so neither parallel nor identical. We need to work out if the
equations will form a sheaf (infinitely many solutions) or a prism (no solutions). We do this by eliminating one
variable and looking at the new system we get.
Example How many solutions do the following set of equations have? Circle the correct geometrical interpretation.
3x - y - 6z = 1
x + 3y + 3z = 2
-3x – y + 3z = -2
Example How many solutions do the following set of equations have? Circle the correct geometrical interpretation.
3x + 6y - 6z = -6
-6x + 3y + 3z = 2
-3x – y + 3z = -2

Here is a really useful summary diagram.

Complete Exercise 6F and then Mixed Exercise 6