TOPIC: MATRICES

1.0: An over view of the coverage of the topic.

This topic covers the following
i) Standard matrix notation
ii) Basic terminology in matrixes
iii) Matrix algebra
iv) Matrix determinants
v) Inverse of a matrix.
vi) Application of ,atrices

1.1: Introduction:
A matrix is a set of number of quantities arranged in the form of vows and columns.
It is an array of numbers arranged in rows and columns. Matrices are very powerful tools for
presenting and analyzing many problems in business and economics. Matrices also provide an
effective method of solving systems of linear equations discussed in the previous chapter. In this
chapter, we shall examine different properties of matrices, operation of matrices, and their
applications in solving linear systems and modeling of different economic problems.

Example: If a co. sells four of its products P, Q,R,S from its three retail outlets, A.B & C in
a certain period of time the its sales units can be arranged in a matrix form as follows.

Products in units
P Q R S
Retail: A 40 20 15 55
B 33 27 22 47
C 42 34 19 50

This sales matrix has 3 vows and 4 columns.

1.2: Structure/ Dimensions of Matrices

Matrices are given in any of the following forms:
A = [𝑎11 𝑎12 ]

The above matrix has one row and two columns, its dimension is a ‘one by two ‘matrix. The
subscript attached to each element of the matrix denotes the position of that element in the
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particular row and column of the matrix. For instance, 𝑎11 implies that the above element is in
the first row and first column of the matrix A.
𝑏11
B = 𝑏
[ 21 ] 1
𝑏31
Matrix B has three rows and one column. It is a ‘three by one matrix’ matrix. We can also call it a
column matrix. Subscripts attached such as, ‘𝑎31 ’ shows the element is in the third row of the
first column.
𝑐11 𝑐12
C = [𝑐 𝑐22 ] 2
21

Matrix C is a two by two matrix, that is, it has two rows and two columns.
𝑑11 𝑑12 𝑑13
D = [𝑑21 𝑑22 𝑑23 ] 3
𝑑31 𝑑32 𝑑33
Matric D has three rows and three columns; it is a ‘three by three’ matrix. Matrices which have
the same number of rows and columns such as matrix C and D, are called square matrices.
Matrices which have only one row, for instance matrix A, are called row matrices. Similarly,
matrices that have only one column, such as matrix B are called column matrices. Matrices can
have dimensions higher than the dimensions shown above and may have different number of
rows and columns that is, not necessarily square matrices.

1.3: Basics terms used in matrix

(a). Order or dimension of a matrix. This refers to the number of vows and columns a
given matrix has. If a matrix has in vows and in column. Its order is written as (mxn) and
it reads and M by N.
In the above examples, matrix A has order of 3 x 2 and matrix B has order
of 2 x .

Matrix E is a one by one matrix

(b). Transposes of Matrices

The transpose of a matrix is obtained by interchanging row by column. Suppose we have matrix
A, its transpose is symbolically denoted by 𝐴𝑇 . Suppose we have the following matrix:
𝑎11 𝑎12
A = 𝑎
[ 21 𝑎22 ] = 3×2 matrix 4
𝑎31 𝑎32

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 𝑎11 𝑎21 𝑎31
Its transpose, 𝐴𝑇 = [𝑎 𝑎22 𝑎32 ] = 2×3 matrix 5
12

We note the following changes:

i. The first row of A = The first column of 𝐴𝑇

ii. The second row of A = The second column of 𝐴𝑇

iii. The third row of A = The third column of 𝐴𝑇

iv. A is a 3×2 matrix while 𝐴𝑇 is a 2×3 matrix

Sometimes it is not possible to multiply any two given matrices due to failure to meet the
compatibility condition. Suppose we have matrices A and X as given below:
𝑎11 𝑎12
A = [𝑎21 𝑎22 ], X= [𝑥11 𝑥12 ]
𝑎31 𝑎32

It is easy to observe that the product matrix AX is not obtainable because the two matrices are
not compatible. In such a situation, Chiang and Wainwright (2005) noted that it may be
permissible to multiply A by 𝑋 𝑇 (which is now a column matrix) although the original lag matrix
X was a row matrix. That is:
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎11 𝑥11 + 𝑎12 𝑥12
𝑥11
A𝑋 𝑇
= [𝑎21 𝑎22 ] [ ] = [𝑎21 𝑥11 + 𝑎22 𝑥12 ]
𝑥12 6
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎31 𝑥11 + 𝑎32 𝑥12

Properties of Transposes

Transposes are characterized by the following properties:

(𝐴𝑇 )𝑇 = A

(𝐴 + 𝐵)𝑇 = 𝐴𝑇 + 𝐵 𝑇 7

(𝐴𝐵)𝑇 = 𝐵 𝑇 𝐴𝑇

In words, we can state the properties as follows: The first one says that the transpose of the
transposed matrix is the original matrix. The second property states that the transpose of a sum
is the sum of the transposes. The third property is that the transpose of the product is the product
of transposes in a reversed order. We can use the following examples to illustrate the above
properties:

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 Example 6

10 8 2 6
Given that A = [ ], and B = [ ],
5 3 4 3
Verify the following properties of transposes

(𝐴𝑇 )𝑇 = A

Solution

10 5
𝐴𝑇 = [ ]
8 3
We transpose it again

(𝐴𝑇 )𝑇 = [10 8
] = A
5 3
10 8 2 6
A+ B = [ ] + [ ]
5 3 4 3

10 + 2 8 + 6 12 14
A+ B = [ ] = [ ]
5+4 3+3 9 6
12 9
(A + B)T = [ ]
14 6
Also

10 5
𝐴𝑇 = [ ]
8 3
2 4
𝐵𝑇 = [ ]
6 3
10 5 2 4 12 9
𝐴𝑇 + 𝐵 𝑇 = [ ]+[ ] = [ ]
8 3 6 3 14 6

Therefore, (𝐴 + 𝐵)𝑇 = 𝐴𝑇 + 𝐵 𝑇

10 8 2 6 10 × 2 + 8 × 4 10 × 6 + 8 × 3 52 84
Finally, AB = [ ][ ] = [ ] = [ ]
5 3 4 3 5×2+3×4 5×6+ 3×3 22 39

(𝐴𝐵)𝑇 = [52 22
]
84 39
2 4 10 5 2 × 10 + 4 × 8 2×5+ 4×3 52 22
𝐵 𝑇 𝐴𝑇 = [ ][ ] = [ ] = [ ]
6 3 8 3 6 × 10 + 3 × 8 6×5+3×3 84 39

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 Therefore, (𝐴𝐵)𝑇 = 𝐵 𝑇 𝐴𝑇

(c ). The square matrix

This is a matrix whose numbers of rock is equal on the numbers of columns. This it has
order of (mxm) or (n xn) and so on.

-
Examples : A= 2 1 B, 2 2 5
-
0 3 3 0 1
-
1 0 1
(a) Diagonal matrix
This is a square whose all entries are zero, a part from those on the major
diagonal. Example.

D= 2 0 0
-
0 1 0
0 0 1

(d). A symmetric matrix

This is a square matrix whose transpose is equal to the original matrix

Example.
Given D= 4 0 0 D1 = 4 0 0
- -
0 1 0 0 1 0
0 0 2 0 0 2

(e). identify matrix

This is a square matrix whose all entries on the major diagonal are I and the west are zero.
A 2 x 2 identity matrix is demoted as I2 and a 3 x 3 identify matrix is denoted as I3. The
above are equals to:

I2 = 1 0 , I3 1 0 0
0 1 0 1 0
0 0 1

(f). A null or zero matrix. This is a matrix whose all entries are equal to zero.
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This is a matrix whose all entries are equal to zero.
Examples A = 0 0 0 and B= 0 0 O
0 0 0

(g). Scalar matrix; this is a matrix having only one entry. example matrix P =(-1), q = (3)

(h). A column matrix

This is a matrix having only one column e.g.

Matrices P = -7 B, = 0 are column matrices

2 -1
9 0

(i). A vow matrix

This is refers to a matrix with only one vow
Example: P = (3, 4 6, 7), T= (4 1) are vow metric

1.4: Matrix algebra

Matrices can be added, subtracted from one another multiply by a scalar, divided by a
constant. All these operations are collectively called matrix Algebra.

(a). Additional and subtraction of matrices can be added together or subtracted from on
another if and only if they are of the same order. The given operation is performed with
corresponding entries.

Examples
_
Given A = 2 4 1 and B= 1 -2 4
- _
3 1 0 2 3 1

Find A+B: and A-B

_ -
Solution A+B = 2 4 1 + 1 2 4
- -
3 1 0 2 3 1

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 = 1 2 5
5 2 -1

_ -
A-B = 2 4 1 _ 1 2 4
-
3 -1 0 2 3 1

= 3 6 -3
-
1 4 1

Example: Matrix P presents the total costs in cuord by those departments of a

company in carrying out is activities A, B, C, and D. the individual activity costs are
presented by column vectors.

P = A B C D
700 600 300 180
400 840 480 620
200 1600 280 260

The total revenue matrix resulting from the same activities is given by

Q = A B C D
700 640 800 300
420 1200 960 1240
220 1900 600 300

If the profit matrix is given by

R= A B C D
a 40 500 b
20 c d 620
20 300 e 40

Determined the value of y such that a + by + c + d + e = 1400.

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 Solution Do it but take note that π= TR – TC.

(a) Multiplication of matrices

(i). Scalar multiplication.
This where a given matrix is multiplied by a constant. the constant multiplies each of the
entries of the given matrix.
Example. Given A= 4 8 Find 4A.
1 2

Solution: 4 8 = 16 32
4A 4X 1 2 4 8

(ii). other multiplications

Two matrices can be multiplied together if the number of columns of the 1 st matrix is
equal to the number of vows of the second matrix. if matrix A is of the order mxn while B
is of order nxm, the product AB will have order mxm.

Example: 2 3 4 -1 2
Given A= 4 1 B= 3 4 1
- -
1 2
Find AB
AB = (12 X 4) + 3 X 3) (2X -1) + (3X4) (2X2) + (3X1)
(4 X 4) + (1 X 3) (4X-1) + (1 X 4) (4 X 2) + (1 X1)
(-1 X 4) + (-1 X 3) (-1X-1) + (-2X 4) (-1X2) + (-2X1)

-
AB = 8+9 2 + 12 4+3 17 10 7
-
16 + 3 4+4 8+1 = 19 0 9
- - -
4–6 1+8 2 +-2 -10 7 -4

NB: Matrix A is of order 2 x 3 and matrix B is of order 3 x 2. the product is of order 3 x 3.

Example Given, A = 4 8 ,B= 2 1, Find AB

1 2 2 2

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Solution
AB 4 8 2 1 = (4 x 2) + 8 x 2) 4 x 1 + (8 x 2)
1 2 2 2 (IVS) + (2 x 2) ( I x 1) + (2 x 2)

= 8 + 16 4 + 16
2+4 1+4

= 24 20
6 5
Example
BBA electronics has four retail stores A, B, C, and D in Lira. Store has 35 TVS, 60 music
systems, 55 DVD Played and 40 mobile phones. 80 65, 50 and 35 respectively are in store
B, 29, 36, 24 and 32 are store C and 62, 49, 54 and 33 are in store D.

Required
i) Express the present inventory of BBA electronics in a matrix form
ii) suppose the price are 400, 300, 250 and 500 in thousands of shillings for a TV,
music system, DVD Player and mobile phone respectively, determined the
value of BBA inventory in all the four company stores.

Solution: Items
i) TV MS DVD MP
Stores A 35 60 35 45
B 80 65 50 38
C 29 36 24 32
D 62 49 54 33
ii) We can write the prices as a column vector matrix as follows

TV 400,000
MS 300,000 To set the total value of the inventory, we can
DVD 250,000 multiply the inventory matrix by the price
MP 500,000 matrix as below

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 Items Price
A 35 60 55 45 400,000 400 x 35 + 300 X 60+ 250 X 55 + 500 X 45
B 80 65 50 38 300,000 = 400 x 80 x 300 x 65 + 250 x 50 + 500 x 38
C 29 36 24 32 250,000 400 x 29X 300 x 36 + 250 x 24 + 50 x 32
D 62 49 53 33 500,000 400 X 62 + 300 X 49 x 250 x 54 + 50 x 33

A= 14,000 + 18,000 + 12,750 + 22,500 = 68,250

B= 32,000 + 19,500 + 12,500 + 19,000 = 83,000
C= 11,600 + 10,800 + + 6,000 + 16,00 = 44,000
D= 24,800 + 14,700 + 13,500 + 16,500 = 69,500
TOTAL values =265,150,000

1.5: Matrix determinants:

The determination of a matrix is a scalar quantify associated with square matrix. It is only
defined for square matrices, for any matrix A, its demoted as det A or I A 1

(a) The determinate of a 2 x 2 matrix the differences between the production of the
entries on the major diagonal and the products of the entries of the minors
diagonal.

Given A= a11 a12

921 722

If follow that 1 A 1 = (911 X 922) – ( 921 X 912)

-
Example: Given A = 2 1
4 2
-
The I A I 2 1 = (2 X 2) - (4x -1)=4- -4
4 2 =8

(b) Determine of a 3 x 2 matrix.

There are two methods
(i) add the 1st two columns on to the given matrix so that you set a 3 x 5 matrix
(ii) crammer’s rule
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 Let use method 1:
4 1 1
-
Given A = 2 2 1
-
1 3 2 Find (4)

Solution 4 1 1 4 1
-
3 2 1 3 2
- -
1 3 2 1 3

Major diagonal: (4 x 2 x 2) + (1x -1 x -1) + (1 x 3 x 3) =16 + 1 + 9=26

Minor diagonal: ( 1 x 3 x 2) + (4x-1 x 3) + (1 x 2 x -1) = 6 – 12 – 2 -8
Therefore a lot A = IAI = 26 - -8 = 34.

OR
Example 8

2 1 3
Find the determinant of: A = [4 5 6]
7 8 9
Solution

Using equation 15.9

5 6 4 6 4 5
|𝐴| = 2| | − 1| | + 3| |
8 9 7 9 7 8
|𝐴| = 2[(5 × 9) − (8 × 6) ] − 1[(4 × 9) − (7 × 6) ] + 3[(4 × 8) − (7 × 5) ]

|𝐴| = −6 +6 – 9

|𝐴| = −9

In the above problem, we used row one as the basis of expansion. Alternatively we could also
use the first column as the basis of expansion. Expansion by the first column will yield this result:

|𝐴| = 2 |5 6| − 4 |1 3 1 3
| + 7| |
8 9 8 9 5 6
|𝐴| = 2[(5 × 9) − (8 × 6) ] − 4[(1 × 9) − (8 × 3) ] + 7[(1 × 6) − (5 × 3) ]

|𝐴| = −6 + 60 – 63 = −9 (as before)

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Therefore, expansion by the first column yields identical result as expansion by the first row. In
general, given the matrix:

𝑑11 𝑑12 𝑑13

D = [𝑑21 𝑑22 𝑑23 ]
𝑑31 𝑑32 𝑑33

when expanding by the first column, equation 15.9 can be restated as shown in equation 10.

𝑑 𝑑23 𝑑 𝑑13 𝑑 𝑑13

|𝐷| = 𝑑11 | 22 | − 𝑑21 | 12 | + 𝑑31 | 12 | 10
𝑑32 𝑑33 𝑑32 𝑑33 𝑑22 𝑑23

The sub second-order determinant associated with each element of the first column of matrix D
is isolated by deleting all elements of D in row and column which intersect on that element of
the first column. For instance, the second order determinant (the minor) associated with 𝑑21 is
got by deleting the second row and the first column of matrix D. The following minors are
associated with the elements in the first column of D:

𝑑22 𝑑23 𝑑 𝑑13 𝑑 𝑑13

|𝑀11 | ≡ | | , |𝑀21 | ≡ | 12 | and |𝑀31 | ≡ | 12 |
𝑑32 𝑑33 𝑑32 𝑑33 𝑑22 𝑑23

Cofactors

When we attach some prescribed algebraic signs to minors, we obtain cofactors. The rule for
attaching the algebraic signs is as follows: For the minor |𝑀𝑖𝑗 |, if (−1)𝑖+𝑗 = 1, then the cofactor
takes the same sign as the minor. That is; |𝑀𝑖𝑗 | = |𝐶𝑖𝑗 |. Conversely, if (−1)𝑖+𝑗 = − 1, then the
cofactor takes the opposite sign as the minor. Alternatively, if 𝑖 + 𝑗 = an even number, then the
cofactor takes the same sign as the minor, and if 𝑖 + 𝑗 = an odd number, then the cofactor takes
the opposite sign as the minor.

Example 9

2 1 3
In the determinant|4 5 6|, the minor of the element 4 is:
7 8 9

|𝑀21 | = |1 3
| = (1× 9) – (8× 3) = –15
8 9
However, the cofactor of that same element is:

|𝐶21 | = (−1)𝑖+𝑗 |𝑀21 |

|𝐶21 | = (−1)2+1 |1 3|
8 9

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 1 3
|𝐶21 | = (−1)3 | | = −1 ×–15 = 15
8 9
Therefore, the cofactor takes an opposite sign as the minor because 2 +1 = 3 (an odd number).
The relationship between minors and cofactors established above shows that equation 10 can be
alternatively given by equation 15.11

|𝐷| = 𝑑11 |𝑀11 | − 𝑑21 |𝑀21 | + 𝑑31 |𝑀31 | 11

In terms of cofactors, equation 15.11 is given by:

|𝐷| = 𝑑11 |𝐶11 | + 𝑑21 |𝐶21 | + 𝑑31 |𝐶31 | 12

As noted earlier, whenever 𝑖 + 𝑗 = an even number, the minor will have the same sign as the
cofactor as seen with the first and the third terms of equation 11 and 12. Conversely, the signs
attached to the second term in equation 11 and 12 are different because 𝑖 + 𝑗 = an odd number.
It is to be noted that the principles laid down here for determinants of matrices applies to
matrices of higher dimensions, and lower dimensions especially the 2× 2 matrices. For instance,
given a 2× 2 matrix of the form:
𝑎11 𝑎12
A = [𝑎 𝑎22 ]
21

Its determinant is given by:

𝑎11 𝑎12
|𝐴| = |𝑎 𝑎22 | 13
21

Based on the above principle of determinant, expansion by the first row of equation 15.3 results
to:

|𝐴| = 𝑎11 |𝑎22 | − 𝑎12 |𝑎21 | 14

𝑎11
𝑎12
Note: the minor of 𝑎11 is |𝑎22 | , it is got by deleting the first row and the first column of |𝑎
𝑎 |
21 22
and the minor of 𝑎12 is |𝑎21 | got by deleting the first row and the second column of |𝐴|. Since
the determinant of a 1 × 1 matrix is that single element itself, it follows that the determinant of
A, given in equation 4 is given by:

|𝐴| = 𝑎11 𝑎22 − 𝑎12 𝑎21 15

Equation 6 is now identical to 8 for the determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix

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1.6: The inverse of a matrix.
The inverse of a matrix is also a matrix having the same order as the original matrix. It can
be determine only for square matrices. Given a square matrix A. its inverse is a matrix
denoted by A-1. The inverse of a matrix is a matrix that can be multiplied by the original
matrix so as to get an identify matrix I.

(a) The inverse of a 2 x 2 matrix. for any 2 x 2 matrix the fit procedures is following (i)
1st find the determined of a given matrix.
(ii) Inter change the entries on the major diagnoal and change the signs of the
entries on the minor diagonal of the given matrix. this results into a new matrix.
(iii) obtained the inverse by dividing the matrix obtained is (i)

-
Examples: Given A = 2 1 Find A-1 hence show that A-1 is an identify matrix.
4 3

Solution
i) IAI = (2 X 3) – (-1 X 4) = 6- -4 = 10.
ii) The new matrix is 3 1
-
4 2

1 3 1
iii) A-1 = 10 -
4 2

-
1 3 1 2 1 1 10 0 1 0
iv) A-1 x A = 10 -
4 2 4 3 10 0 10 0 1

OR
i. We obtain the cofactor matrix for matrix A

ii. We then transpose the cofactor matrix, the transpose of a cofactor matrix is normally
called the adjoin of matrix A.

iii. Finally we divide the adjoin of matrix A by |𝐴| to obtain the inverse of A.

We summarize the above steps as follows:

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 Given the matrix
𝑎11 𝑎12
A = [𝑎 𝑎22 ] 16
21

The corresponding cofactor matrix for matrix A is given by:

|𝑐11 | |𝑐12 |
C = [ ] 17
|𝑐21 | |𝑐22 |

The transpose of the cofactor matrix is given by:

|𝑐11 | |𝑐21 |
𝐶𝑇 = Adj A = [ ] 18
|𝑐12 | |𝑐22 |

The inverse of A is now given as in equation 15.19

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐴
𝐴−1 = |𝐴|
19

Example 10

3 4
Find the inverse of A = [ ]
2 8
|𝐴| = (3×8) – (2×4) = 16

Since |𝐴| ≠ 0, the inverse of A exists.

|𝑐11 | |𝑐12 | 8 −2
C = [ ] = [ ]
|𝑐21 | |𝑐22 | −4 3

8 −4
𝐶𝑇 = Adj A = [ ]
−2 3
8⁄ −4⁄
8 −4
] = [ 16 16]
−1 𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐴 1
𝐴 = = [
|𝐴| 16 −2 3 −2⁄ 3⁄
16 16
For 2× 2 matrices, it is easy to note the relationship between matrix A and its adjoin matrix, the
transpose of its cofactor matrix. That is; for the adjoin matrix, there will be an interchange in the
values in the major diagonal, and change in algebraic signs of the values in the minor diagonal as
seen in example 10 . The product of matrix A and its inverse 𝐴−1 yields an important result as
shown below:

8⁄ −4⁄ 8 −2 −4 3
A𝐴−1 = [
3 4
] [ 16 16] = [3 × ⁄16 + 4 × ⁄16 3 × ⁄16 + 4 × ⁄16]
2 8 −2⁄ 3⁄ 2 × 8⁄16 + 8 × −2⁄16 2 × −4⁄16 + 8 × 3⁄16
16 16

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 24⁄ − 8⁄ −12⁄ + 12⁄
A𝐴 −1
= [ 16 16 16 16]
16⁄ − 16⁄ −8⁄ + 24⁄
16 16 16 16
1 0
A𝐴−1 = [ ]
0 1
The above result is not by coincidence but it is one important property of inverses of matrices.
1 0
The matrix [ ] is called an identity matrix. Whenever we multiply a given matrix by its inverse,
0 1
we get an identity matrix. Identity matrices are square matrices with values 1 in its major diagonal
and values 0 in all other places. An example of identity matrix is:

1 0 0
B = [0 1 0]
0 0 1
Example 11

4 −2 1
Find the inverse of the matrix B = [7 3 0]
2 0 1
Solution

3 0 7 0 7 3
|𝐵| = 4| | + 2| | + 1| |
0 1 2 1 2 0
|𝐵| = 4× 3 + 2×7 + 1× −6 = 20

Since |𝐵| ≠ 0, the inverse of B exists

We obtain cofactors as follows:

3 0
|𝐶11 | = | | = 3
0 1

|𝐶12 | = 7 0
−1 | | = −7
2 1
7 3
|𝐶13 | = | | = −6
2 0
−2 1
|𝐶21 | = −1 | | = 2
0 1

|𝐶22 | = 4 1
| | = 2
2 1

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 4 −2
|𝐶23 | = −1 | | = −4
2 0
−2 1
|𝐶31 | = | | = −3
3 0
4 1
|𝐶32 | = −1 | | = 7
7 0
4 −2
|𝐶33 | = | | = 26
7 3
3 −7 −6
C = [ 2 2 −4]
−3 7 26
3 2 −3
𝐶𝑇 = [−7 2 7]
−6 −4 26
𝐶𝑇
𝐵 −1 = |𝐵|

3 2 3
−1 1
𝐵 = [−7 2 7]
20
−6 −4 26
3⁄ 2⁄ −3⁄
20 20 20
𝐵 −1 = −7⁄ 2⁄ 7⁄
20 20 20
−6⁄ −4⁄ 26⁄
[ 20 20 20 ]
Readers should verify that B𝐵 −1 = I where I is an identity matrix

1.7: Application of matrices

Solving simultaneous equations.

Introduction
Matrixes can be used to find solution to a set of linear simultaneous equations. This text
covers two methods that are used these are.

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(i). Determinant or cramer’s rule method for both methods, the system of linear
simultaneous equation is first written in matrix form.

For example. Given the following system of linear simultaneous equation.

9x + 7y – 8z = 5
4z – 3x - 2y = 1
6y + 12z + 5g = 0

We first re-arranges it in the form

9 x + 7y – 8z = 5
-
3x + 2y + 4z = 11
5x + 6y + 127 = 0

We then express this system in a matrix form as follows:

-
9 7 8 x 5
-
3 2 4 * y = 11
5 6 12 z 0

Where
9 7 8 x 5
-
3 2 4 y 11
5 6 12 z 0
is a coefficient’s matrix is the constants’ matrix

The same approaches is also applicable to simultaneous equation with only two unknown
for example
Given 5x + y =10 and 2x +2y = 12
This can be re-arrange as;
5x + y =10
2x + 2y = 12

Where
5 1 x 10
2 2 y = 1

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Where
5 1 x and 10
2 2 y 12
is a coefficient’s matrix is the constants’ matrix
is the unknown matrix

The determinant or Cramer’s rule method

Under this method, the following procedure is followed:
(a) Determine the determinant of the coefficients matrix.
(b) for any unknown to be found, replace its coefficients in the coefficient matrix by
the constants matrix
(c) Determine the determine of this new matrix
(d) Divide the determinant got in (c) by the determinant got in (a)
(e) This gives the values of the corresponding unknown.

Examples I:
Using the Cramer’s rule, solve the following simultaneous equation.
5x + y = 10
2x + 2y = 6

Solution
(a) Write the system of equation in a matrix form
5x + y = 10 to 5 1 x 10
2x + 2y =6 2 2 y 6

(b) Determinate of the coefficient matrix is

ICI = (5 x 2) – ( 1 x 2) = 10 - 2 = 8

(c) To get the values of x, replace the coefficient of x by the constants’ matrix to get
the new matrix as below:

10 1
6 2

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 (d) the value of x is got as follows
x = (0 x 2) – (6 x 1) = 20 – 6 = 14 = 7 = 1.75
8 8 8 4

(e) similarly is got as follows

5 10
2 6

y =(5y 6) – (2 x 10) = 30 -20 = 10 = 5 = 1.25

8 8 8 4
NB; Prove your answers by substituting for value of x and y = equation 5x +y = 10

Example II: Given 4 x + 3y-2z = 7

x+y=5
3x + 4z = 4
Find x, y and z
Solution: this can be written as

-
4 3 2 x 7
1 1 0 y = 5
3 0 4 z 4

(f) The determinant of the coefficients matrix is got as below

4 3 -2 4 3
1 1 2 1 1
3 0 4 3 0

Major = (4 x 14 x 4) + (3 x 0 x 3) + (-2x 1 x 0) = 16
Minors = (3 x 1 x 4 ) + (4 x 0 x 0) + (-2 x 1 x 3) = 6
ICI = 16 – 6 = 10
(g) x is got as below replace the coefficient of x by the constant matrix:
x= 7 3 -2 the determinate of the numerator is equal
5 1 0 to
4 0 4
10

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 (h) the determinate of the numerator is equal to
7 3 -2 7 3
5 1 0 5 1
4 0 4 4 0

Major= ( 7 x 1 x 4) + (3x 04) + (-2x 5 x 0) = 28

Minors = (3 x 5 x 4) + (7 x 0 x 6) + (-2 x 1 x 4) = 52
The determinant is equal to 28 – 52 = 24
Thereforex = -2x = -2.4
10
-
y= 4 7 2
1 5 0
3 4 4
10

The determinant of the numerator is equal to

4 7 -2 4 7
1 5 0 1 5
3 4 4 3 4

Major = ( 4 x 5 x 4) + 7 x 0 x 3) + (-2x 1 x 4) = 7z
Minors = ( 7 x 1 x 4) + (4 x 0 x 4)+ (-2 x 5 x 3) -2
ICI = 72 - -2 = 74
y = 74 = 7.4
10

e) t= 4 3 7
1 1 5
3 0 4
10
The determinant of the numerator is equal to

4 3 7 4 3
1 1 5 1 1
3 0 4 3 0

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Majors = (4 x 1 x 4) + (3 x 5 x 3) + (7 x 1 x 0) = 6
Minors (3x 1 x 4) + (4 x 5 x 0) + (7 x 1 x 3) = 33
ICI = 61 – 33 = 28
Z = 28 = 2.8
10
x = -2.4, Y = 7.4 and Z = 2.8 respectively

ii) The matrix inverse methods:

Under this method, we use the inverse of the coefficients matrix to find the solutions of
the linear simultaneous equation.
Suppose we let
A represents the coefficients’ matrix
X represent the unknowns’ matrix
C represent constants’ matrix

It then follows that

AX = C------------------(i)
If we determined the inverse of the coefficients’ matrix A as AI and multiply if on both
sides of the above equation, if follows that,
A1A = A-1C -----------------------------------------------------(ii)
But A-1 = I----------------------------------------------------(iii)
Where I is the identify matrix
Equation (ii) now becomes
Ix = A-1C---------------------------------------------------(iv)

But also
IX = R---------------------------------------------------(v)

If then follows that,

X = A-1C-----------------------------------------------(iv)

Therefore, under this method, the values of the unknowns are got by multiplying the
constants’ matrix by the inverse of the coefficient matrix

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Example: Given the following linear equations
3x – 4y = 20
2x + y = -10, find x and y using the matrix inverse method.

Solution
The above equation can be written into a matrix form as
-
3 4 x 20
-
2 1 y 10

-
We can find the inverse of the coefficient matrix as let A= 3 4
2 1
IAI = (3 X 1) – (-4 X2) = 11
Therefore the inverse of A = A-1 is equal to

1 1 4
-
11 2 3

Given that
AX = C
it then follows hat
X = A-1C

Therefore
X = 1 1 4 20
- -
Y 11 2 3 10

- -
X = (1 X 20) + (4 X -10) = 20 – 40 = 20 = 1.82
11 11 11

Y= (-2 X 20) + (3 x -10) = -40 – 30 = 70 = - 6.36

11 11 11

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