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CLASS 12 · MATHEMATICS PART I · CHAPTER 3

Matrices

Start with short answers, then open the explanation for clear, step-by-step matrix working.

86 worked answersAll 4 exercise setsAll 11 end-of-chapter questions

86 worked answers · short steps first, explanations when you need them

Exercise 3.1 · Matrices, order and equality

Textbook pages 42–43

Question 1

For A = [[2, 5, 19, −7], [35, −2, 5/2, 12], [√3, 1, −5, 17]], find its order, its number of entries, and a₁₃, a₂₁, a₃₃, a₂₄ and a₂₃.

Steps only

A has 3 rows and 4 columns, so its order is 3 × 4 and it has 12 entries.

a₁₃=19, a₂₁=35, a₃₃=−5, a₂₄=12 and a₂₃=5/2.

Answer

Order 3 × 4; 12 entries; a₁₃=19, a₂₁=35, a₃₃=−5, a₂₄=12, a₂₃=5/2.

Question 2

List all possible orders of a matrix with 24 entries, and then of a matrix with 13 entries.

Steps only

An m × n matrix has mn entries, so list the ordered factor pairs.

Answer

For 24: 1×24, 2×12, 3×8, 4×6, 6×4, 8×3, 12×2, 24×1. For 13: 1×13, 13×1.

Question 3

List all possible orders of a matrix with 18 entries, and then of a matrix with 5 entries.

Steps only

Write every positive factor pair in row-count × column-count order.

Answer

For 18: 1×18, 2×9, 3×6, 6×3, 9×2, 18×1. For 5: 1×5, 5×1.

Question 4(i)

Construct a 2 × 2 matrix with entries aᵢⱼ = (i + j)²/2.

Steps only

Use i,j = 1,2: a₁₁=2, a₁₂=9/2, a₂₁=9/2, a₂₂=8.

Answer

[[2, 9/2], [9/2, 8]]

Question 4(ii)

Construct a 2 × 2 matrix with entries aᵢⱼ = i/j.

Steps only

Substitute i,j = 1,2 into i/j.

Answer

[[1, 1/2], [2, 1]]

Question 4(iii)

Construct a 2 × 2 matrix with entries aᵢⱼ = (i + 2j)²/2.

Steps only

For i,j = 1,2 the entries are 9/2, 25/2, 8 and 18, in row order.

Answer

[[9/2, 25/2], [8, 18]]

Question 5(i)

Construct a 3 × 4 matrix with entries aᵢⱼ = |3i − j|/2.

Steps only

Substitute i=1,2,3 and j=1,2,3,4 into the rule, one row at a time.

Answer

[[1, 1/2, 0, 1/2], [5/2, 2, 3/2, 1], [4, 7/2, 3, 5/2]]

Question 5(ii)

Construct a 3 × 4 matrix with entries aᵢⱼ = 2i − j.

Steps only

For each row, substitute its row number i and let j run from 1 to 4.

Answer

[[1, 0, −1, −2], [3, 2, 1, 0], [5, 4, 3, 2]]

Question 6(i)

Find x, y and z if [[4, 3], [x, 5]] = [[y, z], [1, 5]].

Steps only

4=y, so y=4 3=z, so z=3 x=1

Answer

x = 1, y = 4, z = 3

Question 6(ii)

Find x, y and z if [[x+y, 2], [5+z, xy]] = [[6, 2], [5, 8]].

Steps only

x+y=6 5+z=5, so z=0 xy=8 (t−2)(t−4)=t²−6t+8=0 So the pair (x,y) is (2,4) or (4,2) Check both: sum 6 and product 8

Answer

(x, y, z) = (4, 2, 0) or (2, 4, 0)

Question 6(iii)

Find x, y and z if the column matrices [x+y+z, x+z, y+z]ᵀ and [9, 5, 7]ᵀ are equal.

Steps only

Equate the entries: x+y+z=9, x+z=5, y+z=7. Solving gives x=2, y=4, z=3.

Answer

x = 2, y = 4, z = 3

Question 7

Find a, b, c and d if [[a−b, 2a+c], [2a−b, 3c+d]] = [[−1, 5], [0, 13]].

Steps only

a−b=−1 2a+c=5 2a−b=0 3c+d=13 (a−b)−(2a−b)=−1−0, so −a=−1 and a=1 2a−b=0 gives 2−b=0, so b=2 2a+c=5 gives 2+c=5, so c=3 3c+d=13 gives 9+d=13, so d=4

Answer

a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = 4

Question 8

A matrix A=[aᵢⱼ] of order m × n is a square matrix if: (A) m<n, (B) m>n, (C) m=n, or (D) none of these.

Steps only

A square matrix has the same number of rows and columns.

Answer

(C) m = n

Question 9

Which values of x and y make [[3x+7, 5], [y+1, 2−3x]] equal to [[0, y−2], [8, 4]]? Choose (A) x=−1/3,y=7; (B) not possible; (C) y=7,x=−2/3; or (D) x=−1/3,y=−2/3.

Steps only

3x+7=0 gives x=−7/3 2−3x=4 gives x=−2/3 −7/3 ≠ −2/3 Therefore the matrices cannot be equal; choose (B).

Answer

(B) Not possible to find such x and y.

Question 10

How many 3 × 3 matrices can be formed when every entry must be either 0 or 1?

Steps only

There are 9 positions and 2 choices for each: 2⁹ = 512.

Answer

512

Exercise 3.2 · Operations on matrices

Textbook pages 58–64

Question 4

If A=[[1, 2, −3], [5, 0, 2], [1, −1, 1]], B=[[3, −1, 2], [4, 2, 5], [2, 0, 3]] and C=[[4, 1, 2], [0, 3, 2], [1, −2, 3]], find A+B and B−C. Verify that A+(B−C)=(A+B)−C.

Steps only

A+B=[[4,1,−1],[9,2,7],[3,−1,4]] B−C=[[-1,−2,0],[4,−1,3],[1,2,0]] A+(B−C)=[[0,0,−3],[9,−1,5],[2,1,1]] (A+B)−C=[[0,0,−3],[9,−1,5],[2,1,1]]

Answer

A+B=[[4,1,−1],[9,2,7],[3,−1,4]], B−C=[[-1,−2,0],[4,−1,3],[1,2,0]]. Both sides equal [[0,0,−3],[9,−1,5],[2,1,1]].

Question 5

If A=[[2/3, 1, 5/3], [1/3, 2/3, 4/3], [7/3, 2, 2/3]] and B=[[2/5, 3/5, 1], [1/5, 2/5, 4/5], [7/5, 6/5, 2/5]], compute 3A−5B.

Steps only

3A=[[2,3,5],[1,2,4],[7,6,2]] 5B=[[2,3,5],[1,2,4],[7,6,2]] Therefore 3A−5B is the 3×3 zero matrix.

Answer

[[0,0,0],[0,0,0],[0,0,0]]

Question 6

Simplify cosθ[[cosθ, sinθ], [−sinθ, cosθ]] + sinθ[[sinθ, −cosθ], [cosθ, sinθ]].

Steps only

The top-left and bottom-right entries become cos²θ+sin²θ=1; the off-diagonal entries cancel to 0.

Answer

[[1, 0], [0, 1]]

Question 1(i)

Let A=[[2, 4], [3, 2]], B=[[1, 3], [−2, 5]], and C=[[−2, 5], [3, 4]]. Find A+B.

Steps only

A+B = [[2+1, 4+3], [3+(−2), 2+5]] = [[3, 7], [1, 7]]

Answer

[[3, 7], [1, 7]]

Question 1(ii)

Let A=[[2, 4], [3, 2]], B=[[1, 3], [−2, 5]], and C=[[−2, 5], [3, 4]]. Find A−B.

Steps only

A−B = [[2−1, 4−3], [3−(−2), 2−5]] = [[1, 1], [5, −3]]

Answer

[[1, 1], [5, −3]]

Question 1(iii)

Let A=[[2, 4], [3, 2]], B=[[1, 3], [−2, 5]], and C=[[−2, 5], [3, 4]]. Find 3A−C.

Steps only

3A = [[6, 12], [9, 6]] 3A−C = [[6−(−2), 12−5], [9−3, 6−4]] = [[8, 7], [6, 2]]

Answer

[[8, 7], [6, 2]]

Question 1(iv)

Let A=[[2, 4], [3, 2]], B=[[1, 3], [−2, 5]], and C=[[−2, 5], [3, 4]]. Find AB.

Steps only

Top-left: 2·1 + 4·(−2) = −6 Top-right: 2·3 + 4·5 = 26 Bottom-left: 3·1 + 2·(−2) = −1 Bottom-right: 3·3 + 2·5 = 19 AB = [[−6, 26], [−1, 19]]

Answer

[[-6, 26], [−1, 19]]

Question 1(v)

Let A=[[2, 4], [3, 2]], B=[[1, 3], [−2, 5]], and C=[[−2, 5], [3, 4]]. Find BA.

Steps only

Top-left: 1·2 + 3·3 = 11 Top-right: 1·4 + 3·2 = 10 Bottom-left: (−2)·2 + 5·3 = 11 Bottom-right: (−2)·4 + 5·2 = 2 BA = [[11, 10], [11, 2]]

Answer

[[11, 10], [11, 2]]

Question 2(i)

Compute [[a, b], [b, a]] + [[a, b], [−b, a]].

Steps only

Top row: a+a=2a and b+b=2b Bottom row: b+(−b)=0 and a+a=2a Sum = [[2a, 2b], [0, 2a]]

Answer

[[2a, 2b], [0, 2a]]

Question 2(ii)

Compute [[a²+b², b²+c²], [a²+c², a²+b²]] + [[2ab, 2bc], [−2ac, −2ab]].

Steps only

a²+b²+2ab=(a+b)² b²+c²+2bc=(b+c)² a²+c²−2ac=(a−c)² a²+b²−2ab=(a−b)²

Answer

[[(a+b)², (b+c)²], [(a−c)², (a−b)²]]

Question 2(iii)

Compute [[−1, 4, −6], [8, 5, 16], [2, 8, 5]] + [[12, 7, 6], [8, 0, 5], [3, 2, 4]].

Steps only

Row 1: −1+12=11, 4+7=11, −6+6=0 Row 2: 8+8=16, 5+0=5, 16+5=21 Row 3: 2+3=5, 8+2=10, 5+4=9

Answer

[[11, 11, 0], [16, 5, 21], [5, 10, 9]]

Question 2(iv)

Compute [[cos²x, sin²x], [sin²x, cos²x]] + [[sin²x, cos²x], [cos²x, sin²x]].

Steps only

Each diagonal entry: cos²x+sin²x=1 Each off-diagonal entry: sin²x+cos²x=1 The sum is the 2 × 2 matrix of all ones.

Answer

[[1, 1], [1, 1]]

Question 3(i)

Find [[a, b], [−b, a]] [[a, −b], [b, a]].

Steps only

(1,1): a²+b² (1,2): −ab+ab=0 (2,1): −ab+ab=0 (2,2): b²+a² Product = (a²+b²)I₂

Answer

[[(a²+b²), 0], [0, (a²+b²)]]

Question 3(ii)

Find the product [1, 2, 3]ᵀ [2, 3, 4].

Steps only

Row 1: 1·[2,3,4]=[2,3,4] Row 2: 2·[2,3,4]=[4,6,8] Row 3: 3·[2,3,4]=[6,9,12]

Answer

[[2, 3, 4], [4, 6, 8], [6, 9, 12]]

Question 3(iii)

Find [[1, −2], [2, 3]] [[1, 2, 3], [2, 3, 1]].

Steps only

First row: 1·1+(−2)·2=−3; 1·2+(−2)·3=−4; 1·3+(−2)·1=1 Second row: 2·1+3·2=8; 2·2+3·3=13; 2·3+3·1=9

Answer

[[-3, −4, 1], [8, 13, 9]]

Question 3(iv)

Find [[2, 3, 4], [3, 4, 5], [4, 5, 6]] [[1, −3, 5], [0, 2, 4], [3, 0, 5]].

Steps only

Row 1 gives: 2+0+12=14; −6+6+0=0; 10+12+20=42 Row 2 gives: 3+0+15=18; −9+8+0=−1; 15+16+25=56 Row 3 gives: 4+0+18=22; −12+10+0=−2; 20+20+30=70

Answer

[[14, 0, 42], [18, −1, 56], [22, −2, 70]]

Question 3(v)

Find [[2, 1], [3, 2], [−1, 1]] [[1, 0, 1], [−1, 2, 1]].

Steps only

Row 1: 2−1=1; 0+2=2; 2+1=3 Row 2: 3−2=1; 0+4=4; 3+2=5 Row 3: −1−1=−2; 0+2=2; −1+1=0

Answer

[[1, 2, 3], [1, 4, 5], [−2, 2, 0]]

Question 3(vi)

Find [[3, −1, 3], [−1, 0, 2]] [[2, −3], [1, 0], [3, 1]].

Steps only

Top-left: 3·2+(−1)·1+3·3=14 Top-right: 3·(−3)+(−1)·0+3·1=−6 Bottom-left: (−1)·2+0·1+2·3=4 Bottom-right: (−1)·(−3)+0·0+2·1=5

Answer

[[14, −6], [4, 5]]

Question 7(i)

Find X and Y if X+Y=[[7, 0], [2, 5]] and X−Y=[[3, 0], [0, 3]].

Steps only

2X=[[7+3, 0+0], [2+0, 5+3]]=[[10,0],[2,8]] 2Y=[[7−3, 0−0], [2−0, 5−3]]=[[4,0],[2,2]] X=[[5,0],[1,4]] Y=[[2,0],[1,1]]

Answer

X=[[5, 0], [1, 4]], Y=[[2, 0], [1, 1]]

Question 7(ii)

Find X and Y if 2X+3Y=[[2, 3], [4, 0]] and 3X+2Y=[[2, −2], [−1, 5]].

Steps only

3(2X+3Y)=6X+9Y=[[6,9],[12,0]] 2(3X+2Y)=6X+4Y=[[4,−4],[−2,10]] 5Y=[[2,13],[14,−10]] Y=[[2/5,13/5],[14/5,−2]] 3(3X+2Y)=9X+6Y=[[6,−6],[−3,15]] 2(2X+3Y)=4X+6Y=[[4,6],[8,0]] 5X=[[2,−12],[−11,15]] X=[[2/5,−12/5],[−11/5,3]]

Answer

X=[[2/5, −12/5], [−11/5, 3]], Y=[[2/5, 13/5], [14/5, −2]]

Question 8

Find X if Y=[[3, 2], [1, 4]] and 2X+Y=[[1, 0], [−3, 2]].

Steps only

2X=[[1,0],[−3,2]]−[[3,2],[1,4]] 2X=[[-2,−2],[−4,−2]] X=[[-1,−1],[−2,−1]]

Answer

X=[[-1, −1], [−2, −1]]

Question 9

Find x and y if 2[[1, 3], [0, x]] + [[y, 0], [1, 2]] = [[5, 6], [1, 8]].

Steps only

2[[1,3],[0,x]]=[[2,6],[0,2x]] Sum = [[2+y,6],[1,2x+2]] 2+y=5, so y=3 2x+2=8, so 2x=6 and x=3 The other entries already agree: 6=6 and 1=1

Answer

x=3, y=3

Question 10

Solve for x, y, z and t if 2[[x, z], [y, t]] + 3[[1, −1], [0, 2]] = 3[[3, 5], [4, 6]].

Steps only

3[[1,−1],[0,2]]=[[3,−3],[0,6]] 3[[3,5],[4,6]]=[[9,15],[12,18]] 2[[x,z],[y,t]]=[[9−3,15−(−3)],[12−0,18−6]]=[[6,18],[12,12]] [[x,z],[y,t]]=[[3,9],[6,6]] Read the positions: x=3, z=9, y=6, t=6

Answer

x=3, y=6, z=9, t=6

Question 11

If x[2, 3]ᵀ + y[−1, 1]ᵀ = [10, 5]ᵀ, find x and y.

Steps only

Top entry: 2x−y=10 Bottom entry: 3x+y=5 (2x−y)+(3x+y)=10+5, so 5x=15 and x=3 2(3)−y=10 gives 6−y=10, so y=−4 Check bottom entry: 3(3)+(−4)=5

Answer

x=3, y=−4

Question 12

Given 3[[x, y], [z, w]] = [[x, 6], [−1, 2w]] + [[4, x+y], [z+w, 3]], find x, y, z and w.

Steps only

Left side = [[3x,3y],[3z,3w]] Right side = [[x+4,6+x+y],[z+w−1,2w+3]] 3x=x+4 gives x=2 3y=6+x+y gives 2y=8, so y=4 3w=2w+3 gives w=3 3z=z+w−1 gives 2z=2, so z=1

Answer

x=2, y=4, z=1, w=3

Question 13

Let F(x)=[[cos x, −sin x, 0], [sin x, cos x, 0], [0, 0, 1]]. Show that F(x)F(y)=F(x+y).

Steps only

(1,1): cos x cos y−sin x sin y=cos(x+y) (1,2): −cos x sin y−sin x cos y=−sin(x+y) (2,1): sin x cos y+cos x sin y=sin(x+y) (2,2): −sin x sin y+cos x cos y=cos(x+y) The third row and column leave the final diagonal entry 1 and all other third-row/column entries 0.

Answer

F(x)F(y)=[[cos(x+y), −sin(x+y), 0], [sin(x+y), cos(x+y), 0], [0, 0, 1]]=F(x+y).

Question 14(i)

Show that [[5, 1], [6, 7]][[2, 1], [3, 4]] is not equal to the product in reverse order.

Steps only

AB=[[5·2+1·3, 5·1+1·4],[6·2+7·3, 6·1+7·4]] AB=[[13,9],[33,34]] BA=[[2·5+1·6, 2·1+1·7],[3·5+4·6, 3·1+4·7]] BA=[[16,9],[39,31]] The top-left entries are 13 and 16, so AB≠BA.

Answer

AB=[[13, 9], [33, 34]] while BA=[[16, 9], [39, 31]], so AB≠BA.

Question 14(ii)

Show that A B is not equal to B A for A=[[1, 2, 3], [0, 1, 0], [1, 1, 0]] and B=[[1, 1, 0], [0, 1, 1], [2, 3, 4]].

Steps only

AB=[[7,12,14],[0,1,1],[1,2,1]] BA=[[1,3,3],[1,3,1],[6,11,6]] Since 7≠1, AB≠BA.

Answer

AB=[[7, 12, 14], [0, 1, 1], [1, 2, 1]] and BA=[[1, 3, 3], [1, 2, 0], [6, 11, 6]], so AB≠BA.

Question 15

Find A²−5A+6I for A=[[2, 0, 1], [2, 1, 3], [1, −1, 0]] and the 3 × 3 identity matrix I.

Steps only

A²=[[5,−1,2],[9,−2,5],[0,−1,−2]] −5A=[[-10,0,−5],[−10,−5,−15],[−5,5,0]] 6I=[[6,0,0],[0,6,0],[0,0,6]] A²−5A+6I=[[1,−1,−3],[−1,−1,−10],[−5,4,4]]

Answer

[[1, −1, −3], [−1, −1, −10], [−5, 4, 4]]

Question 16

For A=[[1, 0, 2], [0, 2, 1], [2, 0, 3]], verify A³−6A²+7A+2I=O.

Steps only

A²=[[5,0,8],[2,4,5],[8,0,13]] A³=[[21,0,34],[12,8,23],[34,0,55]] −6A²=[[-30,0,−48],[−12,−24,−30],[−48,0,−78]] 7A=[[7,0,14],[0,14,7],[14,0,21]] 2I=[[2,0,0],[0,2,0],[0,0,2]] Adding these to A³ gives [[0,0,0],[0,0,0],[0,0,0]]=O₃

Answer

A³−6A²+7A+2I=O₃.

Question 17

If A=[[3, −2], [4, −2]] and I is the 2 × 2 identity matrix, find k such that A²=kA−2I.

Steps only

A²=[[3·3+(−2)·4, 3·(−2)+(−2)·(−2)],[4·3+(−2)·4, 4·(−2)+(−2)·(−2)]] A²=[[1,−2],[4,−4]] A−2I=[[3−2,−2],[4,−2−2]]=[[1,−2],[4,−4]]=A² Therefore k=1.

Answer

k=1

Question 18

Let A=[[0, −tan(α/2)], [tan(α/2), 0]] and I be the 2 × 2 identity matrix. Show that I+A=(I−A)[[cos α, −sin α], [sin α, cos α]].

Steps only

I+A=[[1,−t],[t,1]] I−A=[[1,t],[−t,1]] Product=[[cos α+t sin α, −sin α+t cos α],[sin α−t cos α, t sin α+cos α]] cos α+t sin α=1 sin α−t cos α=t Thus the product is [[1,−t],[t,1]]=I+A.

Answer

I+A=(I−A)[[cos α, −sin α], [sin α, cos α]].

Question 19

A ₹30,000 trust fund is invested in bonds paying 5% and 7% annual interest. Find the amount in each bond if the annual interest is (a) ₹1,800 and (b) ₹2,000.

Steps only

Use the matrix system [[1,1],[5,7]][x,y]ᵀ=[30,000,100I]ᵀ. For ₹1,800 the amounts are ₹15,000 and ₹15,000; for ₹2,000 they are ₹5,000 and ₹25,000.

Answer

(a) ₹15,000 at 5% and ₹15,000 at 7%. (b) ₹5,000 at 5% and ₹25,000 at 7%.

Question 20

A school bookshop has 10 dozen chemistry books, 8 dozen physics books and 10 dozen economics books. Their prices are ₹80, ₹60 and ₹40 each. Find the total sales using matrix multiplication.

Steps only

10×12=120; 8×12=96; 10×12=120 [120, 96, 120]·[80, 60, 40]ᵀ =120·80+96·60+120·40 =9,600+5,760+4,800=₹20,160

Answer

₹20,160

Question 21

Let X be 2×n, Y be 3×k, Z be 2×p, W be n×3 and P be p×k. Which restrictions make PY+WY defined? (A) k=3,p=n (B) k arbitrary,p=2 (C) p arbitrary,k=3 (D) k=2,p=3.

Steps only

P(p×k)Y(3×k) requires k=3; then PY has order p×3 W(n×3)Y(3×k) is defined and WY has order n×k Required restrictions: k=3 and p=n Choose (A).

Answer

(A) k=3 and p=n

Question 22

Using X of order 2×n and Z of order 2×p, if n=p, find the order of 7X−5Z.

Steps only

7X has order 2×n 5Z has order 2×p=2×n Therefore 7X−5Z has order 2×n.

Answer

2×n

Exercise 3.3 · Transpose and symmetric matrices

Textbook pages 66–68

Question 1(i)

Find the transpose of [[5], [1/2], [−1]].

Steps only

The 3×1 column becomes a 1×3 row.

Answer

[5, 1/2, −1]

Question 1(ii)

Find the transpose of [[1, −1], [2, 3]].

Steps only

Turn each row into the matching column.

Answer

[[1, 2], [−1, 3]]

Question 1(iii)

Find the transpose of [[−1, 5, 6], [√3, 5, 6], [2, 3, −1]].

Steps only

Rows become columns, keeping each entry in its new position.

Answer

[[-1, √3, 2], [5, 5, 3], [6, 6, −1]]

Question 2(i)

For A=[[-1, 2, 3], [5, 7, 9], [-2, 1, 1]] and B=[[-4, 1, -5], [1, 2, 0], [1, 3, 1]], verify that (A + B)ᵀ=Aᵀ + Bᵀ.

Steps only

Both sides equal [[-5, 6, -1], [3, 9, 4], [-2, 9, 2]].

Answer

(A + B)ᵀ = Aᵀ + Bᵀ = [[-5, 6, -1], [3, 9, 4], [-2, 9, 2]]

Question 2(ii)

For A=[[-1, 2, 3], [5, 7, 9], [-2, 1, 1]] and B=[[-4, 1, -5], [1, 2, 0], [1, 3, 1]], verify that (A − B)ᵀ=Aᵀ − Bᵀ.

Steps only

Both sides equal [[3, 4, -3], [1, 5, -2], [8, 9, 0]].

Answer

(A − B)ᵀ = Aᵀ − Bᵀ = [[3, 4, -3], [1, 5, -2], [8, 9, 0]]

Question 3(i)

If Aᵀ=[[3, 4], [-1, 2], [0, 1]] and B=[[-1, 2, 1], [1, 2, 3]], verify (A + B)ᵀ=Aᵀ + Bᵀ.

Steps only

First recover A=[[3, -1, 0], [4, 2, 1]]. Then both sides equal [[2, 5], [1, 4], [1, 4]].

Answer

Both sides equal [[2, 5], [1, 4], [1, 4]].

Question 3(ii)

If Aᵀ=[[3, 4], [-1, 2], [0, 1]] and B=[[-1, 2, 1], [1, 2, 3]], verify (A − B)ᵀ=Aᵀ − Bᵀ.

Steps only

First recover A=[[3, -1, 0], [4, 2, 1]]. Then both sides equal [[4, 3], [-3, 0], [-1, -2]].

Answer

Both sides equal [[4, 3], [-3, 0], [-1, -2]].

Question 4

If Aᵀ=[[-2, 3], [1, 2]] and B=[[-1, 0], [1, 2]], find (A+2B)ᵀ.

Steps only

Recover A by transposing Aᵀ, then add 2B and transpose.

Answer

[[-4, 5], [1, 6]]

Question 5(i)

For A=[[1], [-4], [3]] and B=[[-1, 2, 1]], verify (AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ.

Steps only

Multiply A by B, transpose the result, then multiply Bᵀ by Aᵀ; both products match.

Answer

(AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ=[[-1, 4, -3], [2, -8, 6], [1, -4, 3]]

Question 5(ii)

For A=[[0], [1], [2]] and B=[[1, 5, 7]], verify (AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ.

Steps only

Multiply A by B, transpose the result, then multiply Bᵀ by Aᵀ; both products match.

Answer

(AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ=[[0, 1, 2], [0, 5, 10], [0, 7, 14]]

Question 6(i)

If A=[[cosα, sinα], [−sinα, cosα]], verify that AᵀA=I.

Steps only

Transpose A and multiply. The diagonal entries become sin²α+cos²α=1, while the off-diagonal entries cancel.

Answer

AᵀA=[[1, 0], [0, 1]]=I

Question 6(ii)

If A=[[sinα, cosα], [−cosα, sinα]], verify that AᵀA=I.

Steps only

Transpose A and multiply. The diagonal entries become sin²α+cos²α=1, while the off-diagonal entries cancel.

Answer

AᵀA=[[1, 0], [0, 1]]=I

Question 7(i)

Show that [[1, −1, 5], [−1, 2, 1], [5, 1, 3]] is symmetric.

Steps only

The entries mirror across the main diagonal, so transposing leaves A unchanged.

Answer

Aᵀ=A, so A is symmetric.

Question 7(ii)

Show that [[0, 1, −1], [−1, 0, 1], [1, −1, 0]] is skew-symmetric.

Steps only

After transposing, every off-diagonal entry changes sign and diagonal entries remain zero.

Answer

Aᵀ=−A, so A is skew-symmetric.

Question 8(i)

For A=[[1, 5], [6, 7]], verify that A + Aᵀ is symmetric.

Steps only

First Aᵀ=[[1, 6], [5, 7]]. Then A + Aᵀ=[[2, 11], [11, 14]]. Transposing gives [[2, 11], [11, 14]], confirming it is symmetric.

Answer

A + Aᵀ=[[2, 11], [11, 14]]; its transpose is [[2, 11], [11, 14]], which equals the matrix.

Question 8(ii)

For A=[[1, 5], [6, 7]], verify that A − Aᵀ is skew-symmetric.

Steps only

First Aᵀ=[[1, 6], [5, 7]]. Then A − Aᵀ=[[0, -1], [1, 0]]. Transposing gives [[0, 1], [-1, 0]], confirming it is skew-symmetric.

Answer

A − Aᵀ=[[0, -1], [1, 0]]; its transpose is [[0, 1], [-1, 0]], which equals its negative.

Question 9

Find ½(A+Aᵀ) and ½(A−Aᵀ), when A=[[0, a, b], [−a, 0, c], [−b, −c, 0]].

Steps only

This matrix is skew-symmetric, so Aᵀ=−A. The sum cancels, while the difference is 2A.

Answer

½(A+Aᵀ)=[[0,0,0],[0,0,0],[0,0,0]]; ½(A−Aᵀ)=[[0,a,b],[−a,0,c],[−b,−c,0]].

Question 10(i)

Express A=[[3, 5], [1, -1]] as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix.

Steps only

[[3,5],[1,−1]]ᵀ=[[3,1],[5,−1]]

Answer

A=[[3, 3], [3, −1]] + [[0, 2], [−2, 0]]

Question 10(ii)

Express A=[[6, -2, 2], [-2, 3, -1], [2, -1, 3]] as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix.

Steps only

Aᵀ=A because the entries mirror across the diagonal.

Answer

A=[[6, −2, 2], [−2, 3, −1], [2, −1, 3]] + [[0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0]]

Question 10(iii)

Express A=[[3, 3, -1], [-2, -2, 1], [-4, -5, 2]] as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix.

Steps only

Use A=½(A+Aᵀ)+½(A−Aᵀ), keeping exact halves.

Answer

A=[[3, 1/2, −5/2], [1/2, −2, −2], [−5/2, −2, 2]] + [[0, 5/2, 3/2], [−5/2, 0, 3], [−3/2, −3, 0]]

Question 10(iv)

Express A=[[1, 5], [-1, 2]] as the sum of a symmetric and a skew-symmetric matrix.

Steps only

Aᵀ=[[1,−1],[5,2]].

Answer

A=[[1, 2], [2, 2]] + [[0, 3], [−3, 0]]

Question 11

If A and B are symmetric matrices of the same order, which type of matrix is AB−BA? (A) Skew-symmetric (B) Symmetric (C) Zero (D) Identity.

Steps only

(AB−BA)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ−AᵀBᵀ=BA−AB=−(AB−BA).

Answer

(A) Skew-symmetric matrix

Question 12

If A=[[cosα, −sinα], [sinα, cosα]] and A+Aᵀ=I, find α from the choices (A) π/6 (B) π/3 (C) π (D) 2π/3.

Steps only

Adding A to its transpose gives 2cosα on both diagonal entries and zeros elsewhere. Set 2cosα=1.

Answer

(B) α=π/3

Exercise 3.4 · Invertible matrices

Textbook pages 69

Question 1

Matrices A and B will be inverses of each other only if which condition holds? (A) AB=BA (B) AB=BA=0 (C) AB=0, BA=I (D) AB=BA=I.

Steps only

An inverse must multiply with the original matrix to give the identity in both orders.

Answer

(D) AB=BA=I

Miscellaneous Exercise · Matrices

Textbook pages 72–73

Question 1

If A and B are symmetric matrices, prove that AB−BA is skew-symmetric.

Steps only

Transpose the difference and use Aᵀ=A and Bᵀ=B.

Answer

(AB−BA)ᵀ=−(AB−BA), so AB−BA is skew-symmetric.

Question 2

Show that BᵀAB is symmetric or skew-symmetric according as A is symmetric or skew-symmetric.

Steps only

Transpose the product; its order reverses, then use the given property of A.

Answer

(BᵀAB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀB. This equals BᵀAB when A is symmetric and −BᵀAB when A is skew-symmetric.

Question 3

Find x, y and z if A=[[0, 2y, z], [x, y, −z], [x, −y, z]] satisfies AᵀA=I.

Steps only

In AᵀA, diagonal entries are the squared lengths of A’s columns; the off-diagonal entries cancel.

Answer

x=±1/√2, y=±1/√6, z=±1/√3.

Question 4

For what value of x does [1, 2, 1][[1, 2, 0], [2, 0, 1], [1, 0, 2]][[0], [2], [x]]=0?

Steps only

Multiply the row by the 3×3 matrix first to get [6,2,4], then use it in the final product.

Answer

x=−1.

Question 5

If A=[[3, 1], [−1, 2]], show that A²−5A+7I=O.

Steps only

Square A, then subtract 5A and add 7 to the diagonal entries.

Answer

A²−5A+7I=[[0,0],[0,0]]=O.

Question 6

Find x if [x, −5, −1][[1, 0, 2], [0, 2, 1], [2, 0, 3]][[x], [4], [1]]=0.

Steps only

The row times the matrix is [x−2, −10, 2x−8]; multiplying by the final column gives x²−48=0.

Answer

x=±4√3.

Question 7

A manufacturer sells products x, y and z in two markets. Annual sales are Market I: 10,000, 2,000, 18,000; Market II: 6,000, 20,000, 8,000. (a) At unit prices ₹2.50, ₹1.50 and ₹1.00, find revenue in each market. (b) At unit costs ₹2.00, ₹1.00 and ₹0.50, find gross profit in each market.

Steps only

Multiply each market’s sales row by the price or profit-per-unit column.

Answer

(a) Market I: ₹46,000; Market II: ₹53,000. (b) Market I: ₹15,000; Market II: ₹17,000.

Question 8

Find X so that X[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]=[[-7, −8, −9], [2, 4, 6]].

Steps only

Let X be 2×2 and match entries in the product with the given matrix.

Answer

X=[[1, −2], [2, 0]].

Question 9

If A=[[α, β], [γ, −α]] and A²=I, which condition must hold? (A) 1+α²+βγ=0 (B) 1−α²+βγ=0 (C) 1−α²−βγ=0 (D) 1+α²−βγ=0.

Steps only

The diagonal entries of A² are α²+βγ. Setting them equal to 1 gives option C.

Answer

(C) 1−α²−βγ=0.

Question 10

If A is both symmetric and skew-symmetric, choose the correct statement: (A) A is diagonal (B) A is the zero matrix (C) A is square (D) None of these.

Steps only

Symmetry gives Aᵀ=A, while skew-symmetry gives Aᵀ=−A. Therefore A=−A and every entry is zero.

Answer

(B) A is the zero matrix.

Question 11

If A is square and A²=A, find (I+A)³−7A. (A) A (B) I−A (C) I (D) 3A.

Steps only

Expand using A²=A and A³=A; then subtract 7A.

Answer

(C) I.

Questions follow NCERT’s Mathematics Part I, Chapter 3 ↗, checked on 2026-10-05. Use our original question summaries and worked answers alongside the questions in your textbook.

Diagrams are drawn from mathematical rules. Learnivelle is not affiliated with NCERT.

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