560  Chapter 7 Matrices

Key Terms
Cofactor  The cofactor of the element, aij, is the determinant of the matrix left when row i and
column j are deleted, multiplied by +1 or −1, depending on whether i + j is even or odd, respectively.
Determinant  A determinant can be expanded as the sum of the products of the elements in any
one row or column and their respective cofactors.
Identity matrix  An n × n matrix, I, in which every element on the main diagonal is 1 and the other
elements are all 0. If A is any n × n matrix, then AI = A = IA.
Inverse matrix  A matrix, A−1, with the property that A−1A = I = AA−1.
Minor  The name given to the cofactor before the ‘±’ pattern is imposed.
Non-singular matrix  A square matrix with a non-zero determinant.
Singular matrix  A square matrix with a zero determinant. A singular matrix fails to possess an
inverse.
Square matrix  A matrix with the same number of rows as columns.

Exercise 7.2
1. (a) Find the determinant of

5 6
(i) 2 7   (ii)   (iii) 22 210   (iv) 26 24
1 4 3 4 1 4 28 27

(b) Find the inverse of each matrix in part (a).

2 1 1 0
A5 and B 5
5 1 2 4

(1) Find
(a) u A u  (b) u B u  (c) u AB u
Do you notice any connection between u A u, u B u and u AB u?
(2) Find
(a) A−1  (b) B−1  (c) (AB)−1
Do you notice any connection between A−1, B−1 and (AB)−1?
3. If the matrices

2 21 2 b
and
3 a 3 24

are singular, find the values of a and b.

4. Evaluate the matrix product, 5 23 8 3 .

8 3
Hence, or otherwise, write down the inverse of .
10 5
 Section 7.2 Matrix inversion  561

5. Use matrices to solve the following pairs of simultaneous equations:

(a) 3x + 4y = −1 (b) x + 3y = 8
5x − y = 6 4x − y = 6
6. The demand and supply functions for two interdependent goods are given by

QD1 = 50 − 2P1 + P2
QD2 = 10 + P1 − 4P2
QS1 = −20 + P1
QS2 = −10 + 5P2
(a) Show that the equilibrium prices satisfy

3 21 P1 70
21 9 P2 5 20

(b) Find the inverse of the 2 × 2 matrix in part (a) and hence find the equilibrium
prices.
7. If a, b and k are non-zero, show that

(a) each of these 2 × 2 matrices is singular:

a b
(i) a 0   (ii) a b   (iii) 1 1
b 0 ka kb b a

(b) each of these 2 × 2 matrices is non-singular:

(i) a b   (ii) 0 a   (iii) a b

Exercise 7.2*
1. If the matrices

1 2 a 4
A5 and B 5
a b 2 b

are both singular, determine all possible values of a and b.

a b e f
A5 and B 5
c d g h

work out the matrix product, AB.

(c) If A is singular and B is non-singular, what, if anything, can be deduced about AB?
Give a brief reason for your answer.
3. Which one of the following matrices has an inverse which is not listed?

1 1 1 0 0 1 1 21 21 0
A5 , B5 , C5 , D5 , E5
1 0 0 1 1 21 21 0 0 1

4. Find the determinant of the matrix

5 22 3
4 21 25
6 7 9

5. Find the cofactor, A23, of the matrix

5 22 7
A5 6 1 29
4 23 8

6. Find (where possible) the inverse of the matrices

2 1 21 1 4 5
A5 1 3 2 and B 5 2 1 3
21 2 1 21 3 2

Are these matrices singular or non-singular?

7. For the commodity market

C = aY + b (0 a < 1, b > 0)
I = cr + d (c < 0, d > 0)

For the money market

MS = M*S
MD = k1Y + k2r + k3 (k1, k3 > 0, k2 < 0)
Show that when the commodity and money markets are both in equilibrium, the
income, Y, and interest rate, r, satisfy the matrix equation

1 2 a 2c Y b1d
k1 k2 5 M* 2 k
r s 3

and solve this system for Y and r. Write down the multiplier for r due to changes in M*S
and deduce that interest rates fall as the money supply grows.
8. Find the determinant of the matrix

2 1 3
A5 1 0 a
3 1 4

in terms of a. Deduce that this matrix is non-singular provided a ≠ 1 and find A−1 in this
case.
 Section 7.2 Matrix inversion  563

9. Find the inverse of

22 2 1
1 25 21
2 21 26

Hence find the equilibrium prices of the three-commodity market model given in
Question 6 of Exercise 1.5*.
10. Find the inverse of the matrix

6 3 a
A5 5 4 2
7 2 3

in terms of a.
For what value of a will simultaneous equations of the form
6x + 3y + az = b
5x + 4y + 2z = c
7x + 2y + 3z = d
fail to possess a unique solution?
11. (a) Multiply out the brackets in the expression (a − b)(a − c)(c − b).
(b) Show that the determinant of the matrix

1 1 1
A5 a b c
a2 b2 c2

is (a − b)(a − c)(c − b) and deduce that the simultaneous equations

have a unique solution provided, a, b, and c are distinct.