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ADMATHS GRADE 10
MODULE: GRAPH THEORY AND MATRICES
SECTION: MATRICES

LESSON 10MGT2: INVERSE OF A 2×2 MATRIX

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MULTIPLICATION WITH THE IDENTITY MATRIX

1 0
𝐼=( )
0 1
The identity matrix is a square matrix with only the number 1 on its main
diagonal and all other elements zero. When we multiply with the identity
matrix, it will always give us the same matrix as answer, almost like the
number 1 in algebra.
5 3
If 𝑃=( )
−1 2
5 3 1 0 1 0 5 3 5 3
Then: 𝑃𝐼 = ( )( ) = 𝐼𝑃 = ( )( )=( )=𝑃
−1 2 0 1 0 1 −1 2 −1 2

∴ 𝑷𝑰 = 𝑰𝑷 = 𝑷

THE DETERMINANT OF A 2×2 MATRIX

𝑥 𝑟
If 𝐴 = (𝑡 𝑦 ), then the determinant of 𝐴 is:

𝒅𝒆𝒕 𝑨 = 𝒅𝒆𝒕(𝑨) = |𝑨| = 𝒙𝒚 − 𝒓𝒕

Example 1

2 1
Given 𝑃 = ( ). Find the determinant of 𝑃.
7 3
Solution

|𝑃| = (2 × 3) − (7 × 1) = 6 − 7 = −1

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Example 2

−1 −3
Determine | |.
4 2
Solution

−1 −3
| | = (−1)(2) − (4)(−3) = −2 + 12 = 10
4 2

EXERCISE 1

Calculate the determinant of each of the following matrices:

3 5 7 −4 1 0
1. [ ] 2. [ ] 3. [ ]
2 1 3 5 0 1
1
5 −2 1 3 6
4. [2 ] 5. [ ] 6. [ ]
8 −4 0 0 −1 −2

Example 3

Will the value of the determinant change if the rows or columns are swopped?
0 3
Given 𝐴 = ( )
−1 −2
3.1 Find the determinant of 𝐴.

3.2 Hence find the determinant of 𝐴, if…

3.2.1 the rows are swopped.

3.2.2 the columns are swopped.

3.2.3 Row 1 = 2 Row 2.

3.2.4 Column 1 = 2 Column 2.

(Interpret what you observe w.r.t the determinant from 3.2.1 − 3.2.4)

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Solution

0 3
3.1 𝐴=( ) det 𝐴 = 0 − (−1 × 3) = 3
−1 −2

0 3 −1 −2
3.2.1 𝐴=( )⇒𝐵=( ) (Row1 and Row2 swopped)
−1 −2 0 3
∴ det 𝐵 = −3 − 0 = −3

∴ det 𝐴 = − det 𝐵

 The sign of the determinant changes when the rows are

swopped.

0 3 3 0
3.2.2 𝐴=( )⇒𝐶=( ) (Column1 and Column2 swopped)
−1 −2 −2 −1

det 𝐶 = 3(−1) − 0 = −3

∴ det 𝐶 = − det 𝐴

∴ The sign of the determinant changes when the columns

are swopped.

0 3 −2 −4
3.2.3 𝐴=( )⇒𝐷=( ) (Row1 = 2Row2)
−1 −2 −1 −2
det 𝐷 = (−2)(−2) − (−1)(−4) = 4 − 4 = 0

 The determinant is zero if the one row is a multiple of the

other row.

0 3 6 3
3.2.4 𝐴=( )⇒𝐸=( ) (Column1 = 2 Column2)
−1 −2 −4 −2

det 𝐸 = (−2)(6) − (−4)(3) = −12 + 12 = 0

 The determinant is zero if the one column is a multiple of

the other column.

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EXERCISE 2

1 0
1. Given matrix 𝑀 = ( )
−2 3

Calculate the determinant of 𝑀 after the following changes:

1.1 Swop the rows.

1.2 Swop the columns.

1.3 Row 2 = −3 Row 1.

1.4 Write down what you observe from 1.1 to 1.3.

𝑎 𝑏
2. Given 𝑇 = ( )
𝑐 𝑑

If det 𝑇 = 𝑘 find the determinant of each of the following matrices:

𝑐 𝑑 𝑎 𝑏
2.1 𝑅=( ) 2.3 𝑊=( )
𝑎 𝑏 10𝑎 10𝑏
1
𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏
2.2 𝑉=( ) 2.4 𝑌 = (2𝑑 )
𝑑 𝑐 𝑑
2

THE INVERSE OF A 2×2 MATRIX

1
In algebra 7 and are called reciprocals (multiplicative inverses):
7

1
7× = 7 × 7−1 = 1
7
In the same way, matrices also have inverses:

𝑨 × 𝑨−𝟏 = 𝑰

𝑨−𝟏 is called the inverse of 𝑨.

The inverse of a matrix is used to solve matrix equations (this will be

discussed in a lesson to follow).

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Example 4

3 −1
Determine the inverse of 𝐷 = ( )
−4 2
Solution

𝐷 × 𝐷 −1 = 𝐼
3 −1 𝑎 𝑏 1 0
⇒( )( )=( )
−4 2 𝑐 𝑑 0 1
By multiplying the matrices, we get:

3𝑎 − 𝑐 = 1…….(1) −4𝑎 + 2𝑐 = 0……..(3)

3𝑏 − 𝑑 = 0…….(2) −4𝑏 + 2𝑑 = 1…..…(4)

Solve simultaneously: 𝑎 = 1; 𝑏 = 0,5; 𝑐 = 2; 𝑑 = 1,5

3 −1 1 0,5 1 0
Thus: ( )( )=( )
−4 2 2 1,5 0 1
1 0,5 1 2 1
𝐷−1 = ( ) = ( )
2 1,5 2 4 3

There has to be an easier way!

3 −1
Determine the determinant: | |=6−4=2
−4 2

Compare these matrices:

3 −1 2 1
( ) and ( )
−4 2 4 3
Can you see how the two matrices are similar?

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STEPS TO DETERMINE 𝑨−𝟏 :

3 −1 𝑎 𝑏
Given 𝐴 = ( ) In general: 𝐴 = ( )
−4 2 𝑐 𝑑
STEP 1:

Determine det 𝐴 = (3)(2) − (−1)(−4) = 6 − 4 = 2

STEP 2:

3 2
The elements ( ) in the main diagonal interchange to give ( ) in
2 3
𝐴−1 .

STEP 3:

Negate the signs of the two elements in the other diagonal:

−1 1
( )→( )
−4 4
INVERSE:

𝟏 𝒅 −𝒃 1 2 1
𝑨−𝟏 = 𝐝𝐞𝐭 ( ) ∴ 𝐴−1 = 2 ( )
−𝒄 𝒂 4 3

Example 5

−4 2
Determine the inverse of 𝐷 = ( )
−1 1
Solution

• First, determine the determinant of 𝐷: det 𝐷 = (−4)(1) − (−1)(2) = −2

−4 1
• Interchange the elements of the main diagonal: ( ) → ( )
1 −4
2 −2
• Negate the signs of the other two elements: ( ) → ( )
−1 1

1 1 −2
• Inverse: 𝐷 −1 = − 2 ( )
1 −4

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Example 6

2 −6
Determine the inverse of 𝐹 = ( )
−1 3
Solution

det 𝐹 = 2 × 3 − (−1 × −6)

=6−6 Can you see that, in this

example, it is impossible to find
= 0
the inverse matrix of 𝐹, because
𝟏 3 6 division by zero is undefined?
∴ 𝐹 −1 = ( )
𝟎 1 2

NB: Some 𝟐 × 𝟐 matrices do not have an inverse.

EXERCISE 3

1. Determine the inverse matrix of the following matrices if possible:

4 3 1 −2 3 1
1.1 [ ] 1.2 [ ] 1.3 [ ]
3 2 3 4 5 2
7 4 2 3 0 21
1.4 [ ] 1.5 [ ] 1.6 [ ]
2 1 −4 −7 0 1
4 6
1.7 [ ]
2 3
3 5 2 3
2. Given: 𝑋 = [ ] and 𝑌 = [ ]
1 2 5 7
Determine:

2.1 𝑋𝑌 2.2 𝑋 −1

2.3 |𝑌| 2.4 𝑌 −1 𝑋

2.5 𝑋 −1 + 𝑌 −1 2.6 𝑋 −1 𝑌 − 𝑌 −1

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3. Determine matrix 𝐴 such that:

2 6 2 0
𝐴 [ ]=[ ] (𝐴 is a 2 × 2 matrix)
2 4 0 2

4. Determine 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 if:

𝑏 𝑎
[
5 −13
][ 1] = [1 0
]
−1 3 𝑐 2 0 1
2

HOMEWORK

1. Calculate the determinant of each of the following matrices:

−1 0 0 3
1.1 ( ) 1.6 ( )
0 −1 −3 0
1
3 −1 −2
1.2 (3 1) 1.7 ( )
4 −3 −4
2

1 −45 30 31 −27
1.3 ( ) 1.8 ( )
5 5 −10 −7 5

1.4 (
19 14
) 1.9 ( 𝑥 𝑥 2)
−3 0 −4 𝑥
4 −4 24 −1
1.5 ( ) 1.10 ( )
4 −4 −𝑎 𝑎

2. Determine the value(s) of 𝑥 in each case.

3 −𝑥
2.1 𝐴=( ) and det 𝐴 = −18
−9 𝑥
𝑥 2
2.2 𝐵=( ) and det(𝐵) = 1
4 𝑥
−5 −𝑥
2.3 𝐶=( ) and |𝐶| = 14
𝑥 −2

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3. Determine 𝐴−1 in each case:

6 2 −5 −6
3.1 𝐴=( ) 3.4 𝐴 = ( )
−6 −2 4 5
−1 3 6 −1
3.2 𝐴=( ) 3.5 𝐴 = ( )
−1 0 −2 −1
5 −9
3.3 𝐴=( )
−4 7

2 5 1 0
4. Given: 𝐴 ( )=( )
−1 −4 0 1
Determine 𝐴 if 𝐴 is a 2 × 2 matrix.

−3 −2 −5 0
5. Given: ( )𝐴 = ( )
5 5 0 −5

Determine 𝐴 if 𝐴 is a 2 × 2 matrix.

©2023 AdMaths SA 10MGT2