SAT Preparation Materials

SAT Math
06.03.2021
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Matrices
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers. Matrix consists of rows
(horizontal) and columns (vertical), so when you see a 3x4 matrix notation it
means that this matrix has 3 rows and 4 columns. For example, A is a 2x3 matrix:
1 2 3
𝐴=[ ]
4 5 6
We can perform the following operations with matrices:
1) Multiply matrix by constant
1∗2 2∗2 3∗2 2 4 6
𝐴∗2=[ ]=[ ]
4∗2 5∗2 6∗2 8 10 12

2) Add/Subtract matrices
Before adding and subtracting matrices make sure they have the same dimensions!
1 3 5 2 4 6
Let 𝐴 = [ ], 𝐵 = [ ], then
7 9 11 8 10 12
1+2 3+4 5+6 3 7 11
𝐴+𝐵 =[ ]=[ ]
7 + 8 9 + 10 11 + 12 15 19 23
2−1 4−3 6−5 1 1 1
𝐵−𝐴=[ ]=[ ]
8 − 7 10 − 9 12 − 11 1 1 1

3) Matrix row operations

5 3 7
Let 𝐴 = [ ]
8 9 1
3.1) Switch any two rows
𝑅1 ↔𝑅2 8 9 1
𝐴→ [ ]
5 3 7
3.2) Multiply a row by a nonzero constant
2𝑅1 →𝑅1 10 6 14
𝐴→ [ ]
8 9 1
3.3) Add one row to another
𝑅1 +𝑅2 →𝑅1 13 12 8
𝐴→ [ ]
8 9 1

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4) Multiply matrices
Before multiplying matrices make sure that the number of columns of the first
matrix (𝑛 × 𝑚) equals the number of the rows of the second matrix (𝑚 × 𝑘)!
2 5
1 3 5
Let 𝐴 = [ ], 𝐵 = [1 2], then
7 9 11
3 4
1∗2+3∗1+5∗3 1∗5+3∗2+5∗4 20 31
𝐴∗𝐵 =[ ]=[ ]
7 ∗ 2 + 9 ∗ 1 + 11 ∗ 3 7 ∗ 5 + 9 ∗ 2 + 11 ∗ 4 56 97

5) Calculate determinant of a matrix

2 5
Let 𝐴 = [ ], determinant of 𝐴 equals |𝐴| = 2 ∗ 6 − 5 ∗ 9 = 12 − 45 = −33.
9 6

6) Find inverse of a matrix:

Before calculating inverse of a matrix make sure that the determinant of the
original matrix does not equal to 0!
2 5
Let 𝐴 = [ ], the inverse of 𝐴 equals (note that 𝑨−𝟏 ∗ 𝑨 = 𝟏):
9 6
𝑎 𝑏
To find an inverse of 𝐴 = [ ] we should the formula:
𝑐 𝑑
1 𝑑 −𝑏
𝐴−1 = ∗[ ]
|𝐴| −𝑐 𝑎
−6 5 −2 5
1 6 −5 1 6 −5
𝐴−1 = |𝐴| ∗ [ ]= ∗[ ] = [ 33
9
33
−2] = [ 11
3
33
−2]
−9 2 −33 −9 2
33 33 11 33

7) Represent systems of linear equations as a matrix:

3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −5
{ can be present as a product of matrices 𝐴 ∗ 𝑉 = 𝐵, where
−𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 4
3 2 𝑥 −5 3 2 𝑥 −5
𝐴=[ ], 𝑉 = [𝑦], and 𝐵 = [ ]. So, 𝐴 ∗ 𝑉 = 𝐵 → [ ] [𝑦 ] = [ ]
−1 4 4 −1 4 4
Solution of the system of linear equations:
𝐴∗𝑉 =𝐵
Multiply both sides by 𝐴−1 :
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𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐴 ∗ 𝑉 = 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐵
𝑉 = 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐵 as 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐴 = 1
4 −2
1 4 −2
𝐴−1 = ∗[ ] = [14 14 ]
3∗4+2∗1 1 3 1 3
14 14
4 −2 4 2
−5 −5 ∗ −4∗ −2 𝑥 = −2
𝑉 = 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐵 = [14 14
3] ∗[ ]=[ 14 14
] = [ ] → {
1 4 1
−5 ∗ + 4 ∗
3 0.5 𝑦 = 0.5
14 14 14 14

Practice Set
9 −5 𝑦 + 3 −5
1. Evaluate 𝑥 and 𝑦 if [ ]=[ ].
3𝑥 14 2𝑥 + 2 14
1 3 3 9
2. Simplify: 5 [6 2] − 3 [8 5] =
4 9 7 6
−1 5 7 5 14 22
3. Solve the matrix equation: 3𝑥 + [ 11 −3 10 ] = [14 18 40].
13 9 −8 37 36 4
1 3 11 5 3 2
4. Find the value of 𝐴 ∗ 𝐵 ∗ 𝐶 if [ ]+[ ] = 𝐴[ ].
−2 4 −6 12 𝐵 𝐶
𝑥 4 𝑥2 2
5. Evaluate 𝑥 and 𝑦 if [ ] = 2[ ].
10 2𝑦 5 5𝑦 − 8
6 4 −3 6 2 9
6. Solve for 𝑥: [ ]−𝑥 =[ ].
2 9 5 3 8 11
3 5
3 4
7. Evaluate: [2 4] [ ].
9 8
1 6
2 7 3 8
8. If 𝐴 = [ ] and 𝐵 = [ ], evaluate 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴.
5 4 6 5
𝑥 𝑥
9. Solve for 𝑥: | | = −16 (vertical lines stand for determinant).
8 𝑥
16 3
10. Find the determinant of 𝐴 = [ ].
12 4
𝑦 4 𝑦 3
11. Find 𝑦 if | |=| |.
3 6 1 𝑦

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6 4
12. Find 𝐴−1 if 𝐴 = [ ].
3 5
2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 3
13. Find the matrix equation that represents the system {3𝑥 + 𝑦 + 5𝑧 = −9.
𝑥 − 𝑦 − 6𝑧 = 11
6𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −9
14. Solve using the matrix equation: { .
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −6
3𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 8
15. Solve using the matrix equation: { .
5𝑥 + 4𝑦 = −24

Practice Set Solutions

1. Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 = 𝟔
3𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 2 → 𝑥 = 2, 9 = 𝑦 + 3 → 𝑦 = 6.

−𝟒 −𝟏𝟐
2. Answer: [ 𝟔 −𝟓 ]
−𝟏 𝟐𝟕
1 3 3 9 5∗1−3∗3 5∗3−3∗9 −4 −12
5 [ 6 2] − 3 [ 8 5] = [ 5 ∗ 6 − 3 ∗ 8 5 ∗ 2 − 3 ∗ 5] = [ 6 −5 ].
4 9 7 6 5∗4−3∗7 5∗9−3∗6 −1 27

𝟐 𝟑 𝟓
3. Answer: 𝒙 = [𝟏 𝟕 𝟏𝟎]
𝟖 𝟗 𝟒
5 14 22 −1 5 7 5+1 14 − 5 22 − 7
3𝑥 = [14 18 40] − [ 11 −3 10 ] = [14 − 11 18 + 3 40 − 10]
37 36 4 13 9 −8 37 − 13 36 − 9 4+8
6 9 15 2 3 5
1
𝑥 = ∗ [ 3 21 30] = [1 7 10].
3
24 27 12 8 9 4

4. Answer: -32
1 3 11 5 12 8 3𝐴 2𝐴
[ ]+[ ]=[ ]=[ ] → 𝐴 = 4, 𝐵 = −2, 𝐶 = 4
−2 4 −6 12 −8 16 𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐶
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𝐴 ∗ 𝐵 ∗ 𝐶 = 4 ∗ (−2) ∗ 4 = −32.

5. Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟐
𝑥 4 2𝑥 2 4
[ ]=[ ] → 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 , 𝑥 = 0; 2𝑦 = 10𝑦 − 16, 𝑦 = 2.
10 2𝑦 10 10𝑦 − 16

𝟎 𝟐 −𝟏𝟐
6. Answer: [ ]
−𝟏 𝟏 −𝟔
6 4 −3 6 2 9 0 2 −12
𝑥=[ ]−[ ]=[ ].
2 9 5 3 8 11 −1 1 −6

𝟓𝟒 𝟓𝟐
7. Answer: [𝟒𝟐 𝟒𝟎]
𝟓𝟕 𝟓𝟐
3 5 3∗3+5∗9 3∗4+5∗8 54 52
3 4
[ 2 4] [ ] = [2 ∗ 3 + 4 ∗ 9 2 ∗ 4 + 4 ∗ 8] = [42 40].
9 8
1 6 1∗3+6∗9 1∗4+6∗8 57 52

𝟐 −𝟐
8. Answer: [ ]
𝟐 −𝟐
2 7 3 8 3 8 2 7
𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴 = [ ]∗[ ]−[ ]∗[ ]=
5 4 6 5 6 5 5 4
2∗3+7∗6 2∗8+7∗5 3∗2+8∗5 3∗7+8∗4 48 51
=[ ]−[ ]=[ ]−
5∗3+4∗6 5∗8+4∗5 6∗2+5∗5 6∗7+5∗4 39 60
46 53 2 −2
−[ ]=[ ].
37 62 2 −2

9. Answer: 4
Determinant of the matrix: 𝑥 ∗ 𝑥 − 8 ∗ 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 = −16, 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 = 0
(𝑥 − 4)2 = 0 → 𝑥 = 4.

10. Answer: 28
Determinant of the matrix: 16 ∗ 4 − 12 ∗ 3 = 64 − 36 = 28.

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11. Answer: 3
Determinant of the first matrix: 𝑦 ∗ 6 − 3 ∗ 4 = 6𝑦 − 12
Determinant of the second matrix: 𝑦 ∗ 𝑦 − 3 ∗ 1 = 𝑦 2 − 3
𝑦 2 − 3 = 6𝑦 − 12, 𝑦 2 − 6𝑦 + 9 = 0, (𝑦 − 3)2 = 0 → 𝑦 = 3.

𝟓 𝟐
−
12. Answer: [ 𝟏𝟖𝟏 𝟏
𝟗
]
−
𝟔 𝟑

|𝐴| = 6 ∗ 5 − 4 ∗ 3 = 30 − 12 = 18
5 2
1 5 −4 −
𝐴−1 = |𝐴| ∗ [ ] = [ 181 1 9].
−3 6 −
6 3

𝟐 𝟏 −𝟏 𝒙 𝟑
13. Answer: [𝟑 𝟏 𝟓 ] [𝒚] = [−𝟗]
𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟔 𝒛 𝟏𝟏

14. Answer: (−𝟐; −𝟏)

6 −3 𝑥 −9
Matrix equation that represents the system: [ ] [𝑦] = [ ]
2 2 −6
6 −3 𝑥 −9
Let 𝐴 = [ ] , 𝑉 = [𝑦] , and 𝐵 = [ ]
2 2 −6
2 3
1 2 3
𝐴−1 = ∗[ ] = [ 182 18
6]
12+6 −2 6 −
18 18

𝐴∗𝑉 =𝐵
Multiply both sides by 𝐴−1 :
2 3 2 3
−9 ∗ +6∗
−9
𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐴 ∗ 𝑉 = 𝑉 = 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐵 = [ 18 18] ∗ [ ] = [ 18 18] =
2 6 −6 2 6
− 9∗ −6∗
18 18 18 18
−2
= [ ], so 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑦 = −1.
−1

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𝟕
15. Answer: (−𝟐; − )
𝟐

3 −4 𝑥 8
Matrix equation that represents the system: [ ] [𝑦] = [ ]
5 4 −24
3 −4 𝑥 8
Let 𝐴 = [ ] , 𝑉 = [𝑦] , and 𝐵 = [ ]
5 4 −24
4 4
1 4 4
𝐴−1 = ∗[ ] = [ 32 32]
12 + 20 −5 3 5 3
−
32 32
𝐴∗𝑉 =𝐵
Multiply both sides by 𝐴−1 :
4 4
8 8
𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐴 ∗ 𝑉 = 𝑉 = 𝐴−1 ∗ 𝐵 = 𝐴−1 ∗ [ ] = [ 32 32] ∗ [ ]=
−24 5 3 −24
−
32 32
4 4
8∗ − 24 ∗ −2 𝑥 = −2
32 32
=[ 5 3 ] = [ −
7] → {
𝑦 = −
7
−8 ∗ − 24 ∗ 2 2
32 32

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Vectors
Vector is a quantity that is defined by both magnitude and direction. Just as
points, vectors have coordinates.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ has coordinates (3 − 0; 4 − 0) = (3; 4).

Vector 𝑂𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ | = √32 + 42 = 5.
Magnitude of |𝑂𝐴
Coordinates of the vectors show how much unit vectors (magnitude = 1) in each
direction form that vector (x-direction - 𝑖, y-direction - 𝑗). For example, the vector
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 can also be written as: ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗.

Let 𝑎(3; 4) and 𝑏⃗(5; 6). We can perform the next operations with these vectors:
1) Add/Subtract

𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ = (3 + 5; 4 + 6) = (8; 10) or 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 + 5𝑖 + 6𝑗 = 8𝑖 + 10𝑗

𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ = (3 − 5; 4 − 6) = (−2; −2) or 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 5𝑖 − 6𝑗 = −2𝑖 − 2𝑗

2) Multiply by a scalar
3 ∗ 𝑎 = (3 ∗ 3; 3 ∗ 4) = (9; 12) or ⃗⃗⃗⃗
3𝑎 = 3 ∗ 3𝑖 + 3 ∗ 4𝑗 = 9𝑖 + 12𝑗

3) Dot product of vectors

𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = (3) ∗ (5) + (4) ∗ (6) = 39 or 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = (3𝑖 + 4𝑗) ∙ (5𝑖 + 6𝑗) = 15(𝑖)2 +

+18𝑖 ∗ 𝑗 + 20𝑖 ∗ 𝑗 + 24(𝑗)2 = 15 ∗ 1 + 18 ∗ 0 + 20 ∗ 0 + 24 ∗ 1 = 39

If two vectors are collinear (parallel), their dot product equals the product of their
magnitudes. Thus, (𝑖)2 = (𝑗)2 = 1. If two vectors are perpendicular, their dot
product is 0. Thus 𝑖 ∗ 𝑗 = 0.

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Practice Set
1. Let 𝑎(7; 4) and 𝑏⃗(9; 11). Find:

a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗

b) 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗

c) 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗

d) are 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ perpendicular?

2. Let 𝑎(−3; 5) and 𝑏⃗(6; 1). Find:

a) 3𝑎 + 5𝑏⃗

b) 10𝑎 − 8𝑏⃗

c) 4𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗

d) are 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ perpendicular?

3. Vectors 𝑎(𝑛; 3) and 𝑏⃗(1; −1) are perpendicular. Find n.

4. Vectors 𝑎 = 5𝑖 + 4𝑗 and 𝑏⃗ = 3𝑖 + 7𝑗. Find:

a) 4𝑎 + 9𝑏⃗

b) −𝑎 − 12𝑏⃗

c) (𝑎 + 𝑏⃗) ∙ (𝑎 − 𝑏⃗)
5. Find the unit vector (magnitude = 1) perpendicular to 𝑎(−5; 6).

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Practice Set Solutions

1. Answers:

a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ = (7 + 9; 4 + 11) = (𝟏𝟔; 𝟏𝟓)

b) 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ = (7 − 9; 4 − 11) = (−𝟐; −𝟕)

c) 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = 7 ∗ 9 + 4 ∗ 11 = 𝟏𝟎𝟕

d) 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ ≠ 0, so 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ are not perpendicular

2. Answers:

a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ = (−3 ∗ 3 + 5 ∗ 6; 3 ∗ 5 + 5 ∗ 1) = (𝟐𝟏; 𝟐𝟎)

b) 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ = (−10 ∗ 3 − 8 ∗ 6; 10 ∗ 5 − 8 ∗ 1) = (−𝟕𝟖; 𝟒𝟐)

c) 4 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = 4 ∗ (−3 ∗ 6 + 5 ∗ 1) = 4 ∗ (−13) = 𝟓𝟐

d) 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ ≠ 0, so 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ are not perpendicular

3. Answer: 3

𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ are perpendicular, so 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = 0, 𝑛 ∗ 1 − 3 ∗ 1 = 0, 𝑛 = 3

4. Answers:

a) 4𝑎 + 9𝑏⃗ = 4 ∗ (5𝑖 + 4𝑗) + 9 ∗ (3𝑖 + 7𝑗) = 𝟒𝟕𝒊 + 𝟕𝟗𝒋

b) −𝑎 − 12𝑏⃗ = −(5𝑖 + 4𝑗) − 12 ∗ (3𝑖 + 7𝑗) = −𝟒𝟏𝒊 − 𝟖𝟖𝒋

c) (𝑎 + 𝑏⃗) ∙ (𝑎 − 𝑏⃗) = (5𝑖 + 4𝑗 + 3𝑖 + 7𝑗) ∗ (5𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 3𝑖 − 7𝑗) =

= (8𝑖 + 11𝑗) ∗ (2𝑖 − 3𝑗) = 16(𝑖)2 − 2𝑖 ∗ 𝑗 − 33(𝑗)2 = −𝟏𝟕

5. Answer: (0.64; 0.76)

Let the unknow vector be 𝑏⃗, so if 𝑏⃗(𝑥; 𝑦) is perpendicular to 𝑎, then 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏⃗ = 0

−5𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = 1.2𝑦.

𝑏⃗ is a unit vector, so √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = √1.44𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1 → 𝑦 ≈ 0.64, 𝑥 ≈ 0.76

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