CENUMES 313

Module 5 Part 3:
Matrix-Inverse Method

PREPARED BY:
ENGR. GILMARK P. REPULDA
 Matrix-Inverse Method
Solving a System Using Inverse

Solving a system of linear equations using the inverse of a matrix requires the definition of two
new matrices: 𝑥 is the matrix representing the variables of the system, and 𝐵 is the matrix
representing the constants.

Using matrix multiplication, we may define a system of equations with the same number of
equations as variables as 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐵

To solve a system of linear equations using an inverse matrix, let 𝐴 be the coefficient matrix,
let 𝑥 be the variable matrix, and let 𝐵 be the constant matrix. Thus, we want to solve a
system 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐵.

For example, look at the following system of equations.

𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 𝑐1
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2
Matrix form,
𝑎1 𝑏1 𝑥 𝑐1
= 𝑐
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑦 2
 Matrix-Inverse Method
Solving a System Using Inverse
Recall the law of exponents in algebra regarding multiplying a real number by its inverse.
1
2−1 2 = 2 2 = 1. To solve a single linear equation 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑏 for 𝑥, we would simply multiply
both sides of the equation by the multiplicative inverse 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 of 𝑎. Thus,

𝑎𝑥 = 𝑏

1 1
𝑎𝑥 = 𝑏
𝑎 𝑎

𝑎−1 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎−1 𝑏

𝑎−1 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑎−1 𝑏

1𝑥 = 𝑎−1 𝑏
𝑥 = 𝑎−1 𝑏

The only difference between solving a linear equation and a system of equations written in
matrix form is that finding the inverse of a matrix is more complicated, and matrix
multiplication is a longer process. However, the goal is the same—to isolate the variable.
 Matrix-Inverse Method
Example: Solving a 2 × 2 System Using the Inverse of a Matrix

Solve the given system of equations using the inverse of a matrix.

3𝑥 + 8𝑦 = 5
4𝑥 + 11𝑦 = 7

Write the system in terms of a coefficient matrix, a variable matrix and a constant matrix.

3 8 𝑥 5
=
4 11 𝑦 7

First, we need to calculate 𝐴−1 . Using the formula to calculate the inverse of a 2 by 2 matrix,
we have:
−1
1 𝑑 −𝑏
𝐴 =
𝑎𝑑 − 𝑏𝑐 −𝑐 𝑎

1 11 −8
=
3 11 − 8 4 −4 3

1 11 −8
=
1 −4 3
 Matrix-Inverse Method
Example: Solving a 2 × 2 System Using the Inverse of a Matrix

So,
11 −8
𝐴−1 =
−4 3

Now we are ready to solve. Multiply both sides of the equation by 𝐴−1.

𝐴−1 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴−1 𝐵

11 −8 3 8 𝑥 11 −8 5
=
−4 3 4 11 𝑦 −4 3 7

1 0 𝑥 11 5 + −8 7
=
0 1 𝑦 −4 5 + 3 7
𝑥 −1
𝑦 =
1

The solution is −1,1 .

 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

Solve the following system using the inverse of a matrix.

5𝑥 + 15𝑦 + 56𝑧 = 35
−4𝑥 − 11𝑦 − 41𝑧 = −26
−𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 11𝑧 = −7

Write the equation 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐵,

5 15 56 𝑥 35
−4 −11 −41 𝑦 = −26
−1 −3 −11 𝑧 −7

First, we will find the inverse of A by augmenting with the identity.

5 15 56 ȁ1 0 0
−4 −11 −41 ȁ0 1 0
−1 −3 −11 ȁ0 0 1
 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

Multiply row 1 by 1/5,

1 3 56/5 ห1/5 0 0
−4 −11 −41 ȁ0 1 0
−1 −3 −11 ȁ0 0 1

Multiply row 1 by 4 and add to row 2,

1 3 56/5 ห 1/5 0 0
0 1 19/5 ห4/5 1 0
−1 −3 −11 ȁ 0 0 1

Add row 1 to row 3,

1 3 56/5 ห 1/5 0 0
0 1 19/5 ห 4/5 1 0
0 0 1/5 ห1/5 0 1
 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

Multiply row 2 by -3 and add to row 1,

1 11
1 0 − − −3 0
5 5
19 4
0 1 ቤ 1 0
5 5
1 1
0 0 0 1
5 5

Multiply row 3 by 5,
1 11
1 0 − − −3 0
5 5
19 4
0 1 ቤ 1 0
5 5
0 0 1 1 0 5
 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

1 11
1 0 − − −3 0
5 5
19 4
0 1 ቤ 1 0
5 5
0 0 1 1 0 5

Multiply row 3 by 1/5 and add to row 1

1 0 0 −2 −3 1
19 4
0 1 ቤ 1 0
5 5
0 0 1 1 0 5
 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

19
Multiply row 3 by − and add to row 2,
5

1 0 0 −2 −3 1
0 1 0 −3 1 −19
0 0 1 1 0 5
So,
−2 −3 1
𝐴−1 = −3 1 −19
1 0 5

Multiply both sides of the equation by 𝐴−1 . We want

𝐴−1 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴−1 𝐵

−2 −3 1 5 15 56 𝑥 −2 −3 1 35
−3 1 −19 −4 −11 −41 𝑦 = −3 1 −19 −26
1 0 5 −1 −3 −11 𝑧 1 0 5 −7
 Matrix-Inverse Method
EXAMPLE: SOLVING A 3 × 3 SYSTEM USING THE INVERSE OF A MATRIX

𝐴−1 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴−1 𝐵

−2 −3 1 5 15 56 𝑥 −2 −3 1 35
−3 1 −19 −4 −11 −41 𝑦 = −3 1 −19 −26
1 0 5 −1 −3 −11 𝑧 1 0 5 −7

Thus,
−70 + 78 − 7 1
𝐴−1 𝐵 = −105 − 26 + 133 = 2
35 + 0 − 35 0

The solution is 1,2,0 .

 Thank you for listening

“People who say it can not be done

should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

- G.B Shaw