CHAPTER XV MATRICES

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS, RESULTS, THEOREMS & TIPS

Recall that transpose of a matrix a is a matrix obtained by interchanging its rows and columns Transpose of a matrixa is
denoted by A,orAT thus if A   aij mn thenAT   a ji nm we will only prove reversal law of transpose
all other laws are simple

VARIOUS TYPES OF MATRICES

Symmetric and Skew Matrices: A square matrix A is said to be symmetric if

A = A. A square matrix is said to be skew symmetric if A = –A.
Orthogonal Matrix: A square matrix A is said to be orthogonal if AA = AA = I

Idempotent Matrix: A square matrix A is called idempotent if A2 = A

Involuatary Matrix: A SQUARE MATRIX A such that A = I is called involuatary matrix.

2

Nilpotent Matrix: A square matrix A is called a nilpotent matrix if there exists a positive
integer k such that Ak = 0. If k is the least positive integer such that Ak = 0, then k is called the
index of the nilpotence of matrix A.

ADJOINT OF A SQUARE MATRIX

If A is square matrix then adjoint of A (written as adj A) is obtained by following method.
Step 1:Replace every element of A by its cofactor the matrix thus obtained is called cofactor
matrix.
Step 2:Take the transpose of cofactor matrix.
For 2  2 square matrices adjoint can be easily found, indeed if
a b   d b 
A  then, adj A   
c d   c a 
(i.e. interchanging diagonal element and changing the sign of remaining elements)
The adjoint of a square matrixA can also be defined as a matrix B such that AB =BA=detAI
Where detA denotes determinant of A Thus A(A dj A) = (Adj A) (A) = (det A) I
The following properties of adjoint are not easy to verify in general but We will prove them
rigorously (A and B are square matrices of the same order).
(i) (Adj A) = Adj A (ii) Adj (AB) = (Adj B) (Adj A)
2
(iii) det (Adj A) = (det A)
(iv) adj (adj A) = (det A)n–2 |A|

INVERSE OF A MATRIX
If A is a square matrix of order n  n such that det A or |A|  0 then A is called non singular. For
every non singular matrix A there exists another non singular matrix B such that AB = BA = I

1
where I is the identity matrix of the same order we write B = A–1. Since A(Adj A) = (Adj A) (A)
1
= |A| I, We have A1  (Adj A)
| A|
The following results on inverse are important for invertible matrices.
(i) ( A1 )  ( A)1 ( ii) ( A1 )k  ( Ak )1 for any positive integer k

(iii) ( AB)1  B 1 A1 , ( ABC )1  C 1 B 1 A1 (reversal laws)

Standard Results and Important Tips

(i) If A and B are square matrix of the same order then (A+B)2 = A2 + AB = BA + B2
 cos   sin    cos n  sin n 
If A   n

cos    sin n cos n 
(ii) then for any integer n A
 sin   
(iii) If A is a square matrix of order n  n, k is a scalar and I be the identity matrix of the same order
then the matrix A – kI is called characteristic matrix of A. The equation det (A – kI) = 0 is called
characteristic polynomial of A and will be a polynomial of degree n in k. The root of this
equation are called characteristic roots or eigen values. According to Cayley-Hamilton theorem
every matrix satisfies its characteristic equation. For example
 2 3 2  k 3 
If A    then A  kI 2  
 1 4   1 4  k 
 det ( A  kI 2 )  k  6k 11
2

 Chacteristic equation is k 2  6k  11  0 . Since the roots are 3  i 2 the eigen values are
3i 2.
Also by Cayley Hamilton theorem A2  6 A  11I 2  0 (*).
Since det A  11  0  A1 exists on multiplying (*) by A1 we get A  6 I 2  11A1  0 . 
1
A1  ( A  6 I 2 )
11
Thus A–1 can also be found from characteristic equation. The following results are interesting and
can be remembered.
(a) A singular matrix must have zero as one of the eigen values.
(b) If A has eigen values k1, k2, … kn (det A  0) then A–1 has eigen values k11 , k21 , ... kn1 .
(c) A matrix A and its transpose have same eigen values.
(d) A and P–1 AP have the same eigen values.
(iv) If A is a skew symmetric of odd order then det A = 0
(v) Every square matrix can be uniquely expressed as a sum of a symmetric and skew symmetric
matrix in a unique way.
(vi) Inverse of a symmetric matrix is symmetric.
THEOREMS
(In the following results A and B are 3  3 matrices unless the contrary is specified)

1 For any two matrices A and B for which AB is defined prove the reversal law of inverse ie

 AB   BT AT ( Take A and B as m by n and n by p marices respectively

T

Proof We will denote the typical element of a matrix A by  Aij

2
 r n r 1 r n
 AB T    AB    a jr bri   bri a jr    BT   AT    BT AT 
  ij ji     rj   ij
r 1 r 1 r 1 ir

 AB   BT AT Hence reversal law of transpose is proved

T
Thus

2 Show that adj A’=(adj A)’

Sol :- (i, j) th element of (adj A)’ = (i, j ) th element of adj A

= cofactor of (i, j) th element of det A = cofactor of (i, j) th element of det A’

= (i, j ) th element of adj A’

3 If A is invertible show that ( A ')1  ( A1 )'

adjA adjA '
Sol:- A1   ( A1 )'  (det A)1 (adjA)'   ( A ') 1  ( det A  det 1)
det A det A '
4 Using det AB  (det A)(det B) and det(kA)  k 3 .det A (In general det(kA)  k n det A )

show that det(adjA)  (det A)2

Sol :- By definition A(adjA)  (det A) I3 Z  | AadjA | (det A)3 ( | I3 | 1)
 det A det(adjA)  (det A)3  det(adjA)  (det A)2
5 Show that adj( AB)  (adjB)(adjA)
Sol :- By definition ABadj ( AB)  det( AB) I3  (adjAB) AB
Also AB(adjB)(adjA)  A(BadjB)adjA  A(det BI3 )adjA  (det B)( AadjA)  det B det AI3
 (det BA) I3  (det AB) I3 . we can similarly show ((adjB)adjA) AB  (det AB) I3
Thus adjAB  (adjB)(adjA)

Adj  AdjA)   det A

n 2
6 Prove that for any non singular matrix A A
Proof we have  AdjA Adj( AdjA)   det AdjA In NOW

 det AdjA =  det A and using AdjA  A1 det A

n 1
the result follows
7 For any three matrices A.B.C of orders m by n , n by p and p by q follows the associative law
A( BC)  ( AB)C
Proof Typical element of RHS=
r p
 s n  p s n
( AB)ir (C ) rj     ais bsr crj   ais  bsr crj 
p
( AB)C ij  
r 1 r 1  s 1  r 1 s 1

n
 p
 n
  ais   bsr crj    ais ( BC ) sj  ( A( BC ))ij = typical element of LHS
s 1  r 1  s 1
8 The distributive laws are simple to prove
. FOR any three matrices A ,B,C A(B+C)= AB+AC where A is of order m by n while B and C have
orders n by p
9 IMPORTANT THEOREM Let A be a square matrixsuch that AB= o where B is a non zero matrix then
detA =0
AdjA1   AdjA
1
10 For any non singular matrixc A

3
 A
 AdjA  A   det A  I   AdjA 
1
Proof : From the relation  AGAIN Using the same
det A
relation for A1    
we get A1 AdjA1  det A1 I Pre multiplying with A and using the fact that
1
det A1  we get the result
det A

DETERMINANT RELATED ADVANCED PROPERTIES OF SQUARE MATRICES

 a1 b1 c1 

I. Let A be a square matrix given by A  a2 b2 c2  . Let the determinant of A be denoted by

 a3 b3 c3 
det A or A or  . Recall that det A  a1b2c3  a2b3c1  a3b1c2  a1b3c2  a3b2c1  a2b1c3 .

Let the cofactors of these nine elements be denoted by corresponding capital letters (e.g.
cofactor of b2 is denoted by B2 ) then we can easily observe/prove

(i) Sum of products of elements of any row (or any column) with corresponding cofactors is equal
to value of the determinant of the matrix. Thus this will provide six relations
a1 A1  a2 A2  a3 A3  det A ( Plus two more similar relations)

a1 A1  b1B1  c1C1  det A ( Plus two more similar relations)

(ii) Sum of products of elements of of any row (or any column) with corresponding cofactors of
any other row (column) is always zero. Thus

a1 B1  a2 B2  a3 B3  0 (Sum of products of elements of first column with cofactors of

elements of IInd columns)

a1 A3  b1B3  c1C3  0 (Sum of products of elements of first row with cofactors

of elements of IIIrd row) (Plus ten more similar relations)

II. The results in I can be used to prove that for any square matrix A

A( AdjA)  ( AdjA) A  (det A) I 3

 a1 b1 c1   A1 A2 A3 

Since A  a2 b2 c2  , AdjA   B1 B2 B3 

 a3 b3 c3  C1 C2 C3 

det A 0 0 
We can notice that A  AdjA 
 0 det A 0 

 0 0 det A

4
 III. Differentiation of a 3  3 determinant whose nine elements are differentiable functions of x :

f1 f2 f3
Let   g1 g2 g3 (where f1  f1  x  , g2  g2  x  etc.)
h1 h2 h3

 f1 ' f2 ' f3 ' f1 f2 f3 f1 f 2 f3


Then  '  g1 g2 
g3   g1 ' g 2 ' g3 '  g1 g 2 g3

 h1 h2 h3  h1 h2 h3 h1 ' h2 ' h3 '

The result easily follows from tow facts

(i)   f1 g 2 h3  f 2 g3h1  f3 g1h2  f1 g3h2  f3 g 2 h1  f 2 g1h3

d
(ii)  uvw   u ' vw  uv ' w  uvw '
dx

(Differentiate  by rule (ii) and gather all terms with dashes on alphabet f then gather all terms with
dashes on alphabet g etc.)

a1 b1 c1 1 1  1
IV. Let A  a2 b2 c2 , B  2 2  2
a3 b3 c3 3 3  3

Then det A  a1b2c3  a2b3c1  a3b1c2  a1b3c2  a3b2c1  a2b1c3

det B  1 2 3   2 3 1   3 1 2  13 2   3  2 1   2 1 3

We will prove that det  AB    det A det B 

a11  b1 2  c1 3 a11  b1 2  c13 a1 1  b1 2  c1 3

Observe that det AB  a21  b2 2  c2 3 a2 1  b2  2  c2 3 a2 1  b2 2  c2 3
a31  b3 2  c3 3 a3 1  b3  2  c3 3 a3 1  b3 2  c3 3

This can split in 27 determinants having entries as monomials. If we choose all first entries of all
the columns (The scheme will be denoted by S 1,1,1 then determinant which arises

a11 a11 a1 1 1 1  1

 a21 a2 1 a2 1  a1a2 a3 1 1  1  0
a31 a3 1 a3 1 1 1  1

a11 b1 2 c1 3 a1 b1 c1

The determinant arises by S 1, 2,3  a21 b2  2 c2 3  1 2 3 a2 b2 c2
a31 b3  2 c3 3 a3 b3 c3

= (one of the six terms of expansion of det B ) det A

5
 This way we will get all terms of the expansion of det B . Each time we will have  det A as a
multiplying factor. All other determinants will be zero. Thus det AB   det A det B  .

SOLVED EXAMPLES
1 If B and C be two 3  3 matrices such that A  B  C, BC  CB, C 2  0 then show by induction that
An1  Bn [ B  (n  1)C ] where n is a positive integer
Sol:- For n  1, LHS  A2  ( B  C )2  B2  BC  CB  C 2
 B2  2BC ( BC  CB, C 2  0)  B(B  2C)  B(B  (1  1)C)  RHS for n  1
Let the result be true for n  k then Ak 1  Bk [ B  (k  1)C ]
To prove the result for n  k  1 we must show that Ak  2  Bk 1[ B  (k  2)C ]
Indeed Ak 2  Ak 1.A  [ Bk ( B  (k  1)C )]( B  C ) (Putting A k by induction)
 Bk ( B  (k  1)C )  Bk ( B  (k  1)C )C.  Bk ( B2  (k  1)CB)  B k ( BC  (k  1)C 2 )
 Bk ( B2  (k  1) BC )  Bk 1C ( C 2  0, CB  BC )  Bk 1 ( B  (k  2)C )
2 If A2  A, A  B  I show that B 2  B and AB  BA  0
Sol :- A B  I  BIA
 B  I  IA  AI  A  I 2  A  A  A  I 2  A  B
2 2 2

 B2  B To show AB  BA we have A  B  I  A( A  B)  AI
 A  AB  A
2
 AB  0 Similarly BA  0 Thus AB  BA  0
n
3. Prove that A is a skew symmetric matrix where A is a skew symmetric matrix and
n is any odd positive integer.
Sol: Let A be skew symmetric then A'   A ..........i
()

Let B  An

 
Now B'  An ' ,   A' ,
n
  A
n
from (i )

  An  n is odd   B

 2 3
4 Express   as the sum of a symmetric and a skew symmetric matrices.
 1 2
1  2 3   2  1 1  2 3   2  1
Sol: A   A  A'   A  A'  
1 1
       
2 2 2   1 2   3 2  2   1 2   3 2 

1  4 2 1  0 4  2 1  0 2
         
2  2 4  2   4 0  1 2   2 0
= Symmetric + Antisymmetric.

5. If A is 3 3 invertible matrix, then show that for any scalar k (non-zero). kA is invertible and
kA1  1 A 1 .
k

Sol: We have kA

 1 1   1 
 
A    k.  A. A 1  1I   I
k   k
6
  1 1 
Hence kA is inverse of  A  or kA1  1 A1
k  k

6 Let A be a square non zero matrix and B be a square matrix of the same order such that
AB  0 then B must be singular.

Sol: If possible let B be non singular then B 1 will exist. Post multiplying AB  0 by B 1 . We get
A  0 which is a contradiction.

 x x  
7. On the set M  Ax     : x  R, of 2 2 matrices, find the identity element for the
 x x  
multiplication of matrices as a binary operation. Also find all invertible elements along with their
inverses.
a b
Sol: Let the identify element be I 2    We must have AI 2  I 2 A  A for all Ax  .
c d 

x x  a b   x x
From AI 2  A we get    
x x  c d   x x 

 ax  cx bx  dx   x x
       ax  cx  x, bx  dx  x
 ax  cx bx  dx   x x 

If x  0 then above equations are identically satisfied. If x  0 we get a  c  1, b  d  1

 a b  x x  x x
Again I 2 A  A      we get a  b  1, c  d  1
 c d  x x   x x 

1
These four equation easily give a  b  c  d 
2

1 1
 
Hence I 2   2 2  . Now if B   A x 1   x' x'  then BA  I
 x' x'  2
 1 1
  
2 2

1 1
 x' x'  x x  2  1 1
    2  2 xx '   x' 
 x' x'  x x   1 1 2 4
 
2 2

1 1
 
  Ax  1
4 4
 1 1

4 4

 3 1
8. Find ' x ' and ' y ' so that A 2  xI  y A , where A   . Hence find A1 .
 7 5
 3 2  3 1  3 1   16 8 
Sol: A     A 2       
7 5  7 5  7 5   56 32 
7
 Now A2  xI  yA (*)

 16 8   x 0   3 y y 
          16  x  3 y, 8  y, 56  7 y , 32  x  5 y
 56 32   0 x   7 y 5 y 

The four equations are consistent and give y  8, x  8

Now multiply (*) by A1 we get A1 A2  A1 xI 2  y. A1 A

 5 1
 8 0   3 1   8  
1
 A  xA 1  yI 2  A1  .    7
8

8  0 8 7 5  3 
 
 8 8 

 2 3
9If f x   x 2  4 x  7, show that f  A  O where A   . Hence find A 4 .
  1 2 
Sol: We easily show A 2  4 A  7 I 2  0  A  4 A  7 I 2
2

multiply by A2 we get A4  4 A3  7 A2  0

 A4  4 A3  7 A2 ,  
 4 A A2  7 A2

 4 A4 A  7 I 2   7 A2 , 16 A2  28 A  7 A2 ,  9 A2  28 A

 16 24   7 0   9 24 
94 A  7 I 2   28 A  8 A  7 I 2         
  8 16   0 7    8 9 
10
 2 1  10 2   4  2 
Find the matrix A , if it is given that 
 A     .
 4 3   1 12   7 1 
 2 1 10 2   4  2
Sol: We have PAQ  R where P   , Q    , R   
 4 3  1 12  7 1 

Note that all three P, Q, R are invertible matrices. Pre multiplying by P 1 we get
P 1 PAQ  P 1 R  AQ  P 1 R

Again past multiplying by Q 1 we get A  P 1 RQ1 Now P 1 , Q 1 are easily determined etc.

 2 2 4 1 1 3  5 8 0 
11 Let A   1 3 4  , B   5
  2 6  , C   3 5 0  show that

 1 2 3  2 1 3  1 2 1
(i) A A
2
(ii) B 0
3
(iii) C2  I
 2 2 4   2 2 4   4  2  4 4  6  8 8  8  12   2 2 4 
  
Sol: (i) A   1 3 4    1 3
2
4    2  3  4 2  9  8 4  12  12    1 3 4   A
 1 2 3  1 2 3  2  2  3 2  6  6 4  8  9   1 2 3

8
  A2  A  A is idempotent.

1 1 3 1 1 3
(ii) B  B  B   5 2 6    5 2 6 
2

 2 1 3  2 1 3
 1 5  6 1 2  3 3 69   0 0 0 
 5  10  12 5  4  6 15  12  18   3 3 9 

 2  5  6 2  2  3 6  6  9  1 1 3
0 0 0 1 1 3  000 000 000 
 
B  B B   3 3 9  5 2 6 
3 2    3  15  18 3  6  9 9  18  27   0

 1 1 3  2 1 3  1  5  6 1  2  3 3  6  9 
 5 8 0   5 8 0   25  24  0 40  40  0 0  1 0 0 
(iii) C   3 5 0    3 5 0    15  15  0 24  25  0 0   0 1 0   I
2

 1 2 1  1 2 1  5  6  1 8  10  2 1  0 0 1 

1 1 1 n 
12 If A    , Show that An   
 0 1 0 1 
1 1 1 1 1  0 1  1  1 2 
Sol: We have A2           ……….(1)
0 1 0 1 0  0 0  1 0 1 
1 2  1 1 1.1  2.0 1.1  2.1 1 3
A3  A2 A          ………..(2)
0 1  0 1  0.1  1.0 0.1  1.1 0 1
From (1) and (2), we observe that the required result is true for n = 2, 3. To prove the required
result, we shall use the method of induction. We shall assume the result to be true for an index n,
(where n is a + iv integer) and by actual multiplication, we shall show that it holds for the next
index n + 1
1 n 
Thus, let An = 
1 
;
0
n 1 1 n  1 1 1.1  n.0 1.1  n.1 1 n  1
 An A       
1 
then A
0 1  0 1 0.1  1.0 0.1  1.1 0
This shows that if the result is true for the index n, it is also true for the next index n + 1. But we
have already seen that it is true for n = 2, 3, etc. Hence by induction, the required result follows.
 2 1 3  1 5 3 
   
13Find the product AB , where A   4  1 0 , B    4 23 12  . Hence solve :
  7 2 1  1  11  6 
   
x  4 y  z  4; 5x  23 y  11z  17; x  4 y  2z  3

1
SOLUTION: Note that AB  3I 3   A  B 1 (*)
3
Now the given system can be re-written as

 x  4 y  z  4 (on multiplying given equation by  1 )

5x  23 y  11z  17

3x  12 y  6 z  9 (on multiplying given equation by 3)

9
  B' X  C

 1 5 3    4  x
     
where B is same as given matrix   4 23 12  C   17 , X   y 
 1  11  6   9  z
     


1
 
'  1 
X  B' C  B 1 C    A ' C (Using *)
1
  A' C
 3  3

Now A' C can be easily found.

x 1
13 Solve following equations using matrix method : 2
 ; x 2 yz  3; xyz  9
y x 3

SOLUTION: Taking log s of all three relations (at base 3) we get

log x  2 log y  log z   log 3 3  1, 2 log x  log y  log z  log 3 3  1

log x  log y  log z  log 3 9  2

Putting x'  log x, y'  log y, z'  log z the above system becomes

 x'2 y' z'  1 , 2x' y' z'  1 , x' y' z'  2

Which can be easily solved by matrix method etc.

14 Let A be a 3  3 Symmetric matrix containing exactly five ones and four zeros.

Show that (i) There are 12 possible matrices A

 x   1
   
(ii) The system of linear equations has A  y    0  has a unique solution for 6 such
 z   0
   
matrices

 x   1
   
(iii) The system A  y    0  has infinite solution for three such matrices
 z   0
   

 x   1
   
(iv) The system A  y    0  has no solutions for three such matrices
 z   0
   

SOLUTION. On the principal diagonal we either have no zero or will have two zeros. In each case we
can form matrices by distributing remaining zeros and remaining ones keeping in mind the fact
that A is symmetric. There are 12 matrices possible. (Direct calculation is much more convenient)

Case (i) No zero on diagonal

1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0
D1  1 1 0 , D2  0 1 0  0 , D3  0 1 1  0
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1
10
Case (ii) a11  0, a22  0, a33  1

0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1
D4  0 0 1  0 , D5  1 0 1  1 , D6  1 0 0  1
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1

Case (iii) a11  1, a22  0, a33  0

1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1
D7  1 0 0  0 , D8  1 0 1  1 , D9  0 0 1  1
1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0

Case (iv) a11  0, a22  1, a33  0

0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
D10  1 1 0  1 , D11  0 1 1  0 , D12  0 1 1  1
1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0

(ii) We note that D5 , D6 , D8 , D9 , D12 are non zero

 The system has unique solution for six possible matrices.

(iii) Let us examine the remaining cases in which determinants is zero. For D1 The system is
1 1 0   x   1 
1 1 0   y    0   x  y  1, x  y  0, x y 0
    
 
0 0 1   z   0 

 System has no solution

For D2 x  z  1, y0 xz 0  No solution

For D4 z  1, z  0  No solution

For D7 x  y  z  1, x  0, x 0  Infinite solution

For D11 y  0, y  z  0, y0  Infinite solution

For D12 z  0, y  z  0, x y 0  Infinite solution

(In the following results A and B are 3  3 matrices unless the contrary is specified)

15 If A and B are symmetric and commute show that AB and BA are also symmetric

Sol :- ( AB)  BA (reversal law of transpose)

 BA ( B '  B, A'  A )

 AB (since A and B commute)

We can similarly show (BA)'  BA

16 If A and are idempotent matrices and satisfy AB  BA show that AB is also idempotent

11
 Sol :- we must show that ( AB)2  AB

Indeed ( AB)2  ( AB)( AB)  A( BA) B  A( AB) B  A2 B 2  AB

17 If A and B be orthogonal matrices then show that AB and BA and also orthogonal.

Sol :- Given AA '  BB '  I , It is sufficient to show ( AB)( AB)'  I

LHS  AB B ' A' (reversal law)

 AIA ' ( BB '  I ),  AA ' ( AI  A )  I

We can similarly show (BA)(BA)'  I

18 If A and B satisfy A  B  AB show that AB  BA

Sol :- On adding I 3 on both sides we get AB  I3  A  B  I3

 ( A  I3 )( B  I3 )  I3 ( AI3  A, BI3  B, I3 I3  I3 )

 A  I3 and B  I3 are inverse of each other and commute

 ( B  I3 )( A  I3 )  I3  BA  BI3  AI3  0

 BA  B  A  A  B  AB (from given condition)

PAST YEAR IMPORTANT ENTRANCE QUESTIONS

NOTE : Questions affixed with (**) may have more than one correct answers.
OBJECTIVE EXERCISE

1 1 1
 
 0 1 2  2 2 2
  1  
1 If A  1 2 3 , and A   4 3 c  , then
3 a 1  5 3 1
  
2 2 2
(a) a = 2, c = -1/2 (b)* a = 1, c = -1 (c) a = -1, c = 1 (d) a = ½, c = ½
 0 1 2 
2. If A   1 0 3  , then A + 2AT equals
 2 3 0 
(a) A (b) -AT (c)* AT (d) 2A2
3. If A is a matrix of order 3 and A= 2, then adj A=
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 23 (d)* 22
 3 3 4 
4 If A   2 3 4  , then A-1 =
 0 1 1 
(a) A (b) A2 (c)* A3 (d) A4
5 For any two 3  3 matrices A and B
(a)* A2 + 2AB + B2 = (A + B)2 (b) (A + B)  (A – B) = A2 – B2
(c) (A + B) – 2AB = (A – B) + 2BA
2 2
(d) none of these
6 If A is 3  4 matrix and B is a matrix such that A′B and BA′ are both defined, then B is of the
type
12
 (a)* 34 (b) 33 (c) 44 (d) 43
 1 2
7 Let A   -1
 and A = xA + yI, then the value of x and y are
  5 1 
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
(a)* x ,y (b) x ,y (c) x ,y (d) x  , y 
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
1 1 1
1 3
8 Let     i , then the value of the determinant 1 1    2 is
2
2 2
1 2 4
(a) 3 (b)* 3( - 1) (c) 32 (d) 3(1 - )

1 0 0  1 0 0
1 
9. A  0 1 1  , I  0 1
 
 
0  and A1   A2  cA  dI  ,then value of c and d are
 6 
0 2 4  0 0 1 
(a) -6, -11 (b) 6, 11 (c)* -6, 11 (d) 6, -11
 3 1 
 
If P   2 2  , A  1 1
and Q = PAPT and X = PTQ2005 P, then X is equal to
10 0 1
 1 3 
  
 2 2 
1 2005  4  2005 3 6015 
0  
1 
(a)* (b)
  2005 4  2005 3 
1 2  3 1  1  2005 2  3 
(c)   (d)  
4  1 2  3  4  2  3 2005 
11 Let M and N be two 3  3 non-singular skew-symmetric matrices such that MN  NM .

If PT denotes the transpose of P , then M 2 N 2 ( M T N )1 ( MN 1 )T is equal to

(a) M2 (b) N 2 (c)* M 2 (d) MN

0  1 1  1  1 0 

12
          
Let M be a 3  3 matrix satisfying M 1  2 , M 1  1 , and M 1  0 . Then the
          
0 3  0   1 1 12
sum of the diagonal entries of M is Ans: (9)

13. If P is a 3 3 matrix such that PT  2P  I , where P T is the transpose of P and I is the

 x  0 
3 3 identity matrix, then there exists a column matrix X   y   0 such that
   
 z  0

0 
(a) PX  0 (b) PX  0 (c) PX  2 X (d)* PX   X
0

13
 1 4 4 
 
14.** If the adjoint of a 3  3 matrix P is 2 1 7 ,then the possible value(s) of the determinant of
 
1 1 3
P is (are)

(a)* 2 (b) 1 (c) 1 (d)* 2

15    
Let P  aij be a 3 3 matrix and let Q  bij , where bij  2i  j aij for 1  i, j  3 . If the
determinant of P is 2 , then the determinant of the matrix Q is

(a) 210 (b) 211 (c) 212 (d)* 213

16 Let X and Y be two arbitrary, 3  3, non zero, skew-symmetric matrices and Z be an arbitrary
3  3, non-zero, symmetric matrix. Then which of the following matrices is(are) skew
symmetric?
(a) Y 3 Z 4  Z 4Y 3 (b) X 44  Y 44 (c)* X 4 Z 3  Z 3 X 4 (d)* X 23  Y 23

 1 0 0
17
 
Let P  4 1 0 and I be the identity matrix of order 3 . If Q   qij  is a matrix such that
 
16 4 1 
q q
P50  Q  I , then 31 32 equals
q21
(a) 52 (b)* 103 (c) 201 (d) 205
18 If A2  A  I  0, then the inverse of A is.
(a) A I (b) A (c) A I (d)* IA
1 0  1 0 
19 If A    and   , then which of the following holds for all n  1, by principle of
1 1  0 1 
mathematical induction
(a)* An  nA  (n  1) I (b) An  2n1 A  (n  1) I
(c) An  nA  (n  1) I (d) An  2n 1 A  (n  1) I
20. The number of 3  3 non – singular matrices, with four entries as 1 and all other entries as 0, is

(a) less than 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (d)* at least 7

21. Let A and B be two symmetric, matrices of order 3 .

Statement-1: A( BA) and ( AB) A are symmetric matrices.

Statement-2: AB is symmetric matrix if matrix multiplication of A with B is commutative.

Ans: (b)

22 Consider the following relation R on the set of real square matrices of order 3 .

R  ( A, B) A  P 1BP for some invertible matrix P .

Statement-1: R is an equivalence relation.

Statement-2: For any two invertible 3  3 matrices M and N , ( MN ) 1  N 1M 1 Ans: (b)

14
23 Let P and Q be 3  3 matrices with P  Q . If P 3  Q 3 and P 2 Q  Q 2 P , then determinant
of ( P 2  Q 2 ) is equal to :

(a)* 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3

1 α 3
24 If P  1 3 3  is the adjoint of a 3  3 matrix A and A  4, then α is equal to
 2 4 4 
(a) 4 (b)* 11 (c) 5 (d) 0

25 If A is an 3  3 non  singular matrix such that AA’=A’A and B  A1 A ', then BB’ equals:

(a) IB (b)* I (c) B 1 (d) ( B 1 )'

5a b 
26 If A    and AadjA  A AT , then 5a  b is equal to :
3 2

(a) 13 (b) 1 (c)* 5 (d) 4

LATEST ENTRANCE QUESTIONS

IIT MAINS 2019
cos   sin   
27 If A    , then the matrix A50 when   , is equal to
 sin  cos   12

 1 3  3 1  3 1   1 3
         
(a)  2 2 
(b)  2 2
(c)*  2 2 
(d) 
2 2 
 3 1   1 3  1 3  3 1 
       
 2 2   2 2   2 2   2 2 

 et e 1 cos t e  t sin t 
 t 1 t t 
28. If A  e1 e cos t  e sin t e sin t  e cos t  then A is
 et 2e t sin t 2e  t cos t 
 

(a) invertible only when t   *(b) invertible for every t  R


(c) not invertible for any t  R (d) invertible only when t 
2

 cos   sin    0 1 
Let A    ,   R  such that A    . Then a value of  is
32
29
 sin  cos   1 0 

  
(a) (b) 0 (c)* (d)
32 64 16

15
 IIT MAINS 2020

1 1 2
30.
 
If the matrices A  1 3 4 , B  adjA and C  3 A. then
adjB
is equal to
  C
1 1 3

(a) 16 (b) 2 (c)* 8 (d) 72

IIT MAINS 2021

31. Let A and B be 3  3 real matrices, such that A is symmetric matrix and B is skew-symmetric
 
matrix. Then, the system of linear equations A2 B2  B2 A2 X  O, where X is a 3  1
column matrix of unknown variables and O is a 3  1 null matrix, has

(a) No solution (b) exactly two solutions

(c)*infinitely many solutions (d) a unique solution

1 0 0 
32.
 
If the matrix A  0 2 0 satisfies the equation
 
3 0 1

1 0 0 
A20   A19   A  0 4 0 for some real numbers  and  then    is equal to
0 0 1 

Ans: 1.

IIT MAINS 2022

33 Let S   n :1  n  50 and n is odd 

 1 0 a

Let a  S and A  1 1 0

 
 a 0 1 

If  det  adjA  100, then 

aS
is equal to

(a) 218 (b)* 221 (c) 663 (d) 1717

16
  0 2  10 10
34 Let A  
 2 0 

. If M and N are two matrices given by M  
k 1
A2k
and N  
k 1
A2 k 1

then MN 2 is

(a)* A non-identity symmetric matrix (b) a skew-symmetric matrix

(c)neither symmetric nor skew -symmetric matrix (d) an identify matrix

35 Let A be a 3  3 matrix having entries from the set 1,0,1. The number of all such matrices

A having sum of all the entries equal to 5, is ________. Ans: 414

then adj  Badj  2 A  is

1
36 Let A and B be two 3  3 matrices such that AB  I and A 
8

equal to

(a) 16 (b) 32 (c)* 64 (d) 128

0   49
37 Let M  
  0 
, where  is a non-zero real number an N  
k 1
M 2 k . If

 I  M  N  2I , then the positive integral value of 

2
is ______. Ans: 1

IIT MAINS 2022 (JULY)

 2 1 1
  3 i 1
38. Let A  1 0 1 and B  A  I . If   , then the number of elements in the set
  2
1 1 0 

n 1, 2,....,100 : A  B

n n

 A  B is equal to _______. Ans: 17

39 Let A be a 2  2 matrix with det  A  1 and det  A  I   Adj  A  I   4. Then the sum of
the diagonal elements of A can be :

(a)  1 (b)* 2 (c) 1 (d)  2

1  92 102 112 

   
40. Let A  1 and B   122 132 142  , then the value of A ' BA is :
 
1  152 162 17 2 


(a) 1224 (b) 1042 (c) 540 (d)* 539

a b 
41. The number of matrices A    , where a, b, c, d 1,0,1, 2,3,....,10 , such that
c d 
A  A1 , is _____. Ans: 50

17
 1 2
42 Let A    . Let  ,   be such that  A2   A  2 I . Then    is equal to:
 2 5 

(a) 10 (b) 6 (c) 6 (d) 10

0 1 0 
43
 
Let the matrix A  0 0 1 and the matrix B0  A49  2 A98 . If Bn  Adj  Bn1  for all
 
1 0 0 
n  1, then det  B4  is equal to :

(a) 328 (b) 330 (c)* 332 (d) 336

44 Let A and B be any two 3  3 symmetric and skew symmetric matrices respectively. Then
which of the following is NOT true ?

(a) A4  B4 is a symmetric matrix (b) AB  BA is a symmetric matrix

(c)* B5  A5 is skew-symmetric matrix (d) AB  BA is a skew-symmetric matrix

45 The number of matrices of order 3 3 whose entries are either 0 or 1 and the sum of all the
entries is prime number, is _______. Ans: 282

IIT-MAINS 2023 MATRICES QUESTIONS

46. Let A  aij  , where aij  0 for all i, j and A 2  I . Let a be the sum of all diagonal elements
2x2

of A and b = |A|. Then 3a2  4b2 is equal to

(a) 3 (b) 7 *(c) 4 (d) 14

0 1 2
47. Let A   a 0 3  , where a, c  . If A2=A and the positive value of a belongs to the interval (n-
 1 c 0 
1,n], where n  , then n is equal to ______. [Ans. (2)]

1 2 3
48. Let for A   3 1  ,| A | 2. If 2 adj  2 adj  2 A   = 32n, then 3n+  is equal to
 1 1 2 
(a) 10 *(b) 11 (c) 9 (d) 12

1 0 0
 
Let A   0 4 1  . Then the sum of the diagonal elements of the matrix  A  I  is equal to :
11
49.
 0 12 3 
 
(a) 2050 *(b) 4094 (c) 6144 (d) 4097

IIT MAINS 2024 JANURARY ATTEMPT MATRICES QUESTIONS

18
 cos x  sin x 0 
50. Consider the Matrix f (x)   sin x cos x 0  Given below are two statements:
 0 0 1 
Statement I: f(-x) is the inverse of the matrix f(x)
Statement II: f(x) f(y)=f(x+y)
In the light of the above statements, choose the answer from the options given below
*(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are false
(c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true

2 0 1
51. Let Let A  1 1 0  , B   B1B2 B3  , where B1, B2, B3 are column matrices and
1 0 1 
1   2  3
AB1  0  , AB2   3  , AB3   2 . If  | B| and  is the sum of all the diagonal element of B,
 

0   0  1 
then  3   3 is equal to …….. Ans. 28

52. Let A be a 2  2 real matrix and 1 be the identity matrix of order 2. If the roots of the equation
| A  xI | 0 be -1 and 3, then the sum of the diagonal elements of the matrix A2 is ___. Ans. 10

A  A  AT    A  AT  
1  2 2
53. Let A be a square matrix such that AAT  I. Then
2  
*(a) A3+AT (b) A 3  I (c) A  I
2
(d) A 2  A T

1 0 0 
54. Let A  0    and |2A|3=221 where  ,   Z, The a value of  is
0   
(a) 3 (b) 17 (c) 9 *(d)

 2 1 2` 1 2 0 
55.  
Let A   6 2 11 and P   5 0 2  . The sum of the prime factors of |P-1AP-2 I | is equal to
 3 3 2  7 1 5 
(a) 23 (b) 66 *(c) 26 (d) 27

 x 0 0
 
56. Let R   0 y 0  be a non-zero 3  3 matrix where x
0 0 z
 
 2   4 
sin   ysin     zsin     0    0, 2  . For a square matrix M, Let trace (M)
 3   3 
denotes the sum of the diagonal entries of M. Then among the statements
(I): Trace (R)=0
(II) : If trace (adj (adj (R))=0, then R has exactly one non-zero entry
(a) Only (I) is true *(b) Both (I) and (II) are true
(c) Only (II) is true **(d) Neither (I) nor (II) it true

57. Let A be a 3  3 real matrix such that:

1  1   1  1  0   0  x  1
               
A  0   2  0  , A  0   4  0  , A  1   2  1  . Then, the system  A  3I   y    2  has
1 1  1   1   0  0  z   3
               
19
 (a) no solution (b) Infinitely many solutions
*(c) Unique solution (d) exactly two solutions.

58. Let A be a 3  3 matrix and det(A)=2. If n  det

 adj adj..... adj A  , then the remainder when n is
2024  times
divided by 9 is equal to _______. Ans. 7

 2 1  1 0 
59. If A   , B    , C  ABA T , X  A T C2 A, then det X is equal to
 1 2  1 1 
(a) 243 *(b) 729 (c) 27 (d) 891

60. Let A  I2  2MMT , where M is a real matrix of order 2  1 such that the relation MTM= I1 holds.
If  is a real number such that the relation AX   X holds for some non-zero real matrix X of
order 2  1 , then the sum of squares of all possible values of  is equal to Ans. 2

IIT MAINS APRIL 2024 QUESTIONS

1 2  2 10
61. Let A    and B=I+adj(A)+adj(A)+(adj A) +(adj A) . Then the sum of all elements of the
 0 1 
matrix B is-
(a) 88 *(b) -88 (c) 99 (d) -99

  
62. A       .B. B is formed by cofactor of A, matrix then f out determinant of AB.
    
(a) 4 3  2    (b) 12  3  2    *(c) 86      (d) 18 8     
5 2 3 3

63. If the order of matrix A is 3 and |a|=3 then the value of det(adj(-4adj(-3adj(2A-1)))) is 2m3n. The
value of m+2n is: [Ans. 32]

2 a 0 
64. A  1 3 1  , A 2  4A 2  A  21I Find 2a+3b=
0 5 b 
(a) -10 (b) 10 *(c) -13 (d) 13

2  1  13 n
65. A  , Sum of diagonal elements of A =3 find n=
1 1 
*(a) 7 (b) 8 (c) 9 (d) 10

66. If A is 3x3 matrix, det(3adj (2 adj A)) =2-13.3-10 and det(3adj (2A))=2-m.3-n then 2m+2n is equal to :
[Ans. 14]

20
 IIT MAINS JANUARY 2025
1. If A, B and (adj(A-1)+adj(B-1)) are non-singular matrices of same order then the inverse of
A(adj(A-1)+adj(B-1)-1 B is equal to *(a)
1 1
1 AB BA
 adjB  adjA  (b) AB1  A1B (c) adj B-1 +adj A-1 (d) 
| AB | |A| | B|
2. Let A and B are non-singular commutative matrices. Then A[(adjA-1).(adj(B-1))]-1B is equal
to
In I I I
*(a) |A||B|ln (b) (c) n n (d) n
| A || B | |A||A| |B|

0  0  4 0  2 1

3. If A 1  0 , A 1  1 , A 1    0 . Then a23 equals to
       
           
0  1   3 0  2  0
(a) 3 *(b) -1 (c) 2 (d) -2
4. If A is 3  3 matrix such that det(A)=2. Then det(adj(adj(adj(adjA))))
(a) 232 *(b) 216 (c) 28 (d) 212
 1 
2 cos   sin 
5. Let A 2 &P ,   0
   sin  cos  
 0 1 
m
If B  PAPT ,C  PT B10P and the sum of the diagonal element of ‘C’ is where gcd (m, n) = 1
n
then(m+n) is equal to
*(a) 65 (b)258 (c)67 (d) 2049

Let a ij   2  , A  a ij 33 . If sum of third row of A2 is    2 , then    is

i j
6.
[Ans. 224]
7. If A be a 3  3 square matrix such that det(A)=-2. If det(3 adj(-6 adj(3A))) = 2n  3m , where
m  n, that 4m  2n is equal to – [Ans. 104]
8. If |A|=2, B=adj(adj 2A), A is matrix of 3  3 order and tr(A)=3, tr(B)+|B|=?
[Ans. 216+96]

IIT MAINS APRIL 2025 QUESTIONS

1. Let A be 3  3 matrix such that det(A) =5. If dt (3adj(2Aadj(2A))) = 2 .3 .5 , then      
is equal to
(a) 25 (b) 26 (c) 27 *(d) 28

cos  0  sin  
2. Let A   0 1 0  . Here A2=AT. Then find trace [(A+I)3+(A-I)3-6A] [Ans. 6]
 sin  0 cos  

21
 1 0 0 
3. Let the matrix A  1 0 1  satisfy A n  A n  2  A 2  I for n  3 , then the sum of all the
0 1 0 
50
elements of A is equal to [Ans. 53]

4. Let A be a set defined as A  2,3,6,9 . Find the number of singular matrices of order 2  2
such that elements are from the set A [Ans. 36]

5. Let A be 3  3 matrix such that adj  adj  adjA    81 . Let

  n  1   then
2
  n  n  is equal to

S  n  : adj  adjA    A 
2
3n 2 5n  4
 ns
|A |

 2 

(a) 750 (b) 820 *(c) 732 (d) 866

22