Adjoint of A Matrix
Adjoint of A Matrix
Theorem: If the determinant of a matrix of order n is D then, the determinant of its adjoint is 1 .
Implications of the theorem are;
A 2 by 2 matrix is equideterminant with its adjoint.
The determinant of the adjoint of a 3 by 3 matrix is a perfect square, for a 4 by 4 matrix, we
have a perfect cube, for 5 by 5 we have a perfect 4th power and so on.
For example,
1 5
8 5
, then its adjoint =
. If we evaluate the determinant of each we have
2 8
2 1
-2. That is a 2 by 2 matrix equideterminant with its adjoint.
If matrix A=
If A is a 3 by 3, say,
2
= 2
1
3 4
1 3 , =
3 5
4 3 5
7 6
2
5 3 4
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USAGE.
1. This theorem allows us to be able to work back to a matrix given its adjoint.
2. It allows us to determine the order of a matrix if the determinant of the matrix and that its adjoint are
known.
Divide all the entries of the matrix by the 1 and evaluate the inverse of the resulting
matrix.
For example,
If the adjoint of a matrix is given as
2 1 1
20 7 17
8 3
7
Firstly, we evaluate its determinant which gives 4. Then, the determinant of the original matrix
31
4 = 2. Then, we use 2 to divide all the entries of the given adjoint. So we have
1
1
1
2
2
7
17
10
2
2
3
7
4
2
2
So if we evaluate the inverse of this we have the original matrix.
1
1
1
2
2
1 2 5
7
17
inverse
= 2 3 7
10
2
2
2 1 3
3
7
4
2
2
1 2 5
hence, the original matrix is 2 3 7
2 1 3
which gives
HOW TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF A MATRIX FROM ITS DETERMINANT AND THAT OF ITS ADJOINT.