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Inverse of Matrices

The document explains how to calculate the inverse of a matrix. It defines the inverse of a square matrix A as another square matrix A-1 such that when A is multiplied by A-1 or A-1 is multiplied by A, the result is the identity matrix. It provides a formula for calculating the inverse using the adjoint matrix and determinant. The process for finding the adjoint matrix involves taking the transpose and then replacing each element with its minor while applying a positive or negative sign based on position. An example calculation is shown to illustrate the process.

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Abdiwahab Issack
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55 views

Inverse of Matrices

The document explains how to calculate the inverse of a matrix. It defines the inverse of a square matrix A as another square matrix A-1 such that when A is multiplied by A-1 or A-1 is multiplied by A, the result is the identity matrix. It provides a formula for calculating the inverse using the adjoint matrix and determinant. The process for finding the adjoint matrix involves taking the transpose and then replacing each element with its minor while applying a positive or negative sign based on position. An example calculation is shown to illustrate the process.

Uploaded by

Abdiwahab Issack
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5.5


The inverse of a matrix


Introduction
In this leaflet we explain what is meant by an inverse matrix and how it is calculated.

1. The inverse of a matrix


The inverse of a square n × n matrix A, is another n × n matrix denoted by A−1 such that
AA−1 = A−1 A = I
where I is the n × n identity matrix. That is, multiplying a matrix by its inverse produces
an identity matrix. Not all square matrices have an inverse matrix. If the determinant of the
matrix is zero, then it will not have an inverse, and the matrix is said to be singular. Only
non-singular matrices have inverses.

2. A formula for finding the inverse


Given any non-singular matrix A, its inverse can be found from the formula
adj A
A−1 =
|A|
where adj A is the adjoint matrix and |A| is the determinant of A. The procedure for finding
the adjoint matrix is given below.

3. Finding the adjoint matrix


The adjoint of a matrix A is found in stages:
(1) Find the transpose of A, which is denoted by AT . The transpose is found by interchanging
the rows and columns of A. So, for example, the first column of A is the first row of the
transposed matrix; the second column of A is the second row of the transposed matrix, and so
on.
(2) The minor of any element is found by covering up the elements in its row and column and
finding the determinant of the remaining matrix. By replacing each element of AT by its minor,
we can write down a matrix of minors of AT .
(3) The cofactor of any element is found by taking its minor and imposing a place sign
according to the following rule
+ − +
 
...
 − + − ...
 

 + − + ...
 

.
 
. . . . . . . . . ..

www.mathcentre.ac.uk 5.5.1
c Pearson Education Ltd 2000
This means, for example, that to find the cofactor of an element in the first row, second column,
the sign of the minor is changed. On the other hand to find the cofactor of an element in the
second row, second column, the sign of the minor is unaltered. This is equivalent to multiplying
the minor by ‘+1’ or ‘−1’ depending upon its position. In this way we can form a matrix of
cofactors of AT . This matrix is called the adjoint of A, denoted adj A.

The matrix of cofactors of the transpose of A, is called the adjoint matrix, adj A

This procedure may seem rather cumbersome, so it is illustrated now by means of an example.

Example  
1 −2 0
Find the adjoint, and hence the inverse, of A =  3 1 5 
.

−1 2 3

Solution
Follow the stages outlined above. First find the transpose of A by taking the first column of A
to be the first row of AT , and so on:
 
1 3 −1
AT =  −2 1 2 
 

0 5 3
Now find the minor of each element in AT . The minor of the element ‘1’ in the first row, ! first
1 2
column, is obtained by covering up the elements in its row and column to give and
5 3
finding the determinant of this, which is −7. The minor of the element ‘3’ in the second!column
−2 2
of the first row is found by covering up elements in its row and column to give which
0 3
has determinant −6. We continue in this fashion and form a new matrix by replacing every
element of AT by its minor. Check for yourself that this process gives
 
−7 −6 −10
matrix of minors of AT =  14 3 5 


7 0 7
Then impose the place sign. This results in the matrix of cofactors, that is, the adjoint of A.
 
−7 6 −10
adj A =  −14 3 −5 
 

7 0 7
Notice that to complete this last stage, each element in the matrix of minors has been multiplied
by 1 or −1 according to its position.
It is a straightforward matter to show that the determinant of A is 21. Finally
 
−7 6 −10
adj A 1 
A−1 = =  −14 3 −5 

|A| 21
7 0 7

Exercise    
1 3 2 −3 6 −7
1 
1. Show that the inverse of  0 5 1  is −1 2 −1 
.
 
4 
−1 3 0 5 −6 5

www.mathcentre.ac.uk 5.5.2
c Pearson Education Ltd 2000

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