Equivalent Matrices:

Two matrices A and B are said to be equivalent if any one of the matrices say B can be
obtained by applying elementary operations on A. It is denoted by 𝐴𝐵.

Gauss – Jordan Method of finding the inverse.

The elementary row transformations reduce a given square matrix A to the unit matrix,
the same row operations when applied to unit matrix I give the inverse of A.

Working rule to evaluate 𝑨−𝟏 .

Write the two matrices 𝐴 and 𝐼 side by side. Then perform the same row transformations
on both. As soon as 𝐴 reduced to 𝐼, the other matrix represents 𝐴−1 .

Problem-1: Find the inverse of A by using elementary transformations where

8 4 3
𝐴 = [2 1 1] (OR)
1 2 1
8 4 3
Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of 𝐴 = [2 1 1]
1 2 1
8 4 3
Solution: Let 𝐴 = [2 1 1]
1 2 1

Consider | A | = 8(1 – 2) – 4(2 – 1) + 3(4 – 1) = –8 – 4 + 9 = –3 ≠ 0.

So , A is a non – singular matrix .

Hence A-1 exists.

8 4 3 1 0 0
Now, Consider the augmented matrix [ A | I ] = [2 1 1| 0 1 0]
1 2 1 0 0 1
𝑅1 ↔ 𝑅3

1 2 1 0 0 1
~ [2 1 1| 0 1 0]
8 4 3 1 0 0

𝑅2 → 𝑅2 − 2𝑅1
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 8𝑅1
 1 2 1 0 0 1
~ [0 −3 −1| 0 1 −2]
0 −12 −5 1 0 −8

𝑅1 → 3𝑅1 + 2𝑅2
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 4𝑅2

3 0 1 0 2 −1
~ [0 −3 −1| 0 1 −2]
0 0 −1 1 −4 0

𝑅1 → 𝑅1 + 𝑅3
𝑅2 → 𝑅2 − 𝑅3

3 0 0 1 −2 −1
~[0 −3 0 | −1 5 −2]
0 0 −1 1 −4 0

𝑅1
𝑅1 →
3
𝑅2
𝑅2 →
3
𝑅3 → −𝑅3

1 0 0 1/3 −2/3 −1/3

~[0 1 0| 1/3 −5/3 2/3 ]
0 0 1 −1 4 0

1/3 −2/3 −1/3

∴ 𝐴−1 = [1/3 −5/3 2/3 ]
−1 4 0

8 4 3 1/3 −2/3 −1/3 1 0 0

-1
Verification: A A = [2 1 1] [1/3 −5/3 2/3 ] = [0 1 0]
1 2 1 −1 4 0 0 0 1

1 2 5
Problem-2: Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A = [0 −1 2 ]
2 4 11
1 2 5
Solution: Let A = [0 −1 2 ]
2 4 11
Consider | A | = 1(– 11 – 8) – 2(0 – 4) + 5(0 + 2) = –19 + 8 + 10 = –1 ≠ 0.

So , A is a non – singular matrix.

Hence A-1 exists.

1 2 5 1 0 0
Consider the augmented matrix [ A | I ] = [0 −1 2 | 0 1 0]
2 4 11 0 0 1

𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 2𝑅1

1 2 5 1 0 0
~ [0 −1 2| 0 1 0]
0 0 1 −2 0 1

𝑅1 → 𝑅1 + 2𝑅2

1 0 9 1 2 0
~ [0 −1 2| 0 1 0]
0 0 1 −2 0 1

𝑅1 → 𝑅1 − 9𝑅3
𝑅2 → 𝑅2 − 2𝑅3

1 0 0 19 2 −9
~ [0 −1 0| 4 1 −2]
0 0 1 −2 0 1
𝑅2 → −𝑅2

1 0 0 19 2 −9
~ [0 1 0| −4 −1 2 ]
0 0 1 −2 0 1

19 2 −9
∴ 𝐴−1 = [−4 −1 2 ]
−2 0 1

1 2 5 19 2 −9 1 0 0
−1
Verification: 𝐴 𝐴 = [0 −1 2 ] [−4 −1 2 ] = [0 1 0]
2 4 11 −2 0 1 0 0 1
 −1 1 2
Problem-3: Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A = [ 3 −1 1]
−1 3 4
−1 1 2
Solution: Let 𝐴 = [ 3 −1 1]
−1 3 4

Consider | A | = – 1(– 4 – 3) – 1(12 + 1) + 2(9 –1) = 7 –13 + 16 = 10 ≠ 0.

So , A is a non – singular matrix.

Hence A-1 exists.

−1 1 2 1 0 0
Consider the augmented matrix [ A | I ] = [ 3 −1 1| 0 1 0]
−1 3 4 0 0 1

𝑅2 → 𝑅2 + 3𝑅1
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 𝑅1

−1 1 2 1 0 0
~[ 0 2 7| 3 1 0]
0 2 2 −1 0 1
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 𝑅2

−1 1 2 1 0 0
~[ 0 2 7 | 3 1 0]
0 0 −5 −4 −1 1

𝑅1 → 2𝑅1 − 𝑅2

−2 0 −3 −1 −1 0
~[ 0 2 7 | 3 1 0]
0 0 −5 −4 −1 1

𝑅1 → 5𝑅1 − 3𝑅3
𝑅2 → 5𝑅2 + 7𝑅3
−10 0 0 7 −2 −3
~[ 0 10 0 | −13 −2 7 ]
0 0 −5 −4 −1 1
−𝑅1
𝑅1 → 10
 𝑅
𝑅2 → 102
𝑅3
𝑅3 → − 5

1 0 0 −7/10 2/10 3/10

~ [0 1 0| −13/10 −2/10 7/10 ]
0 0 1 4/5 1/5 −1/5

−7/10 2/10 3/10

∴ 𝐴−1 = [−13/10 −2/10 7/10 ]
4/5 1/5 −1/5

−1 1 2 −7/10 2/10 3/10 1 0 0

−1
Verification: 𝐴 𝐴 = [ 3 −1 1] [−13/10 −2/10 7/10 ] = [0 1 0]
−1 3 4 4/5 1/5 −1/5 0 0 1

−2 1 3
Problem-4: Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A = [ 0 −1 1]
1 2 0
−2 1 3
Solution: Given A = [ 0 −1 1]
1 2 0

Consider | A | = -2(0 – 2) –1(0 – 1) + 3(0+ 1) = 4 + 1+3 = 8 ≠ 0.

So , A is a non – singular matrix .

Hence A-1 exists.

−2 1 3 1 0 0
Now, Consider the augmented matrix [ A | I ] = [ 0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
1 2 0 0 0 1
𝑅1 ↔ 𝑅3
1 2 0 0 0 1
~ [ 0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
−2 1 3 1 0 0
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 + 2𝑅1
1 2 0 0 0 1
~ [0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
0 5 3 1 0 2
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 + 5𝑅2
 1 2 0 0 0 1
~ [0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
0 0 8 1 5 2
𝑅1 → 𝑅1 + 2𝑅2
1 0 2 0 2 1
~ [0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
0 0 8 1 5 2
𝑅1 → 4𝑅1 − 𝑅3
4 0 0 −1 3 2
~ [0 −1 1| 0 1 0]
0 0 8 1 5 2
𝑅2 → 8𝑅2 − 𝑅3
4 0 0 −1 3 2
~ [0 −8 0| −1 3 −2]
0 0 8 1 5 2
2𝑅1
𝑅1 →
8
−𝑅2
𝑅2 →
8
𝑅3
𝑅3 →
8
1 0 0 −2/8 6/8 4/8
~ [0 1 0| 1/8 −3/8 2/8]
0 0 1 1/8 5/8 2/8
Verification: left for student.
1 1 3
Problem-5: Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A = [ 1 3 −3]
−2 −4 −4
1 1 3
Solution: Given A = [ 1 3 −3]
−2 −4 −4

Consider | A | = 1(-12+12) –1(-4+6) + 3(-4+6) = -2+6 = 4 ≠ 0.

So , A is a non – singular matrix .

Hence A-1 exists.

 1 1 3 1 0 0
Now, Consider the augmented matrix [ A | I ] = [ 1 3 −3| 0 1 0]
−2 −4 −4 0 0 1

𝑅2 → 𝑅2 − 𝑅1
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 + 2𝑅1
1 1 3 1 0 0
~ [0 2 −6| −1 1 0]
0 −2 2 2 0 1
𝑅2
𝑅2 →
2
𝑅3
𝑅3 →
2
1 0 0
1 1 3 1 1
− 0
~ 0 1 −3| 2 2
0 −1 1 1
[ 1 0
2]
𝑅1 → 𝑅1 − 𝑅2
𝑅3 → 𝑅3 − 𝑅2
3 1
− 0
2 2
1 0 6 1 1
~ 0 1 −3| − 0
0 0 −2 2 2
1 1 1
[ 2 2 2]
𝑅1 → 𝑅1 + 3𝑅3
3
𝑅2 → 𝑅2 − 𝑅3
2
−𝑅2
𝑅2 →
2
3
3 1
2
1 0 0 5 1 3
~ 0 1 0| − − −
0 0 1 4 4 4
−1 −1 −1
[ 4 4 4 ]
 3
3 1 2
−1 5 1 3
Hence the inverse of the given matrix is 𝐴 = −4 −4 −4
−1 −1 −1
[ 4 4 4 ]
Verification: left for student

EXERCISE:
 −1 −3 3 −1
 1 1 −1 0 
1. Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A =  
 2 −5 2 −3
 
 −1 1 0 1 
1 1 3
2. Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A =  1 3 −3
 
 −2 −4 −4

 −1 2 2
3. Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A =  2 −1 2 

 2 2 −1
 −7 0 0
4. Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A =  0 8 13

 0 3 5 
 3 −1 5 
5. Using the Gauss- Jordan method, find the inverse of A =  2 6 4
 
5 5 9 