UNIT 3

Matrices and Determinants

(PART 1)
MATRICES
A matrix is an ordered rectangular array of numbers or functions. The
numbers or functions are called the elements or the entries of the matrix. We
denote matrices by capital letters. The following are some examples of
matrices:
In the above examples, the horizontal lines of elements are said to
constitute, rows of the matrix and the vertical lines of elements are said to
constitute, columns of the matrix. Thus A has 3 rows and 2 columns, B has 3
rows and 3 columns
Order of a matrix :-
A matrix having m rows and n columns is called a matrix of order m × n or
simply m × n matrix (read as an m by n matrix). So referring to the above
examples of matrices, we have A as 3 × 2 matrix, B as 3 × 3 matrix and C as 2 ×
3 matrix. We observe that A has 3 × 2 = 6 elements, B and C have 9 and 6
elements, respectively.
In general, an m × n matrix has the following rectangular array:
or A = [aij] m × n , 1≤ i ≤ m, 1≤ j ≤ n i, j ∈ N
the number of elements in an m × n
matrix will be equal to mn.
NOTE :-
1. We shall follow the notation, namely A = [aij] m × n to indicate that A is
a matrix of order m × n.
2. We shall consider only those matrices whose elements are real numbers
or functions taking real values.
example 1 :- point P(0, 1) as a matrix
representation may be given as

Example 2:- consider a quadrilateral ABCD with vertices A (1, 0), B (3, 2), C
(1, 3), D (–1, 2). Now, quadrilateral ABCD in the matrix form, can be
represented as
Example 1:- If a matrix has 8 elements, what are the possible orders it can
have?
Solution :- We know that if a matrix is of order m × n, it has mn elements.
we will find all ordered pairs of natural numbers, whose product is 8.
Thus, all possible ordered pairs are (1, 8), (8, 1), (4, 2), (2, 4)
Hence, possible orders are 1 × 8, 8 ×1, 4 × 2, 2 × 4
Example 3 :- Construct a 3 × 2 matrix whose elements are given by
Solution :- In general a 3 × 2 matrix is given by
Types of Matrices
In this section, we shall discuss different types of matrices.
(i) Column matrix :-
A matrix is said to be a column matrix if it has only one column.
❑ In general, A = [aij] m × 1 is a column matrix of order m × 1
(ii) Row matrix :- A matrix is said to be a row matrix if it has only one row.
❑ In general, B = [bij] 1 × n is a row matrix of order 1 × n.

(iii) Square matrix :- A matrix in which the number of rows are equal to the
number of columns, is said to be a square matrix. Thus an m × n matrix is said
to be a square matrix if m = n and is known as a square matrix of order ‘n’.
❑ In general, A = [aij] m × m is a square matrix of order m.
(iv) Diagonal matrix:- A square matrix B = [bij] m × m is said to be a diagonal
matrix if all its non diagonal elements are zero, that is a matrix B = [bij] m ×
m is said to be a diagonal matrix .
❑ if bij = 0, when i ≠ j
(v) Scalar matrix :- A diagonal matrix is said to be a scalar matrix if its
diagonal elements are equal, that is, a square matrix B = [bij] n × n is said to
be a scalar matrix if
❑ bij = 0, when i ≠ j
❑ bij = k, when i = j, for some constant k.
(vi) Identity matrix :- A square matrix in which elements in the diagonal are
all 1 and rest are all zero is called an identity matrix. In other words, the
square matrix A = [aij] n × n is an identity matrix, if
❑ aij = 0, when i ≠ j
❑ aij = 1, when i = j .
(VIII) Upper Triangular Matrix
A square matrix in which all the elements below the diagonal are zero is
known as the upper triangular matrix. For example,

(IX) Lower Triangular Matrix

A square matrix in which all the elements above the diagonal are zero is
known as the upper triangular matrix. For example,
(X) Rectangular Matrix
A matrix is said to be a rectangular matrix if the number of rows is not equal
to the number of columns. For example,
Equality of matrices :-
Two matrices A = [aij] and B = [bij] are said to be equal if
(i) they are of the same order
(ii) each element of A is equal to the corresponding element of B, that is
aij = bij for all i and j.

x=-1.5 , y=0 , z=2 , a = ? , b=? , c=?.

Example 4 :-
As the given matrices are equal, therefore, their corresponding elements
must be equal.
Comparing the corresponding elements,
we get x + 3 = 0 , z + 4 = 6 , 2y – 7 = 3y – 2 , a – 1 = – 3 , 0 = 2c + 2 .
b – 3 = 2b + 4
Simplifying, we get a = – 2, b = – 7, c = – 1, x = – 3, y = –5, z = 2.

Example 5 Find the values of a, b, c, and d from the following equation:

Solution By equality of two matrices, equating the corresponding elements,
we get 2a + b = 4 , 5c – d = 11 , a – 2b = – 3 , 4c + 3d = 24
Solving these equations, we get a = 1, b = 2, c = 3 and d = 4

EXERCISE 3.1

1. (i) The order of the matrix

(ii) The number of elements
(iii) Write the elements a13,
a21, a33, a24, a23.
2. If a matrix has 24 elements, what are the possible orders it can have?
What, if it has 13 elements?
3. If a matrix has 18 elements, what are the possible orders it can have?
What, if it has 5 elements?
4. Construct a 2 × 2 matrix, A = [aij], whose elements are given by:

5. Construct a 3 × 4 matrix, whose elements are given by:

Find the values of x, y and z from the following equations:
6. Find the values of x, y and z from the following equations:

7. Find the value of a, b, c and d from the equation:

8. A = [aij] m × n\ is a square matrix, if
(A) m < n (B) m > n (C) m = n (D) None of these
9. Which of the given values of x and y make the following pair of matrices
equal:
Algebra of Matrix
Algebra of matrix involves the operation of matrices, such as
Addition, subtraction, multiplication etc.

Addition/Subtraction of Matrices
Two matrices can be added/subtracted, iff (if and only if) the
number of rows and columns of both the matrices are same,
or the order of the matrices are equal.
For addition/subtraction, each element of the first matrix is
added/subtracted to the elements present in the 2nd matrix.
Matrix Multiplication
Like Matrix can be Multiplied two ways,
(i) Scalar Multiplication
(ii) Multiplication with another matrix

•Scalar Multiplication – It involves multiplying a scalar quantity

to the matrix. Every element inside the matrix is to be multiplied
by the scalar quantity to form a new matrix.
For example-
•Multiplication of a matrix with another matrix - Two matrices
can be multiplied iff the number of column of the first matrix is
equal to the number of rows of the second matrix.
Consider two matrix M1 & M2, having order of m1 × n1 and
m2 × n2.
The matrices can be multiplied if and only if n1 = m2.
Example:-
NOTE :- The resultant matrix obtained by multiplication of two
matrices, is the order of m1, n2, where m1 is the number of rows in
the 1st matrix and n2 is the number of column of the 2nd matrix.

Rule of Matrix Algebra

The algebra of matrix follows some rules for addition and
multiplication. Let us consider A, B and C are three different
square matrices .I is the identity matrix and R is a real number.
Now as per the rules of laws of matrices:
•A+B = B+A →Commutative Law of Addition
•A+B+C = A +(B+C) = (A+B)+C →Associative law of addition
•ABC = A(BC) = (AB)C →Associative law of multiplication
•A(B+C) = AB + AC →Distributive law of matrix algebra
•R(A+B) = RA + RB
Properties of scalar multiplication of a matrix
If A = [aij] and B = [bij] be two matrices of the same order, say m × n, and k
and l are scalars, then
(i) k(A +B) = k A + kB
(ii) ( k + l) A = (k + l) [aij] = k [aij] + l [aij] = k A + l A
Example 3:
 EXERCISE 3.2
Question 1 : Compute the following sum:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
19.

20.

21.
Transpose of a Matrix
If A = [aij] be an m × n matrix, then the matrix obtained by interchanging the
rows and columns of A is called the transpose of A. Transpose of the matrix A
is denoted by A′ or (AT ).
❑ In other words, if A = [aij] m × n , then A′ = [aji] n × m
❑ For example,
Properties of transpose of the matrices
We now state the following properties of transpose of matrices without
proof. These may be verified by taking suitable examples. For any matrices A
and B of suitable orders, we have
(i) (A′)′ = A
(ii) (kA)′ = kA′ (where k is any constant)
(iii) (A + B)′ = A′ + B′ (iv) (A B)′ = B′ A′

EXAMPLE 1:-
EXAMPLE 2:-

Symmetric and Skew Symmetric Matrices

A square matrix A = [aij] is said to be symmetric if A′ = A , that is, [aij] = [aji]
for all possible values of i and j.

For example :- is a symmetric matrix as A′ = A

A square matrix A = [aij] is said to be skew symmetric matrix if A′ = – A, that
is aji = – aij for all possible values of i and j. Now, if we put i = j, we have aii = –
aii. Therefore 2aii = 0 or aii = 0 for all i’s. This means that all the diagonal
elements of a skew symmetric matrix are zero.

For example, the matrix is a skew symmetric matrix as B′= –B

EXERCISE 3.2
EXERCISE 3.3
Minors and Cofactors

Minor of an element aij of a determinant is the

determinant obtained by deleting its ith row and jth
column in which element aij lies. Minor of an element
aij is denoted by Mij.

Remark:- Minor of an element of a determinant of

order n(n ≥ 2) is a determinant of order n – 1.
Cofactor of an element aij , denoted by Aij is defined by
, where Mij is minor of aij .

Example 1: Write minors and co-factors of each element of the first

column of the following matrices .

1 2)
DETERMINANTS
To every square matrix A = [aij] of order n, we can associate a number called
determinant of the square matrix A .

Remarks:-
(i) For matrix A, |A| is read as determinant of A and not modulus of A.
(ii) Only square matrices have determinants.

Determinant of a matrix of order one :-

Let A = [a ] be the matrix of order 1, then determinant of A is defined to be
equal to a
Determinant of a matrix of order two
Let A = be a matrix of order 2 × 2,

then the determinant of A is defined as:

det (A) = |A| = ∆ =

Determinant of a matrix of order 3 × 3

Properties of Determinants
• Det(A) = Det(A’)

• The sign of the value of the determinant changes if any two rows or any
two columns are interchanged.
Det(A) = -Det(B)
• The value of a determinant is equal to zero if any two rows or any two
columns have the same elements.
Det(A) = 0

• The value of the determining becomes k times the earlier value of the
determinant if each of the elements of a particular row or column is
multiplied with a constant k.
Det(B) = k× Det(B)
• If a few elements of a row or column are expressed as a sum of terms,
then the determinant can be expressed as a sum of two or more
determinants.

• If each element of a row and column of a determinant is added with the

equimultiples of the elements of another row or column of a
determinant, then the value of the determinant remains unchanged. This
can be expressed in the form of a formula as Ri → Ri + kRj , or Ci → Ci + kCj.
Det(A) = Det(B)
 EXERCISE 3.4

1. Write minors and co-factors of each

element of the first column of the
following matrices and evaluate the
determinant in each case:

2. Evaluate:
2. Without expanding, show that the values of each of the
following determinants are zero:

1. 5.

2. 6.

3. 7.

4. 8.
Question 3.

Question 4.

Question 5.

Question 6.
Cramer’s Rule 3×3
To find the Cramer’s rule formula for a 3×3 matrix, we need to consider
the system of 3 equations with three variables.
Consider:
a1x + b1y + c1z = d1
a2x + b2y + c2z = d2
a3x + b3y + c3z = d3
Let us write these equations in the form AX = B.
Therefore, x = Dx/D, y = Dy/D, z = Dz/D; D ≠ 0
Question:
Solve the following system of equations using Cramer’s rule:
x + y + z =6
y + 3z = 11
x + z =2y or x – 2y + z = 0
Solution:
Given,
x + y + z =6
y + 3z = 11
x + z =2y or x – 2y + z = 0
Let us write these equations in the form AX = B.
 EXERCISE 3.4
1. Solve the following equations by using Cramer’s rule
(i) 2x + 3y = 7; 3x + 5y = 9
(ii) 5x + 3y = 17; 3x + 7 y = 31
(iii) 2x + y − z = 3, x + y + z = 1, x − 2 y − 3z = 4
(iv) x + y + z = 6, 2x + 3y − z = 5, 6x − 2 y − 3z = − 7
(v) x + 4 y + 3z = 2, 2x − 6 y + 6z = −3, 5x − 2 y + 3z = −5
A pair of linear equations in two variables in general can be
represented as
a1x+b1y+c1=0 and a2x+b2y+c2=0.
We can find the solution to these equations by the graphical or
algebraic method.
Consistent System
To sketch the graph of pair of linear equations in two variables,
we draw two lines representing the equations. The following
cases are possible:
i) If both the lines intersect at a point, then there exists a
unique solution to the pair of linear equations. In such a case,
the pair of linear equations is said to be consistent.
In the graph given above, lines
intersect at point P(x, y) which
represents the unique solution of
the system of linear equations in
two variables.
Algebraically,
if then,

the linear equation pair is consist

ent.
ii) Consider two lines having equation to be-
a1x+b1y+c1=0 and a2x+b2y+c2=0
Let these lines coincide with each other, then there exist
infinitely many solutions since a line consists of infinite points.
In such a case, the pair of linear equations is said to be
dependent and consistent.
As represented in the graph below,
the pair of lines coincide and,
therefore, dependent and consistent
Algebraically, when
a1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2, then
the lines coincide and the pair of
equations is dependent and
consistent.
Inconsistent System
i) Consider the equation of the lines to be-
a1x+b1y+c1=0 and a2x+b2y+c2=0
Let both the lines to be parallel to each other, then there exists
no solution because the lines never intersect.
Algebraically, for such a case,
a1/a2 = b1/b2 ≠ c1/c2, and the pair of
linear equations in two variables is said
to be inconsistent.
As shown in the graph above, the pair of
lines a1x +b1y +c1 =0 and a2x +b2y +c1 =0
are parallel to each other.
Therefore, there exists no solution for
such a pair.
Solved Example
Check for the consistency of the following pair of linear equations-
x–2y=1
2x–4y=2
Solution:
To check the condition of consistency we need to find out the ratios of
the coefficients of the given equations,

Therefore, we can say that the lines coincide with

each other, having an infinite number of solutions.