Q.The cost of 4 kg onion, 3 kg wheat and 2 kg rice is ₹ 60. The cost of 2 kg onion, 4 kg wheat and 6 kg rice is ₹ 90. The cost of 6 kg onion 2 kg wheat and 3 kg rice is ₹ 70. Find cost of each item per kg by matrix method.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Matrix Equation Solving
Solving a System of Equations by the Matrix Method
A system of linear equations can be written as a single matrix equation and solved in one clean step using the inverse of a matrix. This is the Class-12 "matrix method" for simultaneous equations.
Writing the system as AX=B
Take the system
a1x+b1y+c1z=d1,a2x+b2y+c2z=d2,a3x+b3y+c3z=d3.
Collect the coefficients, the unknowns, and the constants into matrices:
A=a1a2a3b1b2b3c1c2c3,X=xyz,B=d1d2d3.
Then the whole system is just
AX=B.
Solving when A is invertible
If det(A)=0, then A−1 exists, and multiplying both sides on the left by A−1 gives
X=A−1B,where A−1=det(A)1adj(A).
So you compute det(A), then adj(A), form A−1, and multiply by B. The single column X=A−1B hands you x, y, z at once, and because A−1 is unique, the solution is unique.
Multiply in the correct order: X=A−1B, not BA−1. Matrix multiplication is not commutative, and BA−1 is not even defined here.
When det(A)=0
If det(A)=0, A−1 does not exist and the inverse method fails. The system is then either inconsistent (no solution) or has infinitely many solutions. Decide which by computing (adjA)B:
- (adjA)B=O → no solution (inconsistent).
- (adjA)B=O → infinitely many solutions (consistent, dependent). …
The key idea is to represent the given word problem as a system of linear equations and solve it using the matrix method (inverting the coefficient matrix).
Let the cost per kg of onion, wheat, and rice be x, y, and z respectively. The equations are:
4x+3y+2z2x+4y+6z6x+2y+3z=60=90=70
In matrix form, AX=B, where:
A=426342263,X=xyz,B=609070
The solution is X=A−1B. First, find det(A):
det(A)=4(12−12)−3(6−36)+2(4−24)=0+90−40=50
Since det(A)=0, the inverse exists. Compute the adjoint (matrix of cofactors transposed) and then A−1:
A−1=501030−20−501010−2010
Now multiply A−1B: …
We model the three purchase scenarios as a system of three linear equations in three unknowns (price per kg of onion, wheat, rice). Solving this system using the matrix method (inverse of the coefficient matrix) gives the unique prices: onions ₹5/kg, wheat ₹8/kg, and rice ₹8/kg.
The problem gives us three different combinations of purchases and their total costs. Each combination is a linear equation where the unknowns are the per‑kg prices of onion (x), wheat (y), and rice (z).
The matrix method is perfect here because it turns a messy system of equations into a clean multiplication problem: Ax=b, where A holds the quantities, x holds the unknown prices, and b holds the total costs. If A is invertible, we can find x directly as x=A−1b.
Let’s set it up and solve.
-
Write the equations from the problem statement
Let the cost per kg of onion be x, wheat be y, and rice be z (all in ₹).
From the first purchase:
4x+3y+2z=60
From the second purchase:
2x+4y+6z=90
From the third purchase:
6x+2y+3z=70
-
Write the system in matrix form
426342263xyz=609070
So A=426342263, x=xyz, b=609070.
- Find the determinant of A — we need to check if A is invertible.
det(A)=44263−32663+22642
Compute each minor:
- 4263=(4)(3)−(6)(2)=12−12=0
- 2663=(2)(3)−(6)(6)=6−36=−30
- 2642=(2)(2)−(4)(6)=4−24=−20
So
det(A)=4(0)−3(−30)+2(−20)=0+90−40=50
Since det(A)=50=0, A is invertible and the system has a unique solution.
-
Find the adjoint of A (the transpose of the cofactor matrix).
First, compute all cofactors Cij=(−1)i+jMij, where Mij is the minor.
-
C11=+4263=0
-
C12=−2663=−(−30)=30
-
C13=+2642=−20
-
C21=−3223=−[(3)(3)−(2)(2)]=−(9−4)=−5
-
C22=+4623=(4)(3)−(2)(6)=12−12=0
-
C23=−4632=−[(4)(2)−(3)(6)]=−(8−18)=10
-
C31=+3426=(3)(6)−(2)(4)=18−8=10
-
C32=−4226=−[(4)(6)−(2)(2)]=−(24−4)=−20
-
C33=+4234=(4)(4)−(3)(2)=16−6=10
The cofactor matrix is …
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Method: Translating a Word Problem into AX=B and Solving
Word problems that ask for the "cost of each item" or similar are just linear systems in disguise — the real skill is converting the sentences into equations correctly before any matrix work begins.
Steps
Step 1: Name the unknowns clearly
Assign a variable to each quantity you're asked to find (e.g. cost per kg of each item), and write down what each variable represents in words — this prevents mixing up which number belongs to which unknown later.
Step 2: Convert each stated scenario into one linear equation
Read each sentence carefully and match the quantities given (e.g. "4 kg of X, 3 kg of Y") to coefficients of your variables, and the stated total to the constant on the right-hand side. One realistic purchase/scenario in the problem = one equation.
Step 3: Stack the equations into AX=B …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Misreading which quantity goes with which unknown
Why it's wrong: swapping, say, the coefficient meant for wheat with the one meant for rice in even one equation produces a completely different (and wrong) system, even though the arithmetic that follows is done correctly. Correct approach: label each column of A with the variable it belongs to before filling in numbers, and re-read each sentence once after setting up its equation.
Mistake 2: Treating an implicit assumption as if it were a fourth data point …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=12354−130−5, B=−1−24 and [x y z]AT=BT, then x+y+z= (A) 4 (B) −2 (C) 6 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Transposing the matrix equation converts it into the ordinary linear system A·v = B, which solves to x=6, y=−7/2, z=7/2, giving x+y+z=6.
Concept and Intuition
"[x y z]Aᵀ = Bᵀ" is a row-vector equation. Taking the transpose of both sides converts it to the more familiar column form: (v Aᵀ)ᵀ = A vᵀ, and (Bᵀ)ᵀ = B. So the equation is equivalent to A·(x,y,z)ᵀ = B, a standard system of 3 linear equations.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A = [[1,5,3],[2,4,0],[3,−1,−5]], B = (−1,−2,4)ᵀ.
- Write the system A(x,y,z)ᵀ = B:
- x + 5y + 3z = −1
- 2x + 4y = −2
- 3x − y − 5z = 4
- From equation 2: 2x+4y=−2 ⟹ x+2y=−1 ⟹ x = −1−2y.
- Substitute into equation 1: (−1−2y)+5y+3z = −1 ⟹ 3y+3z=0 ⟹ z=−y.
- Substitute x and z into equation 3: 3(−1−2y) − y − 5(−y) = 4 ⟹ −3−6y−y+5y = 4 ⟹ −3−2y=4 ⟹ y=−7/2.
- Then x = −1−2(−7/2) = 6, and z = −y = 7/2. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.Consider two systems of 3 linear equations in 3 unknowns AX=B and CX=D. If AX=B has unique solution D and CX=D has unique solution B, then the solution of (A−C−1)X=O is (A) B (B) D (C) B+D (D) B-D
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests translating "X=D solves AX=B" and "X=B solves CX=D" into matrix equations and combining them algebraically.
Concept and Intuition
"AX=B has unique solution D" is just a restatement that plugging X=D into the system satisfies it: AD=B. Likewise "CX=D has unique solution B" means CB=D. The question is which of the listed vectors satisfies the new homogeneous system (A−C−1)X=O; the trick is to express everything in terms of D and B and see what cancels.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From "AX=B has unique solution D": AD=B. — (i)
- From "CX=D has unique solution B": CB=D. Multiply both sides by C−1: B=C−1D. — (ii)
- Substitute (ii) into (i): AD=C−1D. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.In solving a system of linear equations AX=B by Cramer's rule, in the usual notation, if Δ1=−11−45111−7−21 and Δ3=414111−11−45, then X= (A) −112 (B) 21−1 (C) 1−12 (D) 12−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Reconstructing the coefficient matrix and RHS vector from the shared columns of Δ1,Δ3 and computing Δ,Δ1,Δ2,Δ3 gives X=(1,−1,2).
Concept and Intuition
In Cramer's rule for AX=B, Δi is formed by replacing the i-th column of A with B, keeping the other columns unchanged. So Δ1's columns 2,3 and Δ3's columns 1,2 are literally the ORIGINAL matrix A's corresponding columns — comparing the two given determinants lets us recover the full system.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Δ1=−11−45111−7−21: column 2 = original A's column 2 =(1,1,1)T; column 3 = original A's column 3 =(−7,−2,1)T; column 1 =B=(−11,−4,5)T.
- Δ3=414111−11−45: column 1 = original A's column 1 =(4,1,4)T; column 2 = same (1,1,1)T (consistent); column 3 =B=(−11,−4,5)T (matches Δ1's column 1, confirming B).
- Reconstructed system: A=414111−7−21, B=−11−45.
- Δ=det(A)=4(1⋅1−(−2)⋅1)−1(1⋅1−(−2)⋅4)+(−7)(1⋅1−1⋅4)=4(3)−1(9)−7(−3)=12−9+21=24. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=[211−232−1−3],B=[211−10233] and 2A+3B−5C=O, then C= (A) [2117/56/527/53/5] (B) [−211−7/56/527/53/5] (C) [−2117/56/527/53/5] (D) [211−7/56/527/53/5]
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct matrix arithmetic: C=(2A+3B)/5, computed entrywise, gives [211−7/56/527/53/5].
Concept and Intuition
This is pure entrywise matrix algebra — scale each matrix, add, then divide by 5 (since 5C=2A+3B).
Step-by-Step Solution
- 2A=[422−464−2−6].
- 3B=[633−30699].
- 2A+3B=[1055−761073].
- C=51(2A+3B)=[211−7/56/527/53/5]. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.What are the values of (x,y,z,t) where 3[xzyt]=[x−162t]+[4z+tx+y3]=? (A) (2,4,3,1) (B) (2,4,1,3) (C) (1,3,2,4) (D) (1,3,4,2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Equating corresponding entries on both sides of the matrix equation and solving the resulting simple linear equations gives (x,y,z,t)=(2,4,1,3).
Concept and Intuition
Two matrices are equal exactly when every corresponding entry is equal. Setting up the entry-wise equations turns a matrix equation into a small system of linear equations, which can usually be solved one variable at a time by picking the simplest equation first.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Left side: 3[xzyt]=[3x3z3y3t].
- Right side (sum of the two given matrices): [x−162t]+[4z+tx+y3]=[x+4−1+z+t6+x+y2t+3].
- Equate the (1,1) entries: 3x=x+4⇒2x=4⇒x=2.
- Equate the (2,2) entries: 3t=2t+3⇒t=3.
- Equate the (1,2) entries: 3y=6+x+y⇒2y=6+x=6+2=8⇒y=4. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.The number of solutions of the system of equations 2x+y−z=7, x−3y+2z=1, x+4y−3z=5 is (A) 1 (B) 0 (C) Infinite (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The coefficient determinant is 0, and substitution shows the equations are mutually contradictory — the system has no solution. Answer: (B).
Concept and Intuition
When the determinant of the coefficient matrix of a 3×3 linear system is zero, the system is NOT guaranteed a unique solution — it is either inconsistent (no solution) or has infinitely many solutions, depending on whether the equations are compatible. The way to tell them apart is to actually eliminate variables and see whether you reach a contradiction (like 0= nonzero) or a genuine identity (0=0).
Step-by-Step Solution
- System: (1) 2x+y−z=7; (2) x−3y+2z=1; (3) x+4y−3z=5.
- Coefficient determinant: 2111−34−12−3=2[(−3)(−3)−2(4)]−1[1(−3)−2(1)]+(−1)[1(4)−(−3)(1)] =2(9−8)−1(−3−2)−1(4+3)=2(1)−1(−5)−1(7)=2+5−7=0.
- Since the determinant is 0, solve by substitution to check consistency. From (2): x=1+3y−2z.
- Substitute into (1): 2(1+3y−2z)+y−z=7⇒2+6y−4z+y−z=7⇒7y−5z=5.
- Substitute into (3): (1+3y−2z)+4y−3z=5⇒1+7y−5z=5⇒7y−5z=4. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-24-FN1 markMCQQ.The system of equations 2x+6y=−11, 6x+20y−6z=−3, 6y−18z=−1 are (A) Inconsistent (B) Consistent with unique solution (C) Consistent with countable infinite many solutions (D) Consistent with infinitely many solutions
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating x and z from the three equations produces two contradictory conditions on y−3z (15 vs −1/6), so the system is inconsistent (no solution).
Concept and Intuition
A linear system is inconsistent when the equations, after elimination, reduce to a statement that is never true (like 0= nonzero number). This happens when the coefficient matrix is singular (determinant zero) but the augmented matrix has higher rank — i.e., the planes described by the equations don't share a common point.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write the equations: (1) 2x+6y=−11; (2) 6x+20y−6z=−3; (3) 6y−18z=−1.
- Eliminate x between (1) and (2): multiply (1) by 3: 6x+18y=−33. Subtract from (2): (6x+20y−6z)−(6x+18y)=−3−(−33) ⇒2y−6z=30⇒y−3z=15. Call this Equation A.
- Now look at equation (3) directly: 6y−18z=−1. Divide by 6: y−3z=−61. Call this Equation B.
- Equations A and B both express y−3z but give different values: 15 from A, and −61 from B. Since 15=−61, no values of y,z can satisfy both simultaneously.
- This contradiction means the original system of three equations has no solution — it is inconsistent. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.If the solution of the system of simultaneous linear equations x+y−z=6, 3x+2y−z=5 and 2x−y−2z+3=0 is x=α,y=β,z=γ, then α+β= (A) −7 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) −2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Solving the 3×3 linear system directly gives x=−3, y=5, z=8, so α+β=x+y=2.
Concept and Intuition
A straightforward system of 3 linear equations in 3 unknowns — eliminate one variable at a time using simple linear combinations, rather than invoking full Cramer's rule, since the numbers are small.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The equations are:
x+y−z=6(1)
3x+2y−z=5(2)
2x−y−2z=−3(3) (rewriting 2x−y−2z+3=0)
- Subtract (1) from (2): (3x+2y−z)−(x+y−z)=5−6⇒2x+y=−1 ... (4)
- From (1): z=x+y−6.
- Substitute into (3): 2x−y−2(x+y−6)=−3⇒2x−y−2x−2y+12=−3⇒−3y+12=−3⇒−3y=−15⇒y=5.
- Substitute y=5 into (4): 2x+5=−1⇒2x=−6⇒x=−3. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.Let A=0−68, B=3065−1−1−780 and X=xyz. If D=[α β γ]T is the solution of XTBT=AT, then DTA= (A) 0 (B) 4 (C) −2 (D) 6
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests matrix-equation manipulation via transposes: XTBT=AT is just (BX)T=AT, i.e. BX=A. Solve the resulting linear system, then take the dot product DTA. Answer: 4.
Concept and Intuition
The transpose of a product reverses order: (BX)T=XTBT. So the given equation XTBT=AT is really (BX)T=AT, and taking the transpose of both sides gives BX=A — an ordinary linear system for the unknown column X=(x,y,z)T. Once X=D is found, DTA is just the plain dot product of two column vectors.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Transpose: XTBT=AT⇒(BX)T=AT⇒BX=A.
- Write B=3065−1−1−780, A=0−68. The system is: 3x+5y−7z=0 −y+8z=−6 6x−y=8
- From the second equation: y=8z+6.
- Substitute into the third: 6x−(8z+6)=8⇒6x−8z=14⇒3x−4z=7⇒x=37+4z. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.The system of linear equations x+2y+z=−3, 3x+3y−2z=−1, 2x+7y+7z=−4 has (A) infinite number of solutions (B) no solution (C) unique solution (D) finite number of solutions
›Reveal solutionSolution
Eliminating one variable reduces the system to two equations that contradict each other outright, which is the signature of an inconsistent linear system: the coefficient determinant is zero, but the system does not have infinitely many solutions — it has none.
Concept and Intuition
When the determinant of the coefficient matrix of a 3×3 linear system is zero, the system is not guaranteed a unique solution — but that alone doesn't tell you whether it has infinitely many solutions or none at all. You have to check consistency by actually trying to solve (or by comparing ranks of the coefficient matrix and the augmented matrix). A quick, reliable way for a 3-variable system is to eliminate one variable using two different pairs of equations and see if the resulting two-variable equations agree or contradict.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Equations: (1) x+2y+z=−3, (2) 3x+3y−2z=−1, (3) 2x+7y+7z=−4.
- From (1): x=−3−2y−z.
- Substitute into (2): 3(−3−2y−z)+3y−2z=−1⇒−9−6y−3z+3y−2z=−1⇒−9−3y−5z=−1⇒3y+5z=−8. Call this (A).
- Substitute into (3): 2(−3−2y−z)+7y+7z=−4⇒−6−4y−2z+7y+7z=−4⇒−6+3y+5z=−4⇒3y+5z=2. Call this (B).
- Compare (A) and (B): both say "3y+5z= something," but (A) requires it to equal −8 while (B) requires it to equal 2. These cannot both be true — a direct contradiction. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-FN1 markMCQQ.If [x4−1]210102024x4−1=0, then x= (A) −1+6 (B) 8±5 (C) −2±10 (D) 3±6
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expanding the quadratic form gives the quadratic equation x^2+4x-6=0, whose roots are -2 +/- sqrt(10).
Concept and Intuition
A quadratic form v^T M v expands into a scalar quadratic expression; here only x is unknown, so the result reduces to an ordinary quadratic equation in x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Compute M[x,4,−1]T: Row1: 2x+4; Row2: x−2; Row3: 8−4=4.
- Dot with [x,4,−1]: x(2x+4)+4(x−2)+(−1)(4)=2x2+4x+4x−8−4.
- Simplify: 2x2+8x−12=0.
- Divide by 2: x2+4x−6=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=(3546) and B=(x00y), x,y∈N, then (A) There is exactly one such matrix B such that AB = I (B) There is no matrix B such that AB = BA (C) There exist only a finite number of matrices B such that AB = BA (D) There exist infinite number of matrices B such that AB = BA
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiplying out AB and BA shows they're equal exactly when x=y, and since x,y can be any of the infinitely many natural numbers with x=y, there are infinitely many commuting diagonal matrices B.
Concept and Intuition
For a diagonal matrix B=diag(x,y) multiplying a general matrix A on the left vs. right scales A's rows vs. columns differently — AB scales A's columns by x,y respectively, and BA scales A's rows by x,y respectively. So AB=BA becomes a condition relating how each off-diagonal entry of A gets scaled from each side, and typically forces the diagonal entries of B to be equal whenever the off-diagonal entries of A are both non-zero (as they are here).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Compute AB=(3546)(x00y)=(3x5x4y6y) (this scales each column of A by x then y).
- Compute BA=(x00y)(3546)=(3x5y4x6y) (this scales each row of A by x then y).
- Set AB=BA entrywise: (1,1): 3x=3x (always true); (1,2): 4y=4x⇒x=y; (2,1): 5x=5y⇒x=y (same condition); (2,2): 6y=6y (always true).
- So the only requirement is x=y, with x,y∈N. Since x can be 1,2,3,… (infinitely many choices, each giving a valid B with x=y), there are infinitely many such matrices B. …
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