Q.If π΄ is a square matrix of order 4 and |πππ π΄| = 27, then π΄ (πππ π΄) is equal to
(A) 3
(B) 9
(C) 3 πΌ
(D) 9 πΌ
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π Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution βConcept understanding β Adjoint Matrix Property
The Adjoint Matrix and Its Central Property
You have a square matrix A and want to find Aβ1. There is a clean route through the adjoint (or adjugate) of A β a matrix built from the cofactors of A that has a beautiful relationship with A itself.
The intuition
For a 2Γ2 matrix you already know the inverse:
A=(acβbdβ),Aβ1=adβbc1β(dβcββbaβ).
That second matrix, (dβcββbaβ), is exactly adj(A). The adjoint is the object you multiply by 1/det(A) to recover the inverse.
In Indian exam usage, "adjoint" always means the adjugate β the transpose of the cofactor matrix β not the Hermitian conjugate.
Building the adjoint
For each entry aijβ of an nΓn matrix, the cofactor is
Cijβ=(β1)i+jMijβ,
where Mijβ is the minor (the determinant left after deleting row i and column j). Collect the cofactors into the cofactor matrix, then transpose:
adj(A)=[Cijβ]T,
so the (i,j) entry of adj(A) is Cjiβ.
The central property
Aβ adj(A)=adj(A)β A=det(A)Inβ.
Why? The (i,i) entry of Aadj(A) is ai1βCi1β+β―+ainβCinβ β precisely the expansion of det(A) along row i. An off-diagonal (i,j) entry is the expansion of a determinant with two equal rows, which is 0.
Consequences
- If det(A)ξ =0: Aβ1=det(A)1βadj(A).
- If det(A)=0: Aβ adj(A)=O, so the adjoint annihilates A.
- Order fact: det(adj(A))=det(A)nβ1. β¦
Concept: Adjoint Matrix Property β For any square matrix A of order n,
A(adjΒ A)=β£Aβ£Inβ, and β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1.
Step 1: Given n=4 and β£adjΒ Aβ£=27.
Using β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1, we have β£Aβ£3=27. β¦
The key idea is that A(adjΒ A)=β£Aβ£I for any square matrix. Given β£adjΒ Aβ£=27 for a 4Γ4 matrix, we first find β£Aβ£=3, so A(adjΒ A)=3I. The correct option is (C).
We start with a fundamental property of adjoint matrices: for any square matrix A of order n, the product A(adjΒ A) equals β£Aβ£I, where I is the identity matrix of the same order. This is not a trick β it's the defining relationship that makes the adjoint useful for finding inverses. So the question reduces to: what is β£Aβ£?
We are told β£adjΒ Aβ£=27 and A is of order 4. There is a well-known formula connecting the determinant of the adjoint to the determinant of the original matrix: β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1, where n is the order. For n=4, this becomes β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£3.
- Apply the adjoint determinant formula. Since β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£4β1=β£Aβ£3, and we know β£adjΒ Aβ£=27, we have:
β£Aβ£3=27
Taking the real cube root (determinants are real numbers here), we get:
β£Aβ£=3
- Use the fundamental product property. Now, A(adjΒ A)=β£Aβ£I. Substituting β£Aβ£=3 and noting I is the 4Γ4 identity matrix:
A(adjΒ A)=3I
- Interpret the result. The expression 3I is a scalar multiple of the identity matrix β not a scalar number. Among the options, (A) 3 and (B) 9 are scalars, not matrices. Option (D) is 9I, which would require β£Aβ£=9. Only option (C) 3I matches. β¦
Method: Order-Relation Route from |adj A| to A(adj A)
This method solves any problem where you're given information about |adj A| (or vice versa) for a square matrix of known order, and asked for A(adj A), |A|, or a related quantity β without ever knowing the entries of A.
Steps
Step 1: Write down the two governing adjoint identities
For any square matrix A of order n, two identities connect A, adj(A), and their determinants:
Aβ adj(A)=β£Aβ£Inβ,β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1.
The first is a matrix identity; the second is a scalar identity that follows from taking determinants of the first. Recognise which one gives you a path from the known quantity to the unknown one.
Step 2: Use the order-relation formula to isolate |A| β¦
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using the wrong exponent in β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1
Why it's wrong: students often write β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£n (matching the order of the matrix instead of order minus one), which for n=4 gives β£Aβ£4=27 β an equation with no clean real solution. Correct approach: always use exponent nβ1; here n=4 gives β£Aβ£3=27, so β£Aβ£=3.
Mistake 2: Treating A(adjΒ A) as if the answer must be a plain number
Why it's wrong: A(adjΒ A) is always a matrix (equal to β£Aβ£Inβ), never a bare scalar β so options like "3" or "9" without the identity matrix can never be correct once the matrix has order greater than 1. Correct approach: always keep the Inβ factor; the answer here is the matrix 3I, not the number 3. β¦
Showing the 12 most recent of 20 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If det(AB)=(detA)(detB) and A is a non-singular matrix of order 3Γ3, then det(adjΒ A)= (A) det(A) (B) (det(A))β1 (C) (det(A))2 (D) (det(A))3
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The standard identity det(adjA)=(detA)nβ1 for an nΓn matrix gives (detA)2 for n=3. Answer: (C).
Concept and Intuition
The adjugate satisfies Aβ adjA=(detA)I. Taking determinants of both sides and using det(AB)=detAdetB turns this matrix identity into a scalar one, letting us find det(adjA) purely from detA and the matrix size n.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Start from A(adjA)=(detA)Inβ.
- Take determinants of both sides: det(A)det(adjA)=det((detA)Inβ).
- For a scalar k multiplying an nΓn identity matrix, det(kInβ)=kn. Here k=detA, so RHS is (detA)n.
- So det(A)det(adjA)=(detA)n. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.If P and Q are two 3Γ3 matrices such that β£PQβ£=1 and β£Pβ£=9, then the determinant of adjoint of the matrix Pβ Adj3Q is (A) 94 (B) 941β (C) 92 (D) 921β
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Using β£Qβ£=1/β£Pβ£β β£PQβ£, the scaling property Adj(kA)=knβ1AdjA, and β£AdjMβ£=β£Mβ£nβ1 for 3Γ3 matrices gives 94.
Concept and Intuition
For an nΓn matrix, β£kAβ£=knβ£Aβ£, Adj(kA)=knβ1AdjA, and β£AdjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1. Chaining these scaling rules for n=3 solves the problem without ever computing P or Q explicitly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- β£PQβ£=β£Pβ£β£Qβ£=1ββ£Qβ£=1/9 (since β£Pβ£=9).
- Adj(3Q)=33β1AdjQ=9AdjQ.
- Let M=Pβ Adj(3Q)=9(Pβ AdjQ).
- β£Pβ AdjQβ£=β£Pβ£β β£AdjQβ£=β£Pβ£β β£Qβ£3β1=9β (91β)2=819β=91β.
- β£Mβ£=93β β£Pβ AdjQβ£=729β 91β=81=92. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.For a 3Γ3 non singular matrix A, if Adj(Adj(Adj(Adj(A))))=β£Aβ£nA, then n= (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 5
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that repeatedly applying the adjugate to a 3Γ3 matrix scales it by a power of its determinant. Using the property Adj(Adj(A))=β£Aβ£nβ2A for an nΓn matrix, we find that after four adjugates the exponent is 34=81, so n=81 β but the problemβs given form β£Aβ£nA forces us to match exponents, leading to n=8.
We are given a 3Γ3 non-singular matrix A and the equation
Adj(Adj(Adj(Adj(A))))=β£Aβ£nA.
We need to find n.
1. Recall the fundamental adjugate property
For any invertible mΓm matrix M,
Adj(M)=β£Mβ£β Mβ1.
This is the definition: the adjugate is the transpose of the cofactor matrix, and it satisfies Mβ Adj(M)=β£Mβ£I.
2. Apply it once
Let A be 3Γ3. Then
Adj(A)=β£Aβ£β Aβ1.
3. Apply it twice
Now compute Adj(Adj(A)).
Let B=Adj(A)=β£Aβ£Aβ1.
Then
Adj(B)=β£Bβ£β Bβ1.
We need β£Bβ£:
β£Bβ£=ββ£Aβ£Aβ1β=β£Aβ£3β β£Aβ1β£=β£Aβ£3β β£Aβ£1β=β£Aβ£2.
Also Bβ1=(β£Aβ£Aβ1)β1=β£Aβ£1βA.
Thus
Adj(Adj(A))=β£Aβ£2β β£Aβ£1βA=β£Aβ£A.
TipFor an mΓm matrix, Adj(Adj(A))=β£Aβ£mβ2A. Here m=3, so β£Aβ£3β2=β£Aβ£1, matching our result.
4. Apply it three times
Let C=Adj(Adj(A))=β£Aβ£A.
Then
Adj(C)=β£Cβ£β Cβ1.
Now β£Cβ£=ββ£Aβ£Aβ=β£Aβ£3β β£Aβ£=β£Aβ£4.
And Cβ1=(β£Aβ£A)β1=β£Aβ£1βAβ1.
So
Adj(C)=β£Aβ£4β β£Aβ£1βAβ1=β£Aβ£3Aβ1.
5. Apply it four times β¦
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=β1β23ββ312β23β1ββ then A2AdjA= (A) 21A (B) β42A (C) 7Aβ1 (D) 14(AdjA)
βΊReveal solutionSolution
This tests the identity Aβ Adj(A)=(detA)I applied cleverly to reduce A2AdjA.
Concept and Intuition
Rather than computing AdjA explicitly (tedious for a 3Γ3), use the fundamental relation Aβ AdjA=(detA)I to convert one factor of A times AdjA directly into a scalar multiple of the identity, leaving a single A behind.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Compute detA for A=β1β23ββ312β23β1ββ: detA=1(1β (β1)β3β 2)β(β3)((β2)(β1)β3β 3)+2((β2)(2)β1β 3) =1(β7)+3(β7)+2(β7)=β7β21β14=β42. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.If B is the inverse of a third order matrix A and detB=k, then (adj(adjA))β1= (A) kB (B) k1βB (C) kBβ1 (D) B+kI
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Using adj(adjA)=(detA)nβ2A for n=3, together with detA=1/k, gives (adj(adjA))β1=kB.
Concept and Intuition
For an nΓn invertible matrix, the double-adjugate identity is adj(adjA)=(detA)nβ2A. For n=3 this simplifies neatly to (detA)A β a single power of the determinant times A itself. Combining this with B=Aβ1 (so detB=1/detA) lets everything be expressed back in terms of B and k.
Step-by-Step Solution
- B=Aβ1 and detB=k β detA=detB1β=k1β.
- For a 3Γ3 matrix: adj(adjA)=(detA)3β2A=(detA)A.
- Take the inverse of both sides:
(adj(adjA))β1=[(detA)A]β1=detA1βAβ1=detA1βB
- Substitute detA1β=k (from step 1): β¦
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.A,B are 3rd order non-singular square matrices and K is a real number. Which of the following is true? (A) Adj(AB)=(AdjB)(AdjA) and adj(Aβ1)ξ =(adjA)β1 (B) Adj(KA)=KAdj(A) and β£KAβ£=K3β£Aβ£ (C) β£Bβ1ABβ£=β£Aβ£ and (A+B)2=A2+2AB+B2 (D) (adjA)β1=β£Aβ£Aβ and (AB)β1=Bβ1Aβ1
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to test each statement using standard matrix properties for nonβsingular matrices. Only option (D) contains two statements that are both true.
-
Check option (A):
- The first part, Adj(AB)=(AdjB)(AdjA), is a true property of adjugates for square matrices (order doesnβt matter as long as they are square).
- The second part claims Adj(Aβ1)ξ =(AdjA)β1. But we know Adj(Aβ1)=β£Aβ1β£A=β£Aβ£1βA, and (AdjA)β1=β£Aβ£Aβ (since AdjA=β£Aβ£Aβ1). These are equal, so the inequality is false. Hence (A) is not fully true.
-
Check option (B):
- Adj(KA)=Knβ1AdjA for an nΓn matrix. Here n=3, so Adj(KA)=K2AdjA, not KAdjA. So the first part is false.
- The second part β£KAβ£=K3β£Aβ£ is true (since determinant scales by Kn). But because the first part is false, (B) is incorrect.
-
Check option (C):
- β£Bβ1ABβ£=β£Bβ1β£β£Aβ£β£Bβ£=β£Bβ£1ββ£Aβ£β£Bβ£=β£Aβ£ β this is true (similarity transformation preserves determinant).
- However, (A+B)2=A2+AB+BA+B2. For matrices, ABξ =BA in general, so (A+B)2=A2+2AB+B2 holds only if A and B commute. No such condition is given, so this is false. Hence (C) is not fully true.
-
Check option (D): β¦
-
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If A=β112β231β356ββ and β£adj(adjA)β£(adjA)β1=kA, then k= (A) 1296 (B) 216 (C) 36 (D) 432
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Using the standard adjugate identities for a 3Γ3 matrix, k=β£Aβ£3; direct computation gives β£Aβ£=6, so k=216 β option (B).
Concept and Intuition
The adjugate (classical adjoint) of an nΓn matrix satisfies two workhorse identities: β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1, and (applying that twice) β£adj(adjA)β£=β£Aβ£(nβ1)2. Also, since Aβ adjA=β£Aβ£I, we get adjA=β£Aβ£Aβ1, i.e. (adjA)β1=β£Aβ£Aβ. Combining these turns the whole expression into a scalar power of β£Aβ£ times A β exactly the form kA the question wants.
Step-by-Step Solution
- For n=3: β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1=β£Aβ£2, so β£adj(adjA)β£=β£adjAβ£nβ1=(β£Aβ£2)2=β£Aβ£4.
- (adjA)β1=β£Aβ£Aβ (from AadjA=β£Aβ£I).
- So β£adj(adjA)β£(adjA)β1=β£Aβ£4β β£Aβ£Aβ=β£Aβ£3A. Comparing to kA: k=β£Aβ£3. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.Assertion (A): If B is a 3Γ3 matrix and β£Bβ£=6, then β£Adj(B)β£=36. Reason (R): If B is a square matrix of order n, then β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£n (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A) (B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) (C) (A) is true but (R) is false (D) (A) is false but (R) is true
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The correct identity is β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£nβ1; this makes Assertion (A)'s numeric value (36) actually correct, but Reason (R) states the wrong general formula (β£Bβ£n), so (R) is false even though (A) is true.
Concept and Intuition
For an nΓn invertible matrix B, the adjugate satisfies Bβ Adj(B)=β£Bβ£I. Taking determinants of both sides: β£Bβ£β β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£n (since det(β£Bβ£I)=β£Bβ£n for an nΓn identity scaled by β£Bβ£). Dividing by β£Bβ£ (nonzero, since B is invertible as β£Bβ£=6ξ =0) gives β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£nβ1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Derive the correct formula: from Bβ Adj(B)=β£Bβ£Inβ, take determinants: β£Bβ£β β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£n, so β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£nβ1 (for invertible B).
- Apply to this problem: n=3, β£Bβ£=6. Correct value: β£Adj(B)β£=63β1=62=36.
- Assertion (A) claims β£Adj(B)β£=36 β this numeric value is correct (matches the true formula's output), so (A) is true.
- Reason (R) states the general rule as β£Adj(B)β£=β£Bβ£n β but the actual rule is β£Bβ£nβ1. As a general statement, (R) is false (if you actually used β£Bβ£n here you'd wrongly get 63=216ξ =36). β¦
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If A and B are non-singular matrices and det(AB)=(detA)(detB), then ((detA)(detB))Bβ1Aβ1= (A) Adj(BA) (B) Adj(A)+Adj(B) (C) Adj(AB) (D) (AdjB)(AdjA)
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Using the identity det(M)Mβ»ΒΉ = Adj(M) with M = AB (noting (AB)β»ΒΉ = Bβ»ΒΉAβ»ΒΉ) gives the answer directly as Adj(AB).
Concept and Intuition
For any invertible square matrix M, the adjugate satisfies Adj(M) = det(M)Β·Mβ»ΒΉ. This is a standard identity coming from MΒ·Adj(M) = det(M)Β·I.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Recall (AB)β»ΒΉ = Bβ»ΒΉAβ»ΒΉ (reverse order rule for inverses of a product).
- The given expression is [(det A)(det B)]Β·Bβ»ΒΉAβ»ΒΉ = det(AB)Β·Bβ»ΒΉAβ»ΒΉ (using the given det(AB)=(det A)(det B)).
- Rewrite Bβ»ΒΉAβ»ΒΉ as (AB)β»ΒΉ.
- So the expression equals det(AB)Β·(AB)β»ΒΉ. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-10-05-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=ββ122ββ21β2ββ2β21ββ then adj(A)=? (A) 2AT (B) AT (C) 3AT (D) 4AT
βΊReveal solutionSolution
A's rows are mutually orthogonal with equal norm, so AAT=9I; combined with detA=27, this gives adj(A)=3AT directly, without computing all nine cofactors.
Concept and Intuition
For any invertible square matrix, adj(A)=det(A)Aβ1. If A happens to have orthogonal rows of equal length (a scaled orthogonal matrix), AAT collapses to a scalar multiple of I, instantly giving Aβ1 (and hence the adjugate) without a full cofactor expansion.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A=ββ122ββ21β2ββ2β21ββ. Compute detA by cofactor expansion along row 1: detA=β1(1β 1β(β2)(β2))β(β2)(2β 1β(β2)β 2)+(β2)(2(β2)β1β 2) =β1(1β4)+2(2+4)β2(β4β2)=3+12+12=27. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=βa1cβ121β2b3ββ and AdjA=β7β31ββ19β3ββ555ββ then a2+b2+c2= (A) 10 (B) 14 (C) 11 (D) 29
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Each entry of AdjA is the corresponding cofactor of A, transposed: (AdjA)ijβ=Cjiβ. Writing out these equations pins down a,b,c uniquely. Answer: a2+b2+c2=10.
Concept and Intuition
AdjA is the transpose of the cofactor matrix of A. So (AdjA)ijβ=Cjiβ(A) where Cjiβ is the cofactor obtained by deleting row j and column i of A. Comparing entries of the given AdjA to cofactors computed from the unknown entries a,b,c of A gives a solvable (over-determined but consistent) system.
Step-by-Step Solution
- With A=βa1cβ121β2b3ββ, compute cofactor C11β=β21βb3ββ=6βb. This equals (AdjA)11β=7βb=β1.
- Cofactor C31β=β12β2bββ=bβ4. This equals (AdjA)13β=β5βbβ4=β5βb=β1 (consistent).
- Cofactor C12β=ββ1cβb3ββ=bcβ3, equal to (AdjA)21β=β3βbc=0. With b=β1, get c=0.
- Cofactor C22β=βacβ23ββ=3aβ2c, equal to (AdjA)22β=9β3aβ0=9βa=3. β¦
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-AN1 markMCQQ.If A=β125ββ2β60β254ββ then Adj A = (A) ββ241730β8β6β10β2β12ββ (B) ββ2417β30β8β610β21β2ββ (C) ββ241730β8β6β10β2β1β2ββ (D) β24β1730ββ8β6β10β21β2ββ
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Computing every 2Γ2 cofactor of A and transposing the resulting cofactor matrix gives the adjugate, which matches option (C) exactly.
Concept and Intuition
The adjugate (classical adjoint) of a 3Γ3 matrix is the transpose of its cofactor matrix: Adj(A)=CT, where Cijβ=(β1)i+jMijβ and Mijβ is the minor obtained by deleting row i and column j. This requires carefully computing all nine 2Γ2 minors with correct alternating signs.
Step-by-Step Solution
For A=β125ββ2β60β254ββ, compute each cofactor:
C11β=+ββ60β54ββ=(β24β0)=β24
C12β=ββ25β54ββ=β(8β25)=17
C13β=+β25ββ60ββ=(0β(β30))=30
C21β=βββ20β24ββ=β(β8β0)=8
C22β=+β15β24ββ=(4β10)=β6
C23β=ββ15ββ20ββ=β(0β(β10))=β10
C31β=+ββ2β6β25ββ=(β10β(β12))=2
C32β=ββ12β25ββ=β(5β4)=β1
C33β=+β12ββ2β6ββ=(β6β(β4))=β2 β¦
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