Q.Let A=[23−14], B=[5724], C=[2358]. Find a matrix D such that CD−AB=O.
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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). …
Idea: CD−AB=O means CD=AB; since C is invertible, D=C−1(AB).
Step 1 — compute AB.
AB=[23−14][5724]=[10−715+284−46+16]=[343022].
Step 2 — invert C. detC=(2)(8)−(5)(3)=1, so
C−1=[8−3−52].
Step 3 — solve. …
From CD=AB with C invertible, D=C−1(AB)=[−19177−11044].
The equation CD−AB=O rearranges to CD=AB. Because C sits on the left of the unknown D, we undo it by left-multiplying both sides by C−1: C−1(CD)=C−1(AB), i.e. D=C−1(AB). So the plan is: compute AB, invert C, multiply.
Step 1 — compute AB
AB=[23−14][5724].
- (1,1): 2⋅5+(−1)⋅7=3
- (1,2): 2⋅2+(−1)⋅4=0
- (2,1): 3⋅5+4⋅7=43
- (2,2): 3⋅2+4⋅4=22
So AB=[343022].
Step 2 — invert C
detC=(2)(8)−(5)(3)=16−15=1=0,
so C is invertible. For a 2×2 matrix [acbd] the inverse is det1[d−c−ba]; here det=1, so
C−1=[8−3−52].
Step 3 — solve for D
D=C−1(AB)=[8−3−52][343022].
- (1,1): 8⋅3+(−5)⋅43=24−215=−191
- (1,2): 8⋅0+(−5)⋅22=−110
- (2,1): −3⋅3+2⋅43=−9+86=77 …
Method: Solving a matrix equation for an unknown matrix using an inverse
Use this when an equation like CD−AB=O must be solved for the matrix D and the coefficient matrix is square and invertible.
Steps
Step 1: Rearrange to isolate the unknown's term.
CD−AB=O⇒CD=AB.
Step 2: Left-multiply by the inverse of the coefficient on the correct side. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Multiplying by C−1 on the wrong side.
Why it's wrong: because C is on the left of D, you must left-multiply: D=C−1(AB), not (AB)C−1. Matrix multiplication is not commutative. Correct approach: apply the inverse on the same side as the coefficient.
Mistake 2: Errors in the 2×2 inverse formula. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- 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 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 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. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.A=024130203 and B is a matrix such that AB=BA. If AB is not an identity matrix, then the matrix that can be taken as B is (A) −9−612−38−46−4−2 (B) 9−6−12−38−46−42 (C) 9−6−12−384−6−4−2 (D) 9−6−12−3−84−64−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Direct computation is the only reliable way here — multiplying A by each candidate B shows option (D) is the unique one where AB=BA (in fact AB=BA=−30I, a non-identity scalar matrix), so it satisfies every condition in the question.
Concept and Intuition
With no special structure making B an obvious polynomial in A, the only certain way to check "does B commute with A" among four numerically given candidates is to actually multiply both products, AB and BA, and compare entry by entry. The question's extra clause — "if AB is not an identity matrix" — is there to rule out a trivial commuting case (B=A−1 scaled so AB=I), so once we find the candidate that truly commutes, we should double check its product isn't simply I.
Step-by-Step Solution
- A=024130203.
- Testing option (D), B=9−6−12−3−84−64−2:
- Compute AB row by row: row 1 of A is (0,1,2), so (AB)1j=0⋅B1j+1⋅B2j+2⋅B3j, giving (AB)1,⋅=(0−6−24,0−8+8,0+4−4)=(−30,0,0). Similarly rows 2 and 3 give (0,−30,0) and (0,0,−30).
- So AB=−30000−30000−30=−30I.
- Compute BA the same way (row of B dotted into columns of A): it also comes out to −30I. …
- 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 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.A=a2123515b2613141c2 and B=2a2132b4582c−3 are two matrices such that the sum of the principal diagonal elements of both A and B are equal, then the product of the principal diagonal elements of B is ________ (A) 4 (B) 0 (C) −4 (D) −12
›Reveal solutionSolution
Equating the traces of A and B forces (a−1)2+(b−1)2+(c−1)2=0, so a=b=c=1; substituting into B's diagonal product gives 2×2×(−1)=−4.
Concept and Intuition
When an equation reduces to a sum of squares equal to zero, each square must individually be zero (since squares of real numbers are never negative) — this is a very common and powerful trick to pin down exact values of multiple unknowns from a single scalar equation.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Trace (sum of principal diagonal elements) of A: a2+b2+c2.
- Trace of B: 2a+2b+(2c−3).
- Given these are equal: a2+b2+c2=2a+2b+2c−3.
- Rearrange: a2−2a+b2−2b+c2−2c+3=0.
- Complete the square for each variable: (a2−2a+1)+(b2−2b+1)+(c2−2c+1)=0, i.e., (a−1)2+(b−1)2+(c−1)2=0.
- Since each square term is ≥0 and they sum to zero, each must be exactly zero: a=1, b=1, c=1. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.If A+2B=16−52−33031 and 2A−B=220−1−11562, then Tr[A]−Tr[B]= (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Trace is linear, so instead of solving for A and B as full matrices, take the trace of each given equation and solve the resulting 2×2 linear system.
Concept and Intuition
Trace (sum of diagonal entries) is a linear functional: Tr[A+2B]=Tr[A]+2Tr[B]. So applying trace to both matrix equations converts a matrix problem into a scalar linear system in a=Tr[A] and b=Tr[B].
Step-by-Step Solution
- Trace of first matrix: 1+(−3)+1=−1. So a+2b=−1.
- Trace of second matrix: 2+(−1)+2=3. So 2a−b=3.
- From equation 1: a=−1−2b.
- Substitute into equation 2: 2(−1−2b)−b=3⇒−2−4b−b=3⇒−5b=5⇒b=−1.
- Then a=−1−2(−1)=1. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If A=ca−b−abcb−ca, B=101012220 and AB=41−1415−210−4, then a2+b2+c2= (A) 14 (B) 17 (C) 11 (D) 19
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to interpret the given matrix equation AB=C as a system of linear equations in a,b,c by comparing entries. Solving yields a=2,b=1,c=3, so a2+b2+c2=14, which corresponds to option (A).
We are given two matrices A and B, and their product AB. The matrix A contains the unknowns a,b,c. Instead of trying to invert B directly (which is possible but messy), we can use the fact that matrix multiplication gives us explicit equations for each entry of the product. Since B is known, each entry of AB is a linear combination of a,b,c. By picking the right rows and columns, we can solve for a,b,c efficiently.
-
Write the product AB in terms of a,b,c.
The (i,j) entry of AB is the dot product of the i-th row of A with the j-th column of B.
Let’s compute a few key entries.
- Row 1 of A: [c−ab] Column 1 of B: 101 Entry (1,1): c⋅1+(−a)⋅0+b⋅1=c+b Given AB(1,1)=4, so
b+c=4.(1)
- Row 1, Column 2: Column 2 of B is 012 Entry (1,2): c⋅0+(−a)⋅1+b⋅2=−a+2b Given AB(1,2)=4, so
−a+2b=4.(2)
- Row 1, Column 3: Column 3 of B is 220 Entry (1,3): c⋅2+(−a)⋅2+b⋅0=2c−2a Given AB(1,3)=−2, so
2c−2a=−2⇒c−a=−1.(3)
-
Solve the system from row 1.
From (1): b=4−c.
From (3): a=c+1.
Substitute into (2): −(c+1)+2(4−c)=4
⇒−c−1+8−2c=4
⇒−3c+7=4
⇒−3c=−3
⇒c=1.
Then a=c+1=2, and b=4−c=3.
-
Verify with another row to be safe. …
-
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-AN1 markMCQQ.If A and B are n×n square matrices such that (2A+B)2+(A−3B)2=5A2−2AB+10B2 then, ABAB = (A) 21[(A−B)2+(A+B)2] (B) 4AB (C) 21[(A+B)2−(A−B)2] (D) A2B2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given identity is only possible if A and B commute; once that's established, ABAB simplifies directly to A2B2.
Concept and Intuition
For matrices, (A+B)2=A2+2AB+B2 in general — cross terms AB and BA must both be kept, and they only merge into 2AB when AB=BA. The given equation is a disguised way of telling us AB=BA.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Expand (2A+B)2=4A2+2AB+2BA+B2 and (A−3B)2=A2−3AB−3BA+9B2 (order preserved).
- Sum: 5A2−AB−BA+10B2.
- Set equal to given RHS 5A2−2AB+10B2: −AB−BA=−2AB⇒AB=BA. …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If A=233323332, then A2−8I= (A) 0 (B) 8A (C) 7A (D) 5A
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to compute A2 directly and then subtract 8I; the result simplifies to 5A, so the correct option is (D).
We start with the matrix
A=233323332.
The problem asks for A2−8I. Instead of guessing, we can compute A2 by matrix multiplication and then subtract 8 times the identity. This is a straightforward algebraic check — no need for eigenvalues or characteristic polynomials here, though those would also work.
- Compute A2
Multiply A by itself. The (i,j) entry of A2 is the dot product of row i of A with column j of A.
- For diagonal entries (e.g., (1,1)):
(2)(2)+(3)(3)+(3)(3)=4+9+9=22.
By symmetry, all diagonal entries are $22$.- For off-diagonal entries (e.g., (1,2)):
(2)(3)+(3)(2)+(3)(3)=6+6+9=21.
Again by symmetry, every off-diagonal entry is $21$.So
A2=222121212221212122.
- Subtract 8I The identity matrix I has 1’s on the diagonal and 0’s elsewhere. Thus
A2−8I=22−821212122−821212122−8=142121211421212114.
- Compare with multiples of A Notice that A is
A=233323332.
Multiply A by 5:
- Compute A2
Multiply A by itself. The (i,j) entry of A2 is the dot product of row i of A with column j of A.
- 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. …
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