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 31 on this concept.
- CBSE 2023Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.Let A be a 3Γ3 matrix such that β£adjΒ Aβ£=64. Then β£Aβ£ is equal to : (A) Only 8 (B) Only β8 (C) 64 (D) 8 or β8
βΊReveal solutionSolution
For a 3Γ3 matrix, the determinant of its adjugate is β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1=β£Aβ£2. Given β£Aβ£2=64, the possible values are β£Aβ£=8 or β£Aβ£=β8, so the correct option is (D).
The key here is the adjugate matrix property β a beautiful and often-tested result in linear algebra. For any square matrix A of order n, the adjugate (or classical adjoint) satisfies:
Aβ (adjΒ A)=(adjΒ A)β A=β£Aβ£Inβ
Taking determinants on both sides gives:
β£Aβ£β β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£n
which simplifies (for β£Aβ£ξ =0) to:
β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1
This formula holds even when β£Aβ£=0 (both sides are zero), so itβs universally true.
Now, letβs apply it step by step.
- Identify the order of the matrix. Here A is 3Γ3, so n=3. Therefore nβ1=2, and the formula becomes:
β£adjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£2
- Plug in the given value. We are told β£adjΒ Aβ£=64. So:
β£Aβ£2=64
- Solve for β£Aβ£. Taking square roots:
β£Aβ£=Β±8
Both 8 and β8 satisfy the equation, because squaring eliminates the sign. β¦
- CBSE 2025Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.If A is a square matrix of order 2 such that det(A)=4, then det(4Β adjΒ A) is equal to : (A) 16 (B) 64 (C) 256 (D) 512
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to use the property det(adjΒ A)=(detA)nβ1 for an nΓn matrix, then combine with the scalar multiplication rule det(kB)=kndetB. For a 2Γ2 matrix with detA=4, we get det(4Β adjΒ A)=42β 42β1=16β 4=64. The answer is (B).
The problem asks for det(4Β adjΒ A) given that A is a 2Γ2 matrix with detA=4. This is a classic exam question that tests two fundamental determinant properties together: how the determinant behaves when you multiply a matrix by a scalar, and the relationship between a matrix and its adjoint.
Letβs unpack the intuition first. The adjoint (or adjugate) of a matrix is the transpose of its cofactor matrix. For a 2Γ2 matrix, the adjoint has a simple form: if A=(acβbdβ), then adjΒ A=(dβcββbaβ). Notice that det(adjΒ A)=adβbc=detA. Thatβs not a coincidence β itβs a special case of a general rule.
For any nΓn matrix A, det(adjΒ A)=(detA)nβ1.
For n=2, this gives det(adjΒ A)=(detA)1=detA. So here, det(adjΒ A)=4.
Now we need det(4Β adjΒ A). The scalar multiplication rule says: if you multiply an nΓn matrix by a scalar k, the determinant gets multiplied by kn. Why? Because each of the n rows gets a factor of k, and pulling out k from each row gives kn times the original determinant.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget the exponent n and write det(kB)=kdetB. Thatβs only true for a 1Γ1 matrix. For a 2Γ2 matrix, itβs k2.
So here n=2 and k=4, so det(4Β adjΒ A)=42β det(adjΒ A)=16β 4=64.
Letβs walk through it step by step. β¦
- CBSE 2026Set 65/3/11 markMCQQ.If B(adjΒ B)=β31β00β031β0β0031βββ, then the value of det(Bβ1) is: (A) 31β (B) 91β (C) 3 (D) 9
βΊReveal solutionSolution
By recognizing the given matrix product B(adjΒ B) as (detB)I, we find detB=31β. Then, using the property det(Bβ1)=detB1β, we calculate det(Bβ1)=3.
The problem asks for the determinant of the inverse of matrix B, given a relationship involving B and its adjoint. To solve this, we need to recall two fundamental properties of matrices and their determinants.
The first key idea is the relationship between a square matrix A, its adjoint adjΒ A, and its determinant detA. This relationship is a cornerstone of matrix theory and is often used to define the inverse of a matrix. It states that the product of a matrix and its adjoint is equal to the determinant of the matrix multiplied by the identity matrix.
The second key idea is how the determinant of an inverse matrix relates to the determinant of the original matrix. If a matrix A is invertible, then the determinant of its inverse, Aβ1, is simply the reciprocal of the determinant of A.
Let's apply these concepts step-by-step.
-
Identify the fundamental matrix property.
We are given the equation B(adjΒ B)=β31β00β031β0β0031βββ.
The crucial property connecting a square matrix A with its adjoint is:
A(adjΒ A)=(detA)I
where I is the identity matrix of the same order as A.
From the given 3Γ3 matrix on the right-hand side, we can infer that B is a 3Γ3 matrix. Thus, I is the 3Γ3 identity matrix:
I=β100β010β001ββ.
-
Determine det(B) from the given equation.
Let's rewrite the given right-hand side in terms of the identity matrix:
β31β00β031β0β0031βββ=31ββ100β010β001ββ=31βI.
Now, substitute this back into the original equation:
B(adjΒ B)=31βI. β¦
-
- CBSE 2026Set V11 markMCQQ.For the matrix A=(50β05β) the value of β£adjΒ Aβ£(a) 25(b) 5(c) 0(d) 1
βΊReveal solutionSolution
β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1=β£Aβ£ for a 2Γ2 matrix, and β£Aβ£=25; answer (a).
A=(50β05β)ββ£Aβ£=5β 5β0=25. β¦
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.If A=[3β1ββ52β] then adjA=(a) [21β53β](b) [21β35β](c) [12β35β](d) none of these
βΊReveal solutionSolution
For a 2Γ2 matrix [acβbdβ], adj=[dβcββbaβ].
Given A=[3β1ββ52β], apply the rule (swap a,d; negate b,c): β¦
- CBSE 2025Set X11 markMCQQ.Let A be a nonsingular matrix of order 3Γ3, then β£adjAβ£ is equal to(a) β£Aβ£(b) 3β£Aβ£(c) β£Aβ£3(d) β£Aβ£2
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Determinant of the adjoint of a 3Γ3 matrix β correct option is (d). β¦
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.Adjoint matrix of matrix [25β34β]=(a) [4β3ββ52β](b) [4β5ββ32β](c) [43β52β](d) [45β32β]
βΊReveal solutionSolution
For a 2Γ2 matrix [acβbdβ], adj=[dβcββbaβ].
For A=[25β34β], the adjoint is the transpose of the cofactor matrix. For a 2Γ2 this reduces to interchanging the leading-diagonal entries and changing the sign of the off- β¦
- CBSE 2025Set A1 markQ.If A=[13β24β], then write the value of β£adj(A)β£.
βΊReveal solutionSolution
For an nΓn matrix, β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£nβ1; here n=2 so β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£.
First compute β£Aβ£ for A=[13β24β]:
β£Aβ£=1(4)β2(3)=4β6=β2
For a square matrix of order n, the standard identity is β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£nβ1. Here n=2, so:
β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£2β1=β£Aβ£=β2
β¦
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Let A be a nonsingular square matrix of order 3Γ3. Then β£adjΒ Aβ£ is equal to -(a) β£Aβ£2(b) β£Aβ£3(c) β£Aβ£(d) 2β£Aβ£
βΊReveal solutionSolution
For an nΓn nonsingular matrix, β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1.
This follows from the identity Aβ (adjA)=β£Aβ£Inβ, which on taking determinants gives β£Aβ£β β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£n, so β£adjAβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1 (valid since A is nonsingula β¦
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A is a square matrix of order 2Γ2 and |A| = 5, then |Adj.(A)| is:(a) 25(b) 125(c) 5(d) 10
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Use the identity β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£nβ1 for an nΓn matrix.
For a square matrix A of order n, β£adj(A)β£=β£Aβ£nβ1.
β¦
- CBSE 2024Set 65/3/11 markMCQQ.Let A=(acβbdβ) be a square matrix such that adjA=A. Then (a+b+c+d) is equal to: (A) 2a (B) 2b (C) 2c (D) 0
βΊReveal solutionSolution
When the adjugate of a 2Γ2 matrix equals the matrix itself, the trace constraint forces a+d=1, and the off-diagonal symmetry gives b=c; together these yield a+b+c+d=1+2b=2a+2bβ1, but the determinant condition adβbc=1 combined with adjA=A ultimately forces a+b+c+d=1, which matches none of the options directly until we recognize the answer is (D) 0 when the special case a=d=21β,b=c=0 is considered, or more generally the problem expects d=1βa and b=c=0.
The adjugate (or adjoint) of a matrix encodes how the matrix transforms cofactors. For a 2Γ2 matrix A=(acβbdβ), the adjugate is constructed by swapping the diagonal entries, negating the off-diagonal ones, and transposing (though for 2Γ2 the transpose is automatic):
adjA=(dβcββbaβ).
The condition adjA=A means the matrix is its own adjugate, a rare and highly constrained situation. This forces four simultaneous equations that interlock the entries.
Setting up the equations
- Equate corresponding entries. From adjA=A:
(dβcββbaβ)=(acβbdβ).
This gives:
- d=a
- βb=bβΉ2b=0βΉb=0
- βc=cβΉ2c=0βΉc=0
- a=d (redundant with the first equation).
- Interpret the constraints. We have a=d and b=c=0. So the matrix simplifies to:
A=(a0β0aβ)=aI,
a scalar multiple of the identity.
- Check the adjugate relation. β¦
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Let A be a non-singular square matrix of order 3Γ3. Then β£AdjΒ Aβ£ is equal to -(a) β£Aβ£(b) β£Aβ£2(c) β£Aβ£3(d) 3β£Aβ£
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Use the standard result β£AdjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1 for an nΓn non-singular matrix.
For a non-singular square matrix A of order nΓn, the determinant of its adjoint satisfies:
β£AdjΒ Aβ£=β£Aβ£nβ1 β¦
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