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Worked Examples · Example 10

Q.Find the values of xx and yy from the following equation: 2[x57y−3]+[3−412]=[761514]2\begin{bmatrix} x & 5 \\ 7 & y-3 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 3 & -4 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 7 & 6 \\ 15 & 14 \end{bmatrix}

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We treat the matrix equation as a system of scalar equations by equating corresponding entries after performing scalar multiplication and addition. Solving gives x=2x = 2 and y=9y = 9.

The core idea here is that two matrices are equal only when every corresponding entry is identical. So a matrix equation like this one is really just a compact way of writing several ordinary algebraic equations. Once we simplify the left-hand side — first by scaling the first matrix by 2, then adding the second matrix entry by entry — we can compare each position with the right-hand matrix and solve for the unknowns.

Let’s go step by step.

  1. Perform the scalar multiplication. Multiply every entry inside the first matrix by 2:

2[x57y−3]=[2x10142(y−3)]2\begin{bmatrix} x & 5 \\ 7 & y-3 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2x & 10 \\ 14 & 2(y-3) \end{bmatrix}

  1. Add the second matrix. Add corresponding entries of the two matrices on the left:

[2x10142(y−3)]+[3−412]=[2x+310+(−4)14+12(y−3)+2]\begin{bmatrix} 2x & 10 \\ 14 & 2(y-3) \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 3 & -4 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2x+3 & 10+(-4) \\ 14+1 & 2(y-3)+2 \end{bmatrix}

Simplify each entry:

[2x+36152y−6+2]=[2x+36152y−4]\begin{bmatrix} 2x+3 & 6 \\ 15 & 2y-6+2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2x+3 & 6 \\ 15 & 2y-4 \end{bmatrix}

  1. Equate to the right-hand matrix. The problem states this equals [761514]\begin{bmatrix} 7 & 6 \\ 15 & 14 \end{bmatrix}. So we have:

[2x+36152y−4]=[761514]\begin{bmatrix} 2x+3 & 6 \\ 15 & 2y-4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 7 & 6 \\ 15 & 14 \end{bmatrix}

  1. Extract the equations from matching entries.
    • Top-left: 2x+3=72x + 3 = 7
    • Top-right: 6=66 = 6 (already satisfied, gives no new info) …

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