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Exercise 3.3 · Q11

Q.If AA, BB are symmetric matrices of same order, then AB−BAAB - BA is a (A) Skew symmetric matrix (B) Symmetric matrix (C) Zero matrix (D) Identity matrix

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The commutator AB−BAAB - BA of two symmetric matrices is always skew-symmetric. Since AT=AA^T = A and BT=BB^T = B, we get (AB−BA)T=−(AB−BA)(AB - BA)^T = -(AB - BA), so the answer is a skew symmetric matrix — option (A).

Why this works: the idea of symmetry and swapping

A symmetric matrix equals its own transpose: AT=AA^T = A. A skew-symmetric matrix is the opposite: ST=−SS^T = -S. The key insight is that when you multiply two symmetric matrices, the product ABAB is not necessarily symmetric — but its transpose is BTAT=BAB^TA^T = BA. So ABAB and BABA are transposes of each other.

Now look at AB−BAAB - BA. If you take its transpose, you swap the order and get BA−ABBA - AB, which is exactly the negative of what you started with. That's the defining property of a skew-symmetric matrix.

Tip

This is a classic exam trick: the commutator [A,B]=AB−BA[A,B] = AB - BA of two symmetric matrices is always skew-symmetric. You don't need to compute anything — just use the transpose property.

Step-by-step reasoning

1. Write what we know about AA and BB.

Since both are symmetric of the same order:

AT=AandBT=BA^T = A \quad \text{and} \quad B^T = B

2. Take the transpose of AB−BAAB - BA.

Remember: (XY)T=YTXT(XY)^T = Y^T X^T. So:

(AB−BA)T=(AB)T−(BA)T=BTAT−ATBT(AB - BA)^T = (AB)^T - (BA)^T = B^T A^T - A^T B^T

3. Substitute the symmetric property.

Replace ATA^T with AA and BTB^T with BB:

(AB−BA)T=BA−AB(AB - BA)^T = BA - AB

4. Compare with the original expression.

Notice that BA−ABBA - AB is exactly −(AB−BA)-(AB - BA). So:

(AB−BA)T=−(AB−BA)(AB - BA)^T = -(AB - BA) …

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