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Exercise 3.3 · Q9

Q.Find 12(A+A′)\frac{1}{2}(A + A') and 12(A−A′)\frac{1}{2}(A - A'), when A=[0ab−a0c−b−c0]A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix}

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For any square matrix AA, 12(A+A′)\frac{1}{2}(A + A') gives the symmetric part and 12(A−A′)\frac{1}{2}(A - A') gives the skew-symmetric part. Here, AA is already skew-symmetric, so the symmetric part is the zero matrix and the skew-symmetric part is AA itself.

Why This Approach Works

Every square matrix can be uniquely split into a symmetric part and a skew-symmetric part. A symmetric matrix equals its own transpose (S=S′S = S'), while a skew-symmetric matrix equals the negative of its transpose (K=−K′K = -K'). The formulas 12(A+A′)\frac{1}{2}(A + A') and 12(A−A′)\frac{1}{2}(A - A') are not arbitrary — they are derived from solving the system A=S+KA = S + K where SS is symmetric and KK is skew-symmetric. Take the transpose of both sides: A′=S−KA' = S - K, then add and subtract to isolate SS and KK.

The beauty is that this decomposition works for any square matrix, but when AA itself has special symmetry, the result simplifies dramatically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Compute A′A', the transpose of AA.

Transpose means swapping rows and columns. For A=[0ab−a0c−b−c0]A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix}, the first row (0,a,b)(0, a, b) becomes the first column, and so on:

A′=[0−a−ba0−cbc0]A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -a & -b \\ a & 0 & -c \\ b & c & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Notice something interesting: A′A' is exactly −A-A. Check: multiply AA by −1-1 and you get the same matrix. This means AA is skew-symmetric by definition.

Watch out

A common mistake is to forget the sign pattern on the diagonal. For a skew-symmetric matrix, all diagonal entries must be zero — here they are, so AA qualifies. If any diagonal entry were non-zero, AA could not be skew-symmetric.

2. Find the symmetric part: 12(A+A′)\frac{1}{2}(A + A').

Add AA and A′A':

A+A′=[0ab−a0c−b−c0]+[0−a−ba0−cbc0]A + A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -a & -b \\ a & 0 & -c \\ b & c & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Add entry by entry:

  • (1,1)(1,1): 0+0=00 + 0 = 0
  • (1,2)(1,2): a+(−a)=0a + (-a) = 0
  • (1,3)(1,3): b+(−b)=0b + (-b) = 0
  • (2,1)(2,1): (−a)+a=0(-a) + a = 0
  • (2,2)(2,2): 0+0=00 + 0 = 0
  • (2,3)(2,3): c+(−c)=0c + (-c) = 0
  • (3,1)(3,1): (−b)+b=0(-b) + b = 0
  • (3,2)(3,2): (−c)+c=0(-c) + c = 0
  • (3,3)(3,3): 0+0=00 + 0 = 0

Every entry cancels to zero. So A+A′=0A + A' = \mathbf{0}, the zero matrix. Therefore:

12(A+A′)=12⋅0=0\frac{1}{2}(A + A') = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \mathbf{0} = \mathbf{0}

The symmetric part is the zero matrix.

3. Find the skew-symmetric part: 12(A−A′)\frac{1}{2}(A - A').

Subtract A′A' from AA:

A−A′=[0ab−a0c−b−c0]−[0−a−ba0−cbc0]A - A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix} - \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -a & -b \\ a & 0 & -c \\ b & c & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Subtract entry by entry (remember: subtracting a negative is adding):

  • (1,1)(1,1): 0−0=00 - 0 = 0 …

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