Q.Solve the following equations by inversion method. x+y=4, 2x−y=5
Concept understanding — Solution of a System of Linear Equations by Method of Inversion
A system of n linear equations in n unknowns, such as a1x+b1y+c1z=d1, a2x+b2y+c2z=d2, a3x+b3y+c3z=d3, can be written as a single matrix equation AX=B, where A is the n×n matrix of coefficients, X is the n×1 column of unknowns, and B is the n×1 column of constants. Provided a unique solution exists, A must be non-singular, so A−1 exists. Pre-multiplying both sides of AX=B by A−1 gives A−1(AX)=A−1B, i.e. (A−1A)X=A−1B, i.e. IX=A−1B, so X=A−1B — this single matrix product delivers every unknown at once, read off as the corresponding entries of the column X. A−1 itself can be found by either the elementary-transformation method or the adjoint method; the adjoint formula A−1=∣A∣1(adjA) is usually the more direct route once the system is set up. Because the method genuinely requires A−1, it silently fails whenever ∣A∣=0 — a coefficient matrix that turns out singular means the method of inversion cannot produce a unique answer, and the equations must instead be checked directly for consistency (do they describe parallel/coincident lines or planes, giving no solution or infinitely many).
Set up AX=B, invert A, multiply by B.
x=3, y=1
Step 1: x+y=4, 2x−y=5 becomes [121−1][xy]=[45].
Step 2: ∣A∣=1(−1)−2(1)=−3=0. adjA=[−1−2−11], so A−1=−31[−1−2−11]=[313231−31].
Step 3: X=A−1B=[313231−31][45]=[34+3538−35]=[31].
Step 4: x=3, y=1.
x=3, y=1
Write as AX=B, find A−1 by the adjoint formula, then compute X=A−1B.
- Sign error in A12 or A21 of the cofactor matrix
- Arithmetic slip adding the fractions 34+35
- Forgetting to divide by ∣A∣=−3 before multiplying by B
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL4 marksQ.Solve the following system of equations by the method of inversion: x−y+z=4, 2x+y−3z=0, x+y+z=2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Compute A−1 via cofactors/adjoint, then X=A−1B.
A=121−1111−31, B=402
∣A∣=1(1+3)−(−1)(2+3)+1(2−1)=4+5+1=10
Cofactors:
C11=4, C12=−5, C13=1
C21=2, C22=0, C23=−2
C31=2, C32=5, C33=3
adj(A)=4−5120−2253(transpose of the cofactor matrix)
A−1=1014−5120−2253
X=A−1B=1014(4)+2(0)+2(2)−5(4)+0(0)+5(2)1(4)+(−2)(0)+3(2)=10120−1010=2−11
Check: x−y+z=2+1+1=4 ✓; 2x+y−3z=4−1−3=0 ✓; x+y+z=2−1+1=2 ✓
✓Final answerx=2, y=−1, z=1
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL4 marksQ.If three numbers are added, their sum is 2. If two times the second number is subtracted from the sum of first and third numbers we get 8 and if three times the first number is added to the sum of second and third numbers we get 4. Find the numbers using matrices.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Translate the word problem into 3 linear equations, write as AX=B, and solve by elimination (equivalent to matrix reduction).
Let the numbers be x,y,z.
"If three numbers are added, their sum is 2": x+y+z=2 ... (i)
"If two times the second number is subtracted from the sum of first and third we get 8": (x+z)−2y=8⟹x−2y+z=8 ... (ii)
"If three times the first number is added to the sum of second and third we get 4": 3x+(y+z)=4⟹3x+y+z=4 ... (iii)
In matrix form AX=B: A=1131−21111, X=xyz, B=284
Reducing: (ii) − (i): −3y=6⟹y=−2
(iii) − (i): 2x=2⟹x=1
From (i): 1+(−2)+z=2⟹z=3
Check: (ii): 1−2(−2)+3=1+4+3=8 ✓ (iii): 3(1)+(−2)+3=4 ✓
So x=1, y=−2, z=3.
✓Final answerThe numbers are 1,−2,3
- CBSE 2016Set ANNUAL4 marksQ.The cost of 4 dozen pencils, 3 dozen pens and 2 dozen erasers is ₹60. The cost of 2 dozen pencils, 4 dozen pens and 6 dozen erasers is ₹90 whereas the cost of 6 dozen pencils, 2 dozen pens and 3 dozen erasers is ₹70. Find the cost of each item per dozen by using matrices.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Set up AX=B from the three cost equations and solve using Cramer's rule (determinants).
Let x,y,z = cost per dozen of pencils, pens, erasers respectively.
4x+3y+2z=60
2x+4y+6z=90
6x+2y+3z=70
In matrix form AX=B with A=426342263, X=xyz, B=609070.
det(A):
detA=4(4⋅3−6⋅2)−3(2⋅3−6⋅6)+2(2⋅2−4⋅6)
=4(0)−3(−30)+2(−20)=0+90−40=50
det(Ax) (replace column 1 with B):
Ax=609070342263,detAx=60(0)−3(270−420)+2(180−280)=450−200=250
x=50250=5
det(Ay) (replace column 2 with B):
Ay=426609070263,detAy=4(270−420)−60(6−36)+2(140−540)=−600+1800−800=400
y=50400=8
det(Az) (replace column 3 with B):
Az=426342609070,detAz=4(280−180)−3(140−540)+60(4−24)=400+1200−1200=400
z=50400=8
Verification: 4(5)+3(8)+2(8)=20+24+16=60 ✓; 6(5)+2(8)+3(8)=30+16+24=70 ✓.
✓Final answerCost per dozen: Pencils =₹5, Pens =₹8, Erasers =₹8.
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