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Miscellaneous Exercise 2(B) I · Q83

Q.The inverse of a symmetric matrix is - (A) Symmetric (B) Non-symmetric (C) Null matrix (D) Diagonal matrix

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Step 1: A matrix AA is symmetric if A=ATA=A^T. Suppose AA is symmetric and invertible.

Step 2: Taking the transpose of both sides of AA−1=IAA^{-1}=I: (AA−1)T=IT=I(AA^{-1})^T=I^T=I, and using the reversal rule (XY)T=YTXT(XY)^T=Y^TX^T, this gives (A−1)TAT=I(A^{-1})^TA^T=I.

Step 3: Since AA is symmetric, AT=AA^T=A, so (A−1)TA=I(A^{-1})^TA=I. But also A−1A=IA^{-1}A=I by definition. Comparing, (A−1)T(A^{-1})^T and A−1A^{-1} both satisfy "(⋅)A=I(\cdot)A=I", and since the inverse relationship is unique (an equation XA=IXA=I with AA square and invertible has …

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