Q.Decrypt the received encoded message [2 −3][20 4] with the encryption matrix (−12−11) and the decryption matrix as its inverse, where the system of codes are described by the numbers 1-26 to the letters A--Z respectively, and the number 0 to a blank space.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Adjoint and Inverse of a Matrix
For a square matrix A=[aij] of order n, the cofactor of aij is the signed minor Aij=(−1)i+jMij (the minor Mij is the determinant left after deleting row i and column j). Replace every entry of A by its cofactor to get the cofactor matrix; its transpose is the adjoint, adjA.
Theorem (the central identity). For every square matrix A of order n,
A(adjA)=(adjA)A=∣A∣In.
This follows from Laplace expansion: a row's entries dotted with their own cofactors reproduce ∣A∣, while a row's entries dotted with a different row's cofactors always give 0 -- so the product matrix is ∣A∣ on the diagonal and 0 off it.
Definition of the inverse. A square matrix B with AB=BA=In is called the inverse of A, written A−1. The inverse, when it exists, is unique. A−1 exists if and only if A is non-singular (∣A∣=0): dividing the central identity by ∣A∣ (possible exactly when ∣A∣=0) gives the working formula
A−1=∣A∣1adjA.
A singular matrix (∣A∣=0) has no inverse.
Worked illustration (order 2). For A=(acbd), the cofactors are A11=d, A12=−c, A21=−b, A22=a, so adjA=(d−c−ba) (swap the diagonal entries, negate the off-diagonal ones) and A−1=ad−bc1(d−c−ba) whenever ad−bc=0.
Standing laws of inverses (for non-singular A,B of the same order, λ=0 a scalar):
- ∣A−1∣=∣A∣1.
- (AT)−1=(A−1)T.
- (λA)−1=λ1A−1.
- Left/right cancellation: AB=AC⇒B=C; BA=CA⇒B=C (pre/post-multiply by A−1) -- this fails when A is singular.
- Reversal law: (AB)−1=B−1A−1 (note the order flips, exactly as for transposes).
- Double inverse: (A−1)−1=A.
Six adjoint identities (non-singular A, order n): (i) adj(A−1)=(adjA)−1=∣A∣A; (ii) ∣adjA∣=∣A∣n−1; (iii) adj(adjA)=∣A∣n−2A; (iv) adj(λA)=λn−1adjA; (v) ∣adj(adjA)∣=∣A∣(n−1)2; (vi) (adjA)T=adj(AT); and for two non-singular matrices of the same order, adj(AB)=(adjB)(adjA) (order reverses, exactly like the inverse and the transpose). …
Find the decryption matrix as the inverse of the encryption matrix, right-multiply each received row-vector by it, then convert the resulting numbers to letters (A=1,...,Z=26, 0=space).
…
The decryption matrix is the inverse of the given encryption matrix; multiplying each received row-vector by it (on the right, since the codes are row vectors) recovers the original numbers, which are then read off as letters.
Step 1. Find the decryption matrix. The encryption matrix is E=(−12−11). ∣E∣=(−1)(1)−(−1)(2)=−1+2=1. adjE=(1−21−1), so E−1=11(1−21−1)=(1−21−1) — this is the decryption matrix.
Step 2. Decrypt the first pair [2 −3].
[2 −3](1−21−1)=(2(1)+(−3)(−2), 2(1)+(−3)(−1))=(2+6, 2+3)=(8, 5)
Step 3. Decrypt the second pair [20 4]. …
Multiply each received row-vector by the decryption matrix (E⁻¹), …
- Multiplying the row vector by E instead of E⁻¹ (using the encryption matrix instead of decrypting)
- Multiplying on the wrong side — since the codes are row vectors, decrypt with (row)·E⁻¹, not E⁻¹·(row) as a column …
Showing the 12 most recent of 15 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A is a 3×3 non-singular matrix such that AAT=ATA and B=A−1AT, then BBT=(a) I3(b) A(c) BT(d) B
›Reveal solutionSolution
Uses the given normal-matrix condition AAT=ATA to collapse BBT down to the identity.
- Given B=A−1AT. Taking transpose: BT=(A−1AT)T=(AT)TA−T=A(AT)−1.
- So BBT=(A−1AT)(A(AT)−1)=A−1(ATA)(AT)−1. …
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.If the inverse of a matrix A of order 3×3 exists and ∣A∣=5, then the value of ∣adjA∣ is(a) 20(b) 15(c) 5(d) 25
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the identity ∣adjA∣=∣A∣n−1 with n=3.
The adjoint–determinant relation is a CBSE/NCERT Class 12 determinants and adjoint/inverse result.
For a non-singular matrix of order n, the standard identity is
∣adjA∣=∣A∣n−1.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A is a non-singular matrix of order 3×3 and ∣A∣=5 then ∣A−1∣ is :(a) 52(b) 5(c) 521(d) 51
›Reveal solutionSolution
The standard determinant identity ∣A−1∣=1/∣A∣ gives the answer directly by substitution.
- Since AA−1=I, taking determinants of both sides: ∣A∣∣A−1∣=∣I∣=1. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A=[253−2] be such that λA−1=A, then λ is :(a) 19(b) 17(c) 21(d) 14
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiplying the given relation by A turns it into A2=λI, so λ is found by directly computing A2.
- Given λA−1=A. Multiply both sides on the left by A: λAA−1=A⋅A⇒λI=A2.
- Compute A2 for A=[253−2].
- Row 1: (2)(2)+(3)(5)=4+15=19; (2)(3)+(3)(−2)=6−6=0. …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A is a non-singular matrix such that A−1=[5−23−1], then (AT)−1=(a) [−12−35](b) [−5231](c) [53−2−1](d) [5−23−1]
›Reveal solutionSolution
Uses the identity (AT)−1=(A−1)T and simply transposes the given A−1.
- A standard matrix identity: (AT)−1=(A−1)T (the inverse of the transpose equals the transpose of the inverse).
- Given A−1=[5−23−1]. …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A, B and C are invertible matrices of some order, then which one of the following is not true ?(a) detA−1=(detA)−1(b) adjA=∣A∣A−1(c) (ABC)−1=C−1B−1A−1(d) adj(AB)=(adjA)(adjB)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Checking each identity against the standard matrix-algebra facts, only the adjugate-of-a-product rule has its order reversed from what's stated.
- (a) detA−1=(detA)−1: always true, since det(A)det(A−1)=det(AA−1)=detI=1.
- (b) adjA=∣A∣A−1: always true — this is the defining relation A⋅adjA=∣A∣I, rearranged using A−1.
- (c) (ABC)−1=C−1B−1A−1: always true (reverse-order law for inverses of a product). …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A square matrix A of order n has inverse if and only if :(a) ρ(A)>n(b) ρ(A)=n(c) ρ(A)=n(d) ρ(A)<n
›Reveal solutionSolution
A square matrix has an inverse exactly when it is non-singular, i.e. when its rank equals its order.
- A square matrix A of order n has an inverse iff A is non-singular, i.e. ∣A∣=0. …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∣adj(adjA)∣=∣A∣16, then the order of the square matrix A is :(a) 2(b) 3(c) 5(d) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the standard identity ∣adjA∣=∣A∣n−1 twice gives ∣adj(adjA)∣=∣A∣(n−1)2, matched against the exponent 16.
- For an n×n matrix A, the standard identity is ∣adjA∣=∣A∣n−1. …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A=[253−2] be such that λA−1=A, then λ is :(a) 19(b) 17(c) 21(d) 14
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiplying both sides of λA−1=A by A gives λI=A2; computing A2 shows it equals 19I, so λ=19.
- We are given λA−1=A for A=[253−2].
- Post-multiplying both sides by A: λA−1A=A⋅A, i.e. λI=A2.
- Compute A2=[253−2][253−2].
- The (1,1) entry is 2(2)+3(5)=4+15=19; the (1,2) entry is 2(3)+3(−2)=6−6=0. …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which one of the following is incorrect ?(a) If A is a square matrix of order n, and λ is a scalar, then Adj (λA)=λn (Adj A).(b) Adjoint of a symmetric matrix is also a symmetric matrix.(c) A(Adj A) = (Adj A)A = |A|I.(d) Adjoint of a diagonal matrix is also a diagonal matrix.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The adjoint scaling law is Adj(λA)=λn−1Adj(A), not λnAdj(A), so statement (a) is the incorrect one.
- Each entry of Adj(A) is a cofactor of A, obtained from an (n−1)×(n−1) minor.
- If every entry of A is scaled by λ to form λA, each (n−1)×(n−1) minor (a determinant of n−1 rows/columns, each scaled by λ) scales by λn−1.
- Hence the correct identity is Adj(λA)=λn−1Adj(A), so the claim in (a) that it equals λnAdj(A) is false.
- Statement (b) is a standard true property: the adjoint (transpose of the cofactor matrix) of a symmetric matrix is symmetric. …
- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If (AB)−1=[12−19−1727] and A−1=[1−2−13], then B−1=(a) [8−3−52](b) [2−3−58](c) [8352](d) [3211]
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using (AB)−1=B−1A−1⇒B−1=(AB)−1A, and finding A from A−1, gives B−1=[2−3−58].
- For invertible matrices, (AB)−1=B−1A−1.
- Multiply both sides on the right by A: (AB)−1A=B−1A−1A=B−1I=B−1. So B−1=(AB)−1A.
- We need A, but are given A−1=[1−2−13]. Since A=(A−1)−1, invert this matrix.
- For a 2×2 matrix [prqs], the inverse is ps−qr1[s−r−qp]. Here p=1,q=−1,r=−2,s=3, so det(A−1)=1(3)−(−1)(−2)=3−2=1.
- So A=11[3211]=[3211]. (Check: AA−1=[3211][1−2−13]=[3−22−2−3+3−2+3]=[1001], correct.) …
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If A is a scalar matrix with scalar k=0, of order 3, then A−1 is :(a) k1I(b) kI(c) k21I(d) k31I
›Reveal solutionSolution
The inverse of the scalar matrix A=kI (order 3, k=0) is A−1=k1I.
- A scalar matrix of order 3 with scalar k is A=kI, where I is the 3×3 identity matrix.
- To find A−1, we need a matrix B such that AB=I.
- Try B=k1I: then AB=(kI)(k1I)=(k⋅k1)I=I. …
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