MATRICES

What is a matrix?

A matrix is a rectangular pattern of collection of numbers arranged into a fixed

number of rows and columns. We usually enclose the numbers with brackets.

So, for example, the following are all matrices.

Note that in each case we have a rectangular pattern of numbers. These

numbers can be any numbers we choose - positive, negative, zero, fractions,
decimals, and so on. To refer briefly to a specific matrix we might label it,
usually with a capital letter, so we might write.

A=

Clearly, all these matrices have different sizes. When we want to refer to the
size of a matrix we state its number of rows and number of columns, in that
order. Matrix A has two rows and two columns; we write that it is a 2 × 2
matrix and say that it is a ‘two by two’ matrix.

Similarly, we observe R is 1 × 4, Q is 3 × 2 and B is 3 × 3.

Each number in a matrix is referred to as an element of the matrix.

Some special types of matrix.

Some types of matrix occur quite frequently, have special properties or are
particularly important. We give these matrices special names.

A square matrix, as the name suggests, has the same number of rows as
columns. So the matrices A and B above are square.

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A diagonal matrix is a square matrix with zeros everywhere except possibly on
the diagonal which runs from the top left to the bottom right. This diagonal is
called the leading diagonal. Matrix B is a diagonal matrix.

An identity matrix, sometimes called a unit matrix, is a diagonal matrix with

all its diagonal elements equal to 1. The following are identity matrices.

The symbol I is usually reserved for labelling identity matrices.

Identity matrices have a special and very important property. We shall see in a
later leaflet, when we consider multiplication of matrices, that multiplying a
matrix by an identity matrix, leaves that matrix unchanged.

Zero Matrix.

The matrix is said to a Zero Matrix if all its elements are zero.

This matrix has zero property items of matrix operations.

An equal Matrixes.

Two Matrixes are said to be equal if and only if corresponding elements in the
matrices are equal.

Operations of a 2 × 2 matrix

Addition, subtraction and scalar multiplication of matrices

This leaflet will look at the condition necessary to be able to add or subtract
two matrices, and when this condition is satisfied, how to do this. It will also
cover how to multiply a matrix by a number.

Compatible matrices.

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 Two matrices are said to be compatible when they have the same size, that is,
the same number of rows and the same number of columns. When two
matrices are compatible they can be added (or subtracted).

First consider the size of each of these matrices:

A is a 2 × 2 matrix, B is 3 × 2, C is 2 × 3 and D is 3 × 2.

From these four matrices only B and D are compatible. This means we can
calculate B+D, B−D, D − B, but we cannot add or subtract any other pair of
these matrices.

Adding and subtracting matrices.

When two matrices are compatible we add (or subtract) them by adding (or
subtracting) the elements in corresponding positions.
We have seen that B and D have the same size; they are both 3 × 2 matrices.
This means we can add them by adding elements in the corresponding (that is,
the same) positions:

Note that the answer we get is another matrix of the same size as the ones we
started with.
Similarly, we can find B − D by subtracting elements in the corresponding
positions.

Since any matrix is the same size as itself we can always add a matrix to itself.
If we do this for matrix A we find

Another way to write A + A is 2A. Therefore, we have

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We see that the elements of 2A are each twice the elements of A. This
illustrates how to multiply a matrix by a number, and leads us to the topic of
scalar multiplication:

Scalar multiplication

When working with matrices there are two kinds of multiplication: scalar
multiplication and matrix multiplication. Scalar multiplication is where a
matrix is multiplied by a single number. Matrix multiplication is where a
matrix is multiplied by another matrix.

To multiply a matrix by a scalar (that is, a single number), we simply multiply

each element in the matrix by this number.

Multiplication
One of the most important operations carried out with matrices is matrix
multiplication. At first sight this is done in a rather strange way. The reason for
this only becomes apparent when matrices are used to solve equations.

So, if the first matrix has size p × q, that is, it has p rows and q columns, and
the second has size r × s, that is, it has r rows and s columns, we can only
multiply them together if q = r. When this is so, the result of multiplying them
together is a p × s matrix.

Two matrices can only ever be multiplied together if the number of columns in
the first is the same as the number of rows in the second.

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Example:
Find

Solution
The first matrix has size 2 × 2. The second has size 2 × 1. Clearly the number
of columns in the first is the same as the number of rows in the second. So,
multiplication is possible and the result will be a 2 × 1 matrix.

The calculation is performed using the same operations as in the examples in

the previous section.

To obtain the first entry in the solution, ignore the second row of the first
matrix.

To obtain the second entry in the solution, ignore the first row of the first
matrix.

Putting it all together

Example:
Find .

Solution
The first matrix has size 2×2. The second matrix has size 2×2. Clearly the
number of columns in the first is the same as the number of rows in the
second. The multiplication can be performed and the result will be a 2 × 2
matrix.

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The determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix

Every square matrix has associated with it a special quantity called its
determinant. Determinants turn out to be useful when we study more
advanced topics such as inverse matrices and the solution of simultaneous
equations.

Consider the matrix

The determinant is a single value - a number that is obtained by combining the

numbers in the matrix in a special way. For 2 ×2 matrices finding a
determinant are not particularly hard, but neither is it particularly obvious
that you would do it this way.

Notation:

We denote the determinant of matrix A by det(A) or |A| and write

We find the product of the two elements on the leading diagonal and the
product of the two elements not on the leading diagonal (On main diagonal)
and then subtract the second product from the first:

Example:

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Suppose . Find the determinant of B

Solution:

Example:

Suppose . Find the determinant of D

Solution:

When a matrix has a zero determinant, as does matrix D here, we say the
matrix is singular. Any matrix which is singular is a square matrix for which
the determinant is zero. Any matrix which is not singular is said to be non-
singular.

Finally, we will look at the determinant of a general 2 × 2 matrix.

If , then its determinant is

If , then the matrix is singular.

The inverse of a 2 × 2 matrix

Once you know how to multiply matrices it is natural to ask whether they can
be divided. The answer is no. However, by defining another matrix called the
inverse matrix it is possible to work with an operation which plays a similar
role to division. In this leaflet we explain what is meant by an inverse matrix
and how the inverse of a 2 × 2 matrix is calculated.

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The inverse of a 2 × 2 matrix A, is another 2 × 2 matrix denoted by A −1
with
the property that

AA−1 = A −1
A=I

Where I is the 2 × 2 identity matrix .That is, multiplying a matrix by its

inverse produces an identity matrix. Note that in this context A−1 does not
mean .

Not all 2 × 2 matrices have an inverse matrix. If the determinant of the matrix
is zero, then it will not have an inverse; the matrix is then said to be singular.
Only non-singular matrices have inverses.

A simple formula for the inverse

In the case of a 2 × 2 matrix A = a simple formula exists to find its

inverse:

If A= , then

NOTE:

Note that the quantity is the determinant of A, . Furthermore,

is not defined when since it is never possible to divide by zero. It
is for this reason that the inverse of A does not exist if the determinant of A is
zero.

Example: Find the inverse of the matrix A = .

Solution:

Using the formula

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Since , then exist.

This could be written as

You should check that this answer is correct by performing the matrix

multiplication AA−1. The result should be the identity matrix .

Example: Find the inverse of the matrix

Solution:

Because the determinant is zero the matrix is singular and no inverse exists.

Applications

One of the most important applications of matrices is to the solution of linear

simultaneous equations.

Writing simultaneous equations in matrix form

Consider the simultaneous equations

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Provided you understand how matrices are multiplied together you will realise
that these can be written in matrix form as

Writing

we have

This is the matrix form of the simultaneous equations. Here the only unknown
is the matrix X, since A and B are already known. A is called the matrix of
coefficients.

Solving the simultaneous equations

Given AX = B
We can multiply both sides by the inverse of A, provided this exists, to give
AX =

But A = I, the identity matrix. Furthermore, IX = X, because multiplying

any matrix by an identity matrix of the appropriate size leaves the matrix
unaltered. So

If , then

This result gives us a method for solving simultaneous equations. All we need
do is write them in matrix form, calculate the inverse of the matrix of
coefficients, and finally perform a matrix multiplication.

Example:

Solve the simultaneous equations (Inverse Method)

Solution.

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We have already seen these equations in matrix form:

We need to calculate the inverse of , but first check for existence of

Since , then exist.

Then X is given by

Hence x = 2, y = 1 is the solution of the simultaneous equations.

Example:

Solve the simultaneous equations (Determinant Method or Cramer’ rule)

Solution.

We have already seen these equations in matrix form:

We need to calculate the inverse of , but first check for existence of

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Since , then the solution exists.

Let

Then,

Example:

A manufacturer produces a standard model and a deluxe model of a 20-inch

(in.) television set. The standard model requires 12 h of labor to produce, and
the deluxe model requires 18 h. The company has 360 h of labor available per
week. The plant’s capacity is a total of 25 sets per week. If all the available time
and capacity are to be used, how many of each type of set should be produced?

Solution:

Step 1: Let x be the number of standard models and y the number of deluxe
models.

Step 2: Our system will come from the two given conditions that fix the total
number of sets that can be produced and the total labor hours available.

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Step 3: Solve the system in step 2, we have and

Which tells us that to use all the available capacity, the plant should produce
15 standard sets and 10 deluxe sets per week.

Example:

Mr. X invested a part of his investment in 10% bond A and a part in 15% bond
B. His interest income during the first year is Rs 4,000. If he invests
20% more in10% bond A and 10 % more in 15% bond B, his income during
the second year increases by Rs 500. Find his initial investment and the
new investment in bonds A and B using matrix method.

 Solution: 
Let initial investment be x in 10% bond A and y in 15% bond B. Then,
according to given information, we have

Expressing the above equations in matrix form, we obtain

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This can be written in the form AX = B or  X = A-1 B
Since |A| = -2 ≠ 0, A-1 exists and the solution can be given by:

X = A-1B

Hence x = Rs 10,000, y = Rs 20,000, and new investments would be Rs

12,000 and Rs22,000 respectively.

Exapmle:
1000 tickets were sold.  Adult tickets cost TShs. 8.50, children's cost TShs.
4.50, and a total of TShs. 7300 was collected.  How many tickets of each kind
were sold?

solution

 Let x be the number of adult tickets.  Let y be the number of children's tickets.
Again, we have let x and y answer the question.  And again we must get two
equations out of the given information.  Here they are:
Total number of tickets:
Total money collected:

Solving this, gives

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 Adult tickets, and children tickets

Discussion Questions:

QUESTION 1.

Find the inverse of the matrix .

QUESTION 2.
An industrialist is manufacturing two types of products A and B. M1 and M2 are
two machines which are used for manufacturing the two types of products. The
time (in hours) taken by A and B on the machines is given below.

Machine
M1 M2
Product A 20 10
Product B 10 20

600 hours is the time available on each machine.

REQUIRED
Calculate the number of units manufactured of each type of product A and B
by using the following approaches
i). Elimination method
ii). Matrix method(inverse Method)
iii). Cramer’s rule.

QUESTION 3.
The table below gives price for share of two companies “Alpha Ltd.” and “Beta
Ltd.” during the month of January and February 2013 and it also gives the
amount invested by Mr. Happy during these two months for the purchase of
shares of the two companies.

Month Company and value per Total Amount

share invested
Alpha Beta
January 10 5 125
February 9 12 150

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REQUIRED
Find the number of shares of Alpha Ltd. and Beta Ltd. purchased during both
the months using
i). Cramer’s rule
ii). Elimination method
iii). Substitution method

QUESTION 4.
Solve by matrix method:

i).

ii).

QUESTION 5.
The following table shows the fixed cost (F) and variable cost (V) in thousand
shillings of producing 1 unit of commodity A and 1 unit of commodity B:

Product
A B
Cost F 5 8
V 4 12

When x units of A and y units of B are produced, the total fixed cost is
sh.640,000 and total variable cost is sh.820,000.

REQUIRED
Find the quantities of A and B produced.

QUESTION 6.
Donald has investments totaling Tsh 8000 in two accounts. One a savings
account paying 6% interest, and the other a bond paying 9%. If the annual
interest from the two investments was Tsh 600, how much did he have
invested at each rate?

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QUESTION 7.
Given below are the prices of wheat and rice in the months of August and
September:

Month Price
Wheat Rice
August 3,000 2,000
September 4,000 3,000

A family can spend sh.80,000 and sh.110,000 in August and September

respectively on wheat and rice. Now, if the family wants to purchase the same
combination of wheat and rice in August and September, find how much wheat
and how much rice it can buy in each month. Solve by using Cramer’s rule and
matrix method.

QUESTION 8.
Solve this problem by the matrix method. In a class, there are ten more boys
than there are girls. If there were one more girl, there would be twice as much
boys as girls. How many boys and girls are in the class?

QUESTION 9.
A student finds that, it is possible to buy 12 pencils and 10 rulers for
sh.21,000. Alternatively, it is possible to buy 20 pencils and 4 rulers for
sh.16,000 at the same price per each unit – item. What are the unit prices per
pencil and ruler? (use matrix method).
QUESTION 10.

A matrix A is defined as , given that f(x) = 2x2 – 3x + 5.

Find the value of f(X).

QUESTION 11.

Joan has offers for a position as a salesperson at two local electronics stores.
Store A will pay a flat rate of sh.60,000 per day plus 4% of sales. Store B will
pay a flat rate of sh.30,000 per day plus 10% of sales. What do Joan’s sales
need to be for store B to be the better offer?

QUESTION 12.
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Find the value of in the following matrix.

QUESTION 13.

Andrew has more money than Bob.  If Andrew gave Bob TShs. 20, they would
have the same amount.  While if Bob gave Andrew TShs. 22, Andrew would
then have twice as much as Bob.  How much does each one actually has?

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