MATRICES

MATH PROJECT

END
 (This is the second of two
presentations on matrices.
Please work through the first
before trying this one!)

END
Remember this?... a ×1 = a
The number 1 is sometimes called
the “identity.” When you multiply a
number by one, you always get that
number. This is called the “identity
property of multiplication.”

END
 Now multiply these matrices...
 2 − 3 1 0  __
2 −__3 
⋅ =
1 4  0 1  __ 
     1 __4
1st row; 1st col.= ( 2)(1) + ( −3)(0) = 2
1st row; 2nd col.= ( 2)(0) + ( −3)(1) = − 3
2nd row; 1st col.= (1)(1) + (4)(0) = 1
2nd row; 2nd col.= (1)(0) + (4)(1) = 4
END
Did you notice that the product
looks exactly like the first matrix?
 2 − 3 1 0  2 − 3
⋅ =
1 4  0 1 1 4 
     
For that reason, 1 0
0 1
 
is called an “Identity Matrix.”
END
The identity matrix for 1 0 0
 0 1 0
a 3x3 matrix would  
look like this... 0 0 1

“Ones” along the “principle

diagonal” (i.e., upper left to lower
right), “zeros” everywhere else!
END
And just as a number (x) has a
“multiplicative inverse” (often
called a “reciprocal”) such that...
1
( x )   = 1 Many matrices have a
 x “matrix inverse” too!
If Matrix “A” has an
−1
inverse, it is written as... A
END
 And (as you have probably
guessed!) when you multiply a
matrix by it’s inverse, you get...
An Identity Matrix!
It can be easily shown (but it’s a
little messy, so we won’t do it here)
that, if a matrix has an inverse, it
will be given by this formula...
END
 Inverse of a Matrix
w x
If [ A] =   (Do you
 y z recognize
 z − x this?)
− y w 
−1
then [ A ] =  
w x It’s the
determinant
y z of [A]!
END
 FORTUNATELY...
Our calculators can evaluate the
inverse of a matrix quickly and
easily!

Now, let’s notice how a system of

equations can be written as a
matrix equation…
END
Consider this system
of equations... You may
3 x − 7 y = −43 remember several
6 x + 5 y = −10 ways to solve it...

(preferably with a
calculator!)
END
But once you learn to solve
systems with matrices, you may
never go back to other methods!
(And a neat bonus is that the
calculator can handle 3 or more
equations with 3 or more
variables as easily as two!)
END
First, let’s re-write the system as a
“matrix equation.” (If you multiply
3 x − 7 y = −43 the matrices
6 x + 5 y = −10 you will get
the two
 3 − 7   x   − 43 equations.)
⋅ =
 6 5   y   − 10 
      (Try it!)
END
 Now, remember this?... 5 x = 35
You can solve it by multiplying
both sides by the “multiplicative
inverse” of 5...
1 1
 ( 5 x ) =   35
 5  5
x=7
END
Let’s look at that matrix equation
again...
(By the way, these three matrices
have names…)
 3 − 7   x   − 43
⋅ =
 6 5   y   − 10 
     
“Coefficient “Variable “Constant
Matrix” Matrix” Matrix”
END
 3 − 7   x   − 43 We could
⋅ =
 6 5   y   − 10  write this in
     
“shorthand”
as... AX = B
A ⋅ X = B
And we could solve it by multiplying
both sides by the inverse matrix of
matrix A! −1
X=A B END
 With a calculator, this is
VERY EASY!
1st: Enter Matrix [A] (the coefficient
matrix).
(Use the “Matrix--Edit” function of
your calculator. And, of course, it’s a
2x2 matrix.)
END
2nd: Enter Matrix [B] (the constant
matrix--a 2x1 matrix).
3rd: Place Matrix [A] on the “home”
screen of your calculator.
4th: Hit the “inverse” key of your
calculator. It looks like this:
−1
x
END
 5th: Place Matrix [B] on the “home”
screen of your calculator.
−1
You should now see this... [ A ] [B]
6th: Hit “Enter”!
Your calculator will multiply the
inverse of the coefficient matrix
times the constant matrix, giving the
values of the “variable matrix”!
END
 WARNING!!!
If the system of equations does not
have a unique solution...
(i.e., if they are inconsistent, or are
consistent but dependent)...
Your calculator will return an “error”
message. Can you imagine why, in
terms of the matrix operations?
END
 Here’s a hint.
Remember how the inverse of a
matrix is calculated?
 z − x
w x  −y w
−1
= 
If [ A] =   then [ A ]
 y z w x
y z
END
If the determinant equals zero, then
the inverse matrix is not defined!

Well, let’s finish solving the system

we began several screens back...
3 x − 7 y = −43
6 x + 5 y = −10
END
 3 x − 7 y = −43
6 x + 5 y = −10
3 − 7
If you enter as Matrix [A]...  
6 5 
 − 43
And as Matrix [B]...
 − 10  Then...
 
−1  − 5
[ A ] [B] returns  
4
END