CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

Matrices

Solving simultaneous equations using matrices

Step(s):

1. ( ac db)( xy )=(ef)
Where ( ac db ) is the matrix of the numeric coefficients and ( ef ) is the matrix of the constants of the simultaneous

equations.

( ) ( ) () ( )
−1 −1
x a b e a b
2. formula = where is the inverse of the matrix.
y c d f c d

Example

3 x+ 2 y = 12
4 x+5 y = 23

(a) Write the equations in matrix form

(b) Determine the inverse of the matrix

(c) Hence, solve the equations.

Solution:

1. 3 x+ 2 y = 12
4 x+5 y = 23

(a) Writing the equations in matrix form

( 34 25)( xy)=(1223) Ans.

(b) Determining the inverse of the matrix

( ) ( )
−1
3 2 1 5 −2
¿
4 5 15−8 −4 3

= (
1 5 −2
7 −4 3 )
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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

( )
5 −2
¿ ¿
7 7
= ¿ ¿ Ans.
−4 3
7 7

(c) Solving the equations.

( xy )= 17 (−45 −23 )( 1223)

¿ (
7 −48+ 69)
1 60−46

¿ ( )
1 14
7 21

¿ ( 2)
3

x = 2 and y = 3 Ans.

2. If A=
2 1
5 −3
, ( )
(a) determine A−1, the inverse of the matrix A.

(b) Using a matrix method to solve the simultaneous equations.

x (25)+ y (−31 ) = (17)

Solution:

(a) Determining the inverse of the matrix

) (
−1
−1 2 1
A =
5 −3

−6−5 −5 2 )
(
1 −3 −1
=

= (
1 −3 −1
−11 −5 2 )
= (
1 −3 −1
−11 −5 2
Ans. )
Revision notes  Paper 2 Section II Page | 265
CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

Revision notes  Paper 2 Section II Page | 266

 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

(b) Solving the equations.

5() ( ) ()
x 2 +y 1 = 1
−3 7

(25 1 x
−3 y)( ) ( )
=
1
7

() ( ) (17)
−1
x 2 1
=
y 5 −3

−11 ( −5 2 ) ( 7 )
1 −3 −1 1
=

3. Solving simultaneous equations using matrices method

2 x+ y = 11
x+ y = 4
Solution:

(21 11)( xy)=(114)

( xy ) = (21 11) (114)
−1

2−1 −1 2 )( 4 )
(
1 1 −1 11
=

2−1 (−11+8 )
1 11−4
=

= ( )
1 7
1 −3
x = 7 and y = -3 Ans.

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

Examination Questions (to do)

1. A, B and C are matrices such that: A=( 2 1 ) , B= ( 1y x

−2)and C=( 5 6 )

Given that AB = C, calculate the values of x .

2. M is the matrix ( 3p 4q). If M is a singular matrix and p = 2, calculate the value of q.

3. The matrix C = (65 2p)is a singular matrix. Calculate the value of p
4. If (m−1
5
2)
4
is a singular matrix, calculate the value of m

5. Given that R = (11 23),

(a) Show that R is non-singular.

(b) Find R-1, the inverse of R.

(c) Show that R R-1 = I

6. Find the values of x for which the matrix

P= (
3x 4
6x x )
is a singular matrix.

7. If M = (32 41 )
(a) calculate the determinant of M

(b) find M 1

(c) Hence, calculate the value of x and y which satisfies the simultaneous equations:

1.5x + 2y − 5 = 0
4x + 2y − 10 = 0

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 CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

8. Given that
3 x+ 5 y =1 9
2 x+ 4 y=1 4

(a) Express the pair of equations in the form

AX = B, where A, X and B are matrices.
(b) Determine the inverse of matrix A?

(c) Evaluate A−1 B.

9. Using a matrix method, solve the pair of simultaneous equations

2 x− y=0 x +3 y=7

10. (a) Find the inverse of the matrix

M = ( 2 1
−1 3 )
(b) Calculate the value of x and y for which M
x
y() ( )
=
12
1

11. Given that M = [52 155 ]

(a) Show that M is a non-singular matrix.

(b) Write down the inverse of M.

(c) Write down the 2x2 matrix which is equal to the product of M × M −1.

(d) Pre-multiply both sides of the following matrix equation by M −1

[ 27 155 ][ xy ]=[−13
17 ]

Hence solve the equation for x and y.

12. (a) Write down the inverse of the matrix

(12 41)
(b) Hence or otherwise determine the value for a, b, c and d in the matrix equation
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CXC Mathematics General Proficiency Matrices II and Vectors

(12 41)( ac bd)=( 48 135 )

Revision notes  Paper 2 Section II Page | 270