MATRICES AND DETERMINANTS

Single Type
1. If A and B are symmetric matrices of same order and X=
AB + BA and Y = AB – BA, then  XY T is equal to
(A) XY (B) YX
(C) – YX (D) none of these

2. If A is a skew–symmetric matrix of order 3, then the matrix

A4 is
(A) skew symmetric (B) symmetric
(C) diagonal (D) none of those

 i i   1 1
3. If A  and B , then A8 equals
 i i   1 1 
(A) 4B (B)128 B
(C) 128 B (D) 64 B

4. A square matrix A is said to be nilpotent of index m. If Am =

0, now, if for this A
(I - (A)n = I + A + A2 + ... + Am-1, then n is equal to
(A) 0 (B) m
(C - m (D) -1

1
5. If A and B are symmetric matrices then AB – BA is a
(A) symmetric matrix (B) skew symmetric matrix
(C) diagonal matrix (D) null matrix.

6. If A and B are square matrices of same order & A is non-

singular then for a +ve integer n, (A–1 B(A)n is equal to
(A) A–n Bn An (B) An Bn A–n
(C) A–1 Bn A (D) n(A–1 B(A)

7. Let A and B be two 2  2 matrices. Consider the statements

(i) AB = O  A = O or B = O
(ii) AB = I2  A = B-1
(iii) (A + (B)2 = A2 + 2AB + B2
Then
(A) (i) is false, (ii) and (iii) are true
(B) (i) and (iii) are false, (ii) is true
(C) (i) and (ii) are false, (iii) is true
(D) (ii) and (iii) are false, (i) is true

 2, when i  j
8. If A = [aij]3  3, such that a ij   , then 1 +
0, when i  j

log1/2det(Adj(Adj (A)) =
(A) 12 (B) 10
(C) 13 (D) 11

2
9. A is a 3 3 matrix with entries from the set {1, 0,1} . The
probability that A is neither symmetric nor skew symmetric
is
39  36  33  1 39  36  33
(A) (B)
39 39
39  1 39  33  1
(C) (D)
310 39

b2c 2 bc bc
10. c2a2 ca c  a 
ab2 2
ab a  b
1
(A) (ab  bc  ca ) (B) ab  bc  ca
abc
(C)0 (D) a bc

1 x x 1
11. If f  x   2x x  x  1  x  1 x then f 100  
3x  x  1 x  x  1 x  2   x  1 x  x  1
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) 100 (D) -100

a1 a2 a3
12. If a , a , a , ….,
1 2 3 a9 are in H.P. and a4  5 , a5  4 then a4 a5 a6 =
a7 a8 a9

(A) 31/15 (B) 41/18

(C) 50/21 (D) 61/27

3
 x 2  3x x 1 x  3
4 3 2
13. If px + qx + rx + sx + t = x 12
2x x 3 then p is equal to
x2  3 x  4 3x

(A) –5 (B) –4
(C) –3 (D) –2.

14. If  is a root of x4 = 1 with negative principal argument, then

the principal argument of
1 1 1
(A), where (A) =  n
 n 1
 n 3 is
1 1
0
 n 1 n
5 3
(A) 4
(B) 
4
 
(C) 4
(D) 
4

pa qb rc a b c
15. If p + q + r = 0 and qc ra pb  K b c a then the value of K
rb pc qa c a b

is
(A) p + q –r (B) p + q + r
(C) pqr (D) – pqr

16. If f(x), g(x), h(x) are polynomials of degree 4 and

f  x g  x h  x
a b c  mx 4  nx3  rx 2  5 x  t be an identity in x, then the
p q r

value of

4
 f '''  0   f ''  0  g '''  0   g ''  0  h '''  0   h ''  0 
a b c is
p q r

(A)  3n  r  (B) 2 3n  r 

(C) 3  3n  r  (D) 3n  r

17. The number of values of k for which the system of equations

kx  (k  3) y  3k  1; (k  1) x  8 y  4k has infinitely many solutions is

(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) 2 (D) Infinite

18. Given 2x  y  2z  2, x  2 y  z  4, x  y   z  4 then the value of 

such that the given system of equation has no solution is
(A) 3 (B) 1
(C) 0 (D) -3

19. If the system of linear equations x  y  z  6, x  2 y  3z  14 and

2 x  5 y   z   , ( ,   R ) has no solution, then

(A)   8 (B)   8,   36
(C)   8,   36 (D) None of these

5
20. Let  =  12 + i 2
3
. Then the value of the determinant
1 1 1
1 1  2
2 is
1  2
 4

(A) 3 (B) 3(  1)

(C) 32 (D) 3(1  )

1 0 0 1 0 0
21. A 0 1 1, I  0 1 0
0 2 4 0 0 1

A 1 
1 2
6

A  CA  DI  then C and D equal to
(A)–11, 6 (B) –6, 11
(C)6, 11 (D) –6, –11

 3 1 
 
22. If P 2 2  , A  1 1 and Q  PAP T , then PQ P equal to
2005 T
1 0
 1 3  
 2 
2 
 3 / 2 2005
(A) 0
1 2005
1 
(B)  
  1 0 

1 3 / 2
(C) 
2005 1
1 
(D)  
 3/2 0 2005 

6
 Integer Type
 1 1 1   4 2 2
    
23. A   2 1 3  ;10 B   5 0   . If B  A1 then value of is
1 1 1   1 2 3 
   

2008! 2009! 2010!

D
24. If D  2009! 2010! 2011! then (2008!)3
4 is divisible by
2010! 2011! 2012!

25. If p, q , r are in A.P., then the determinant

a 2 + 2n+1 + 2 p b2 + 2n+2 + 3 q c 2 + p
2n + p 2n+1 + q 2q =
a 2 + 2n + p b2 + 2n+1 + 2q c2 - r

26. For a 3  3 matrix A, if det A = 4, then det (Adj A) equals

x n r
27. If x > m, y > n, z > r (x, y, z > 0) such that m y r 0 then
m n z
27xyz
find the greatest value of .
 x  m  y  n  z  r 

28. If the system of equations x  ay  0, az  y  0, ax  z  0 has infinite

solutions then | a |

7
29. The value of  for which the system of equations
2 x  y  2 z  2, x  2 y  z  4, x  y  z  4 has no solution is

 a 2/3 2/3 
A   2 / 3 1/ 3 b 
2 2 2
30. Find c + x + y if the matrix A given by is
 c x y 

orthogonal.

8
 SOLUTIONS
Single Type
1. (C)
X = AB + BA  XT  X
and Y = AB – BA  YT  Y

Now,  XY T  YT  XT  YX.

2. (B)
We have AT = –A
(A4)T = (A.A.A.A.)T = AT AT AT AT
 (–(A) (–(A) (–(A) (–(A)
= (–1)4 A4 = A4

3. (B)
We have A = iB
 2 2 
 A2 = (i(B)2 = i2B2 = B2 =   = 2B
 2 2 

 A4 = (2(B)2 = 4B2 = 4(2(B) = 8B

 (A4)2 = (8(B)2  A8 = 64B2 = 128B

4. (D)
Let B = I + A + A2 + ... + Am-1
 B (I - (A) = (I + A + A2 + ... + Am-1) (I - (A) = I - Am = I
 B = (I - (A)-1  n = -1.

9
5. (B)
A  A, B  B

 AB  BA    AB   BA   BA  AB

 BA  AB    AB  BA  = skew symmetric

6. (C)
(A–1 B(A)2 = (A–1B(A) = (A–1B(A)
= A–1B2A
Sum (A–1 B(A)n = A–1 BnA.

7. (B)
(i) is false
0 1  1 1  0 0
If A  and B , then AB    O.
 0 1 0 0  0 0
Thus, AB = O but neither A = O nor B = O
(iii) is false since matrix multiplication is not commutative.
(ii) is true as the product AB is an identity matrix, if and only
if B is inverse of matrix A.

8. (D)
A = [aij]
aij = 2, i = j = 0, i  j
|A| = 8
Now, det (Adj(Adj(A)) = (8)4 = 212

10
9. (A)
Total number of matrices that can be formed is 3 . 9

Let A  a  where a  {1, 0,1}

ij 33 ij

If A is symmetric then a ij  a jii, j

If A is skew-symmetric then a ij  a jii, j

10. (C)
Given determinant  b2c 2 (ca 2  a 2b)  c 2 a 2 (ab 2  b 2c)  a 2b 2 (bc 2  c 2a )

11. (A)
Applying C3  C3   C1  C2 
1 x 0
 2x x  x  1 0 0  f 100   0
3 x  x  1 x  x  1 x  2  0

12. (C)
1
Let ai  , i  1, 2,3,....,9
a  (i  1)d
1 1
a4   5  a  3d 
a  3d 5
1 1
a5   4  a  4d 
a  4d 4
1 20
a  d   ai 
20 i
1 1
1
a1 a2 a3 2 3
1 1 1 0
a4 a5 a6  (20)3 
4 5 6 21
a7 a8 a9
1 1 1
7 8 9

11
13. (B)
3 1 3
1 1 1
x x x
2 3 4
1 1 1 1 1 2 3
p  q   r   s   t    1 2 1 1
x x x x x x x
3 4
1 2 1 3
x x

as x, we get
1 1 1
p  1 1 1  4 .
1 1 3

14. (B)
Clearly = i where i2 = -1.
1 1 1 1 1 1
So, (A) = n


1
 n 1    1 i
3
i  1 i   1 i 2   1  i 2   1  i
1 i 1 0
1 0


So, principal argument of (A) is 

3
4
.

15. (D)
pqr  a 3
 b3  c3   abc  p3  q3  r 3 

 pqr  a3  b3  c3  3abc   abc  p3  q3  r 3  3 pqr 

 pqr  a3  b3  c3  3abc   abc  p  q  r   p 2  q 2  r 2  pq  qr  rp 

 pqr  a3  b3  c3  3abc  .

16. (B)
LHS =  24mx  6n  12mx 2
 6nx  2r 

x  0  6n  2r  2  3n  r 

12
17. (B)
Solving the equations we get
(k  1)(k  3) y  (k  1) 2

If k  1,infinite sol.
If k  1 then inconsistent if k = 3
4k (k  2)
If k  1, 3, then kx 
k 3

If k  0, unique sol.
If k  0, unique sol.

18. (B)
Since given system has no solution   0 and any one
amongst  ,  ,  is non-zero.Let
x y z

2 1 2 2 1 2
1 2 1  0 and  z  1 2 4  6  0
1 1  1 1 4

19. (B)
1 1 1 6 
1 2 3 14  R2  R2  R1 ; R 3  R3  2 R1
 
 2 5   

1 1 1 6 
0 1 2 8  R 3  R3  3R2

0 3   2   12 

1 1 1 6 
0 1 2 8 

0 0   8   36 

13
20. (B)
1 1 1
Given determinant = 1 1  2
2
1 2 

3 0 0
Applying, R1  R1 + R2 + R3, we get 1 1  2
2
1 2 

= 3(  3  4) = 3(2 + 1) = 3(  1)

21. (B)
Here
6 0 0  1 0 0
A  0 4  1, A  0  1 5 
11  2 
6
0 2 1  0  10 14

1  C  D 0 0 
 A  CA  DI    0
1 2 1
1 C  D 5  C 
6 6
 0  10  2C 14  4C  D 

6 0 0  1  C  D 0 0 
 0 4  1   0
1  1
1 C  D 5  C 
6 6
0 2 1   0  10  2C 14  4C  D 

1 + C + D = 6 (1)
and 5 + C = –1
C = –6
and D = 11.

14
22. (A)
If Q  PAP T

P T Q  AP T (1) (as PP T  I )

P T Q 2005 P  AP T Q 2004 P

= A 2 P T Q 2003 P

= A3 P T Q 2002 P

= A 2004 P T QP 

= A 2004 P T PA ( Q  PAP T

 QP  PA )

= A 2005
1 2005
A2005 = 0 1 


Integer Type
23. (5)
B  A1 ;

AB  I
 1 1 1  4 2 2 
  
10 I  10 AB   2 1 3  5 0  
 1 1 1  1 2 3 
  
10 0 5   
 
  0 10 5    ;   5
 0 0 5 
 

24. (2008)
1 2009 (2009)(2010)
D  2008!2009!2010!1 2010 (2010)(2011)
1 2011 (2011)(2012)

15
 1 2009 2009 2
 2008!2009!2010!1 2010 2010 2
1 2011 20112

D

(2008!)3
 2(2009)2(2010)
D
(2008!) 3
 4  (2008)(2(2008)2  8.2008  10 ,
which is divisible by 2008.

25. (0)
Applying R1  R1  R 3 and 2 q = p + r
2n 1  2n  p 2n  2  2n 1  q p r
= 2 pn
2 q n 1
p r
a  2n  p
2
b  2n 1  2q
2
c2 r

2n  p 2n 1  q p r
= 2 p n
2 q n 1
p r  0
n 1
a  2  p b  2  2q c 2  r
2 n 2

26. (16)
Since A Adj A = | A | I
| A | 0 0 
=  0 | A| 0 
 
 0 0 | A |

 det (A Adj A)
| A| 0 0
= 0 | A| 0  | A |3
0 0 | A|

 |A| |Adj A| = |A|3

 |Adj A| = |A|2 = (4)2 = 16

16
27. (8)
x n r
x y z
m y r 0   2
xm yn zr
m n z

Now AM  GM  27xyz
8
 x  m  y  n  z  r 

28. (1)
x  ay;

ax  z  0   a 2 y  z  0

az  y  0  a3 y  y  0

 a  1 ; | a | 1

29. (1)
2 x  y  2 z  2; y  2( x  z  1)

x  2 y  z  4  x  z  4  4( x  z )  4

3( x  z )  8
8 10
xz  ;y
3 3
x  y  z  4
2
x  z 
3
(1   ) z  2

  1.

17
30. (1)
It is given that the matrix A is orthogonal. Therefore,
 a 2/3 2/3   a 2/3 c  1 0 0 
 2 / 3 1/ 3 b   2 / 3 1/ 3 x   0 1 0 
 
 c x y   2 / 3 b y  0 0 1 

Comparing the element in the 3rd column of 3rd row, we get

c2 + x2 + y2 = 1.

18