MATRICES

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of

numbers in rows and columns.
• Plural of matrix is matrices
• Every number in the matrix is called element
• Horizontal lines are called rows and vertical lines are called columns
 Order of a matrix
• Order of a matrix = number of rows x number of columns
• If m is the number of rows, n is the number of columns then the order of
the matrix is mxn
• order of the matrix is 2x2
The matrix is of order 2x3, 2 rows and 3 columns
We read it as 2 by 3
 Types of matrices
1. Row matrix: A matrix which has only one row is called row matrix.
Eg:
This matrix has order 1x2
2. Column matrix: A matrix which has only one column is called column
matrix
Eg:
The order of the matrix is 2x1
3. Square matrix: A matrix which has an equal number of rows and columns
is called square matrix.
Ex:
The order of the matrix is 2x2
4. Rectangular matrix: A matrix which the number of rows is not equal to the
numbers of columns is called rectangular matrix.
Eg:
The order of the matrix is 2x3
5. Zero or Null matrix: A matrix in which each element is zero is called
zero matrix

6. Diagonal matrix: a square matrix which has all its elements zero except
the leading diagonal is called diagonal matrix.
7. Unit or Identity matrix: A diagonal matrix in which the leading diagonal is
1 is called identity matrix. All the other elements are zero
 Transpose of a matrix
A matrix obtained on interchanging rows and columns. It is denoted as A
Equality of matrices
Two matrices are said to be equal if:
1. Both the matrices have the same order
2. The corresponding elements of both the matrices are equal
A= B=
 Additive inverse

Ex: A=
The additive inverse of matrix A = -A=