TRANSPOSE OF A MATRIX

In Linear algebra, the transpose of a matrix is one of the most used methods in matrix
transformation. For a given matrix, the transpose of a matrix is obtained by
interchanging rows into columns or columns into rows.

In this lesson, you must be able to learn:

• the definition of the transpose of a matrix
• steps to find the transpose of a matrix
• properties and examples with a complete explanation

What is a Matrix?

A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers or functions arranged in a fixed number of

rows and columns.

There are many types of matrices. Let us consider a matrix to understand more about
them.

𝟐 𝟏𝟑
𝑨 = [−𝟗 𝟏𝟏]
𝟑 𝟏𝟕 𝟑×𝟐

The above matrix A is of order 3 × 2. Thus, there are a total of 6 elements.

The horizontal array is known as rows and the vertical array is known as Columns.

Now, let us take another matrix.

𝟐 −𝟗 𝟑
𝑩=[ ]
𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟕 𝟐×𝟑

The number of rows in matrix A is greater than the number of columns, such a matrix is
called a Vertical matrix.

The number of columns in matrix B is greater than the number of rows. Such a matrix
is called a Horizontal matrix.

One thing to notice here, if elements of A and B are listed, they are the same in number
and each element that is there in A is there in B too. So, is A = B?

Before answering this, we should know how to decide the equality of the matrices.

A matrix P is said to be equal to matrix Q if their orders are the same and each
corresponding element of P is equal to that of Q.

That is, if
𝑷 = [𝑝𝑖𝑗 ]𝑚×𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄 = [𝑄𝑖𝑗 ]𝑟×𝑠

Are two matrices such that P=Q, then:

• m = r and n = a (i.e the orders of the two matrices must be same)
• for every value of i and j.
𝑝𝑖𝑗 = 𝑞𝑖𝑗
TRANSPOSE OF A MATRIX DEFINITION

The transpose of a matrix is found by interchanging its rows into columns or columns
into rows. The transpose of the matrix is denoted by using the letter “T” in the
superscript of the given matrix. For example, if “A” is the given matrix, then the
transpose of the matrix is represented by A’ or AT.

The following statement generalizes the matrix transpose:

If 𝑨 = [𝑎𝑖𝑗 ]𝑚×𝑛, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐴’ = [𝑎𝑖𝑗 ]𝑛×𝑚

Thus, Transpose of a Matrix is defined as “A Matrix which is formed by turning all the
rows of a given matrix into columns and vice-versa.”

How to Find the Transpose of a Matrix?

Consider an example if a matrix is a 2×3 matrix. It means it has 2 rows and 3 columns.
While finding the transpose of a matrix, the elements in the first row of the given matrix
are written in the first column of the new matrix. Similarly, the elements in the second
row of the given matrix are written in the second column of the new matrix. Hence, the
order of the new matrix becomes 3×2, as it has 3 rows and 2 columns.

Let’s Work Out-

Example - Find the transpose of the given matrix

Solution- Given a matrix of the order 4×3.

The transpose of a matrix is given by interchanging rows and columns.
 PROPERTIES OF TRANSPOSE OF A MATRIX
To understand the properties of the matrix transpose, we will take two matrices A and B
which have equal order. Some properties of the transpose of a matrix are given below:

(i) Transpose of the Transpose Matrix

If we take the transpose of the transpose matrix, the matrix obtained is equal to the
original matrix. Hence, for a matrix A, (A’)’ = A
What basically happens, is that any element of A, i.e. a ij gets converted to aji if the
transpose of A is taken. So, taking transpose again, it gets converted to a ij, which was
the original matrix A

Example – If

So, (N’)’ = N

(ii) Addition Property of Transpose

Transpose of an addition of two matrices A and B obtained will be exactly equal to the
sum of the transpose of individual matrices A and B.
This means, , (A+B)’ = A’ + B’
(iii) Multiplication by Constant
If a matrix is multiplied by a constant and its transpose is taken, then the matrix
obtained is equal to the transpose of the original matrix multiplied by that constant.

That is, (kA’)’ = kA’ where k is a constant

(iv) Multiplication Property of Transpose

Transpose of the product of two matrices is equal to the product of transpose of the
two matrices in reverse order.

That is (AB)’ = B’A’

Those were properties of matrix transpose which are used to prove several theorems
related to matrices.
 TRANSPOSE OF A MATRIX EXAMPLES
Go through the following problems to understand how to find the transpose of a matrix.
Example 1:
𝟔 𝟒
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑
If matrix 𝑨 = [ ] and 𝑩 = [𝟐 𝟏]. Find the transpose of matrix A and B.
𝟒 𝟓 𝟔
𝟕 𝟑
Example 2:
𝟐 −𝟏
Find the transpose for the given 2×2 matrix 𝑿 = [ ]
−𝟏 𝟐
Example 3:
𝟏 𝟎 𝟎
Verify whether 𝑨 = 𝑨𝑻 if 𝑨 = [𝟎 −𝟓 𝟎 ]
𝟎 𝟎 −𝟗

SOLUTIONS
Example 1
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑
Given: matrix 𝑨 = [ ]
𝟒 𝟓 𝟔
Interchange the rows and columns of the given matrix. Therefore, the transpose of
matrix A and B,
𝟏 𝟒
𝟔 𝟐 𝟕
𝑻
𝑨 = [𝟐 𝟓] and 𝑩𝑻 = [ ]
𝟒 𝟏 𝟑
𝟑 𝟔
Remember: A matrix is horizontal when the number of rows in the matrix is less than
the number of columns in that matrix. And a matrix is vertical, when the number of
columns in the matrix is less than the number of rows in that matrix.

Example 2
𝟐 −𝟏
Given 2×2 matrix, 𝑿 = [ ]
−𝟏 𝟐
𝟐 −𝟏
Hence, the transpose of the given 2×2 matrix is: 𝑿𝑻 = [ ]
−𝟏 𝟐
Remember: A square matrix of order n × n is symmetric, if and only if it is symmetric
about its diagonal. A square matrix C of size n x n is symmetric if and only if C T = C.

Example 3
𝟏 𝟎 𝟎
Given: 𝑨 = [𝟎 −𝟓 𝟎]
𝟎 𝟎 −𝟗
Let us find the transpose of matrix A by writing its rows as columns.
𝟏 𝟎 𝟎
𝑻
𝑨 = [𝟎 −𝟓 𝟎]
𝟎 𝟎 −𝟗
We can clearly see that A = AT. Note that we call A here a symmetric matrix.

Remember: A square matrix of order n × n is a diagonal matrix, if and only if it is all

the elements except the diagonal elements are zero.
LEARNING TASK: Transpose of a Matrix

1. Find the transpose of each of the following matrices and tell whether the transpose is
H&V, symmetric, diagonal, or transposed matrix?

1 −2 3
1 2 1 2 3
𝐴=[ ], 𝐵 = [−2 4 −5] 𝐶=[ ]
3 4 4 5 6
3 −5 6

2 1 1 0 0
𝐷 = [5 4] 𝐸 = [0 4 0 ]
8 7 0 0 9

2 3 −1 2 3 −1
2. If 𝐴 = [0 1 2 ] then show that 𝐴𝐴𝑇 = [0 1 2 ] is symmetric.
4 5 6 4 5 6

0 1
11 0 0 1 2
3. If 𝐴 = [ ], 𝐵 = [ ] verify that (𝐴𝐵)𝑇 = [11 3] = 𝐵𝑇 𝐴𝑇
2 1 1 1 3
22 7

1 2 1 −1
4. For the matrices 𝐴 = [ ], 𝐵 = [ ] verify;
3 4 −1 1
(i) 3(𝐴 + 𝐵) = 3𝐴 + 3𝐵
(ii) (𝐴 − 𝐵)𝑇 = 𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑇

5. Find the coefficient matrix 𝐴 of the system:

2𝑥1 + 3𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 1
4𝑥1 + 4𝑥2 = 0
2𝑥1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 0

1 2 3
If 𝐵 = [4 5 6] determine (3𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑇 ).
0 0 1

−1 4
1 2 3
6. If 𝐴 = [ ] and 𝐵 = [ 0 1] verify that 3(𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑇 ) = (3𝐴𝑇 − 3𝐵𝑇 )𝑇
4 5 6
2 7

Bonus Questions: Who proposed the Matrix Transpose and when it was introduced?