Basic Operation on Matrices

2.2 Basic Operation on Matrices

Addition and Subtraction of Matrices

Addition and subtraction of matrices can only be performed on the matrices witht he same order.
Each corresponding element is added or subtracted to obtain a single matrix with the same order.

[ a 11 a 12]
For matrix A =
a21a22

[b11 b12]
and B = ,
b21b22

+b
[a 1111 a+ b
1212 ]
A+B = a21 + b21 a22 +
b2
[ a11 − b11 a− b
1212 ]
and A − B = .
a21 − b21 a22 −
b2
Example 2

It is given that C = −8 4
10 6 −11 7]
[

and D = [ −2 1
],
14 −
5 9

calculate

a) C + D
b) D − C

Solution:

(a)

C+D
10 + 14 −8 + (−2) 4+1
[ 6+
−11 + 5 7+9]
= (−3)
5
= −10
]
24 3 −6 7 + 16
[

(b)

D−C
14 − 10
= [−3 − 6 −2 − (−8) 1−4
5 − (−11) 9−7]
4 6 −3
[ −9 16 2 ]
=
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Multiplication of a matrix by a number

Multiplication of a matrix by a number is a process of repeated addition of the matrix. If matrix A is multiplied by a number n, then matrix A
can be added to the same matrix A repeatedly for n times, that is

nA = A + A + ⋯ + A (n times)

This formula means that each element in matrix A is added to the same element repeatedly for n times. Therefore, to multiply a matrix by a number, mul
For example:

[ a 11 a 12] and n is a number.

It is given that matrix A =
a21a22

Hence

[ n(a11)n(a12) ].
nA = n(a21) n(a22)

Example 3

⎡10−8 ⎤
It is given that F = ⎣ 6−11 ⎦,
57

calculate 3F .

Solution:

3(10)3(−8)
3F = ⎢⎣ 3(6)3(−11) ⎥
⎦
3(5) 3(7)
⎡30−24⎤ .

=18−33
⎣ ⎦
1521

The laws of arithmetic operations in matrices

Reminder: A − B = A + (−B)
Commutative Law A+B=B+A
Distributive Law h(A + B) = hA + hB
Associative Law (A + B) + C = A + (B + C)
Addition of Zero Matrix A + 0matrix = A

Example 4

[ 14−2 ]
Given that P = −35

[ 3−5 ]
and Q = 711 ,

calculate 3(P − Q).

Solution:

3(P − Q) = 3P − 3Q
= 3 [ 14 −2]

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−3 5
— 3 [3−5 ]
711
= [ 42 −6 ]
−9 15
 — [9 −15 ]
21 33
= [ 33 9 ]
30 −18

Multiplication of two matrices

To multiply two matrices, A and B, the number of columns in matrix A must be the same with the number of rows in matrix B. The number of
rows in matrix A and the number of columns in matrix B become the order of the product of the two matrices, AB.

If matrix A has an order of m × n and matrix B has an order of n × p, then the multiplication AB can be performed and the order of AB is
m × p. For example:

For matrix A = a12

a11 a22
[ a ]

and B = b12 b13

b11 b22 b23 ]
[ b
,
the multiplication of AB can be performed and the order of AB is 2 × 3.

However the multiplication of BA cannot be performed because the number of columns in matrix B is not the same as the number of rows
of matrix A.

Example 5

2
Given that matrix P = [ ]
−

3 7
⎡ ⎤
and Q = 2 ,
⎥
6 1⎦
⎢ −5
⎣
Calculate QP .

Solution:

(3)(2) + 7(−3)
⎡
QP = (−5)(2) + 2(−3)
⎢(6)(2) + (1)(−3)
⎣
.
⎡ 15 ⎤
=
9
⎢ −16
⎣

What is the characteristics of the identity matrix?

Identity matrix, I , is a matrix of order n × n with element 1 along the main diagonal and the other elements are 0, and when is multiplied with
matrix A, its product is matrix A (AI = IA = A).

1 0 0 … 0
⎡
0 1 0 … ⎤
0
⎢
I= ⎢ 0 1 … ⎥
⎢ 0⎥
⎥
0 ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮
0 0 … ⎦
⋮ 1
0
⎣

What is the meaning of inverse matrix?

Multiplication of matrix A and inverse matrix of A, A−1, will result in identity matrix, I
AA−1 = A−1A = I
The inverse matrix of 2 × 2 matrix:
 A = [ a b]
c d
=1 [ d−b ]
⟹ A −1
ad − bc −ca

where ad − bc = 0.

How to solve simultaneous equation?

Simultaneous linear equations can be solved using the matrix method as shown in the steps below.