LESSON 2: MATRICES

MELC 2: Write a system of linear equations in matrix form and vice versa.

MELC 3: Determine the dimension of a matrix.

MELC 4: Add matrices.

MELC 5: Subtract matrices.

WRITING LINEAR SYSTEMS WITH MATRICES

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers into rows and columns.

1 5 9
𝐴 = [ ]
4 3 8

Matrices can be used to solve systems of equations. To express a system in matrix

form, we extract the coefficients of the variables and the constants, and these
become the entries of the matrix. We use a vertical line to separate the
coefficient entries from the constants, essentially replacing the equal signs. When
a system is written in this form, we call it an augmented matrix.

For example, consider the following 2 x 2 system of equations.

We can write this system as an augmented matrix:

We can also write a matrix containing just the coefficients. This is called the
coefficient matrix.
A three-by-three system of equations such as

has a coefficient matrix

and is represented by the augmented matrix

Notice that the matrix is written so that the variables line up in their own columns:
x-terms go in the first column, y-terms in the second column and z-terms in the
third column. It is very important that each equation is written in standard form so
that the variables line up. When there is missing variable term in an equation, the
coefficient is zero.

WRITING A SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS FROM AN AUGMENTED MATRIX

We can use augmented matrices to help us solve systems of equations

because they simplify operations when the systems are not encumbered by the
variables. However, it is important to understand how to move back and forth
between formats in order to make finding solutions smoother and more intuitive.
Here, we will use the information in an augmented matrix to write the system of
equations in standard form.

Example: Find the system of equations from the augmented matrix.

Solution: When the columns represent x, y, and z,

NAMING MATRICES

A capital letter is used to name a matrix and the elements within

the matrix are denoted by lower case letters.

Each individual entry is named by its position in the matrix.

𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13 𝑎14 𝑎14

[𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 𝑎24 𝑎23 ]
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33 𝑎34 𝑎35

MATRIX DIMENSION

The number of rows and columns that a matrix has is called its dimension
or its order. By convention, rows are listed first; and columns, second. Thus, we
would say, that the dimension (or order) of the matrix below is 3 x 4, meaning
that it has 3 rows and 4 columns.

A row matrix is a matrix having only one row while a column matrix is a
matrix having only one column.

A square matrix is an n x n matrix; that is, a matrix having the same

number of rows as columns. For example, the following matrices are square:
EQUAL MATRICES

Two matrices are said to be equal only when all the corresponding
elements are equal. Therefore, their size or dimension are equal as well.

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF MATRICES

Two matrices may be added or subtracted only if they have the same
dimension; that is, they must have the same number of rows and columns.
Addition or subtraction is accomplished by adding or subtracting corresponding
elements. For example, consider matrix A and matrix B.

Both matrices have the same number of rows and columns, so they can be
added or subtracted. Thus,
And,

Note that the order in which the matrices are added is not important; thus,
A + B = B + A.