Linear Algebra : The Inverse

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : The Inverse

 is a singular matrix;  is a nonsingular matrix.

Which is true of 

Possible Answers:

 may be singular or nonsingular.

 must be a singular matrix.

 must be a nonsingular matrix.

Correct answer:

 must be a singular matrix.

Explanation:

A matrix is singular - that is, without an inverse - if and only if its determinant is 0. Since  is a singular matrix and  is a nonsingular matrix, . The product of two matrices has as its determinant the product of the individual determinants, so

.

 must be singular.

Example Question #32 : The Inverse

A matrix  has as its determinant .

True or false: the determinant of  is .

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

The determinant of the inverse  of matrix  is the reciprocal of the determinant of , so 

.

The statement is false.

Example Question #255 : Operations And Properties

For which of the following values of  is  a singular matrix?

Possible Answers:

 is singular regardless of the value of .

Correct answer:

 is singular regardless of the value of .

Explanation:

 is singular - that is, it has no inverse - if and only if its determinant is equal to 0. the determinant of a  matrix 

is 

Substitute appropriately:

Regardless of the value of  has determinant 0 and is a singular matrix.

Example Question #253 : Operations And Properties

Give  so that  is a singular matrix.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is a singular matrix - one without an inverse - if and only if its determinant is equal to 0. The determinant of a  matrix 

is equal to 

Substituting appropriately and setting this quantity equal to 0, solve for :

Example Question #33 : The Inverse

A matrix  has as its determinant .

True or false:  has as its determinant .

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

The determinant of the inverse  of matrix  is the reciprocal of the determinant of , so 

.

The statement is true.

Example Question #33 : The Inverse

 such that .

Which of the following is equal to  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The inverse of a matrix , if it exists, is 

Since ,

Example Question #256 : Operations And Properties

For which of the following values of  is  a singular matrix?

Possible Answers:

 cannot be singular for any value of .

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For any value of ,

and, equivalently,

.

 can be rewritten as 

 is singular - that is, it has no inverse - if and only if its determinant is equal to 0. The determinant of a  matrix 

is 

Substitute appropriately:

by a trigonometric identity. 

Therefore,  is singular if and only if

.

It follows that for  to be singular, 

 for some integer value .

or, equivalently,

This can be restated:

, or 

 for an odd positive or negative integer .

The only choice that fits this description is , which is the correct choice.

Example Question #34 : The Inverse

 is an involutory matrix. 

True or false: It follows that  is also an involutory matrix. 

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

A matrix  is involutory if . Since  and  are the same matrix, it immediately follows that  is involutory. 

Example Question #35 : The Inverse

A square matrix  is invertible if and only if-

Possible Answers:

it is similar to the zero matrix

its determinant is .

None of the other answers

it is diagonalizable

Correct answer:

None of the other answers

Explanation:

All of these are criteria for a matrix NOT to be invertible, (except for diagonalization; some diagonalizable matrices are invertible and some aren't.)

Example Question #36 : The Inverse

Find .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The inverse of a two-by-two matrix

is the matrix

.

is the determinant of the matrix, which is the product of the main diagonal elements minus the product of the other two:

Therefore,

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