Precalculus : Multiplication of Matrices

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Matrices And Vectors

Find 3A given:

Possible Answers:

Not possible

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To multiply a scalar and a matrix, simly multiply each number in the matrix by the scalar. Thus,

Example Question #2 : Matrices

If , what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by distributing the fraction through the matrix on the left side of the equation. This will simplify the contents, given that they are factors of :

Now, this means that your equation looks like:

This simply means:

and

 or 

Therefore, 

Example Question #1 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

 

 

Find

Possible Answers:

No Solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dimensions of A and B are as follows: A= 3x3, B= 3x1

When we mulitply two matrices, we need to keep in mind their dimensions (in this case 3x3 and 3x1).

The two inner numbers need to be the same. Otherwise, we cannot multiply them. The product's dimensions will be the two outer numbers: 3x1. 

1

Example Question #2 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

Find

Possible Answers:

No Solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dimensions of both A and B are 2x2. Therefore, the matrix that results from their product will have the same dimensions. 

Thus plugging in our values for this particular problem we get the following:

2

Example Question #1 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

Find .

Possible Answers:

No Solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dimensions of A and B are as follows: A=1x3, B= 3x1. 

Because the two inner numbers are the same, we can find the product. 

The two outer numbers will tell us the dimensions of the product: 1x1. 

Therefore, plugging in our values for this problem we get the following:

3

Example Question #1 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

Find .

Possible Answers:

No Solution

Correct answer:

No Solution

Explanation:

The dimensions of A and B are as follows: A= 3x1, B= 2x3

In order to be able to multiply matrices, the inner numbers need to be the same. In this case, they are 1 and 2. As such, we cannot find their product.

The answer is No Solution

Example Question #5 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

We consider the matrix equality:

Find the  that makes the matrix equality possible.

Possible Answers:

There is no  that satisfies the above equality.

Correct answer:

There is no  that satisfies the above equality.

Explanation:

To have the above equality we need to have and .

 means that , or . Trying all different values of , we see that no  can satisfy both matrices.

Therefore there is no  that satisfies the above equality.

Example Question #51 : Matrices And Vectors

Let  be the matrix defined by:

 

The value of ( the nth power of ) is:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We will use an induction proof to show this result.

We first note the above result holds for n=1. This means

 

We suppose that   and we need to show that:

By definition . By inductive hypothesis, we have:

 

Therefore, 

This shows that the result is true for n+1. By the principle of mathematical induction we have the result.

Example Question #7 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

We will consider the 5x5 matrix  defined by:

 

 

what is the value of ?

Possible Answers:

The correct answer is  itself.

Correct answer:

The correct answer is  itself.

Explanation:

Note that:

     

 

Since .

This means that

Example Question #8 : Find The Product Of Two Matrices

Let  have the dimensions of a  matrix and  a  matrix. When is  possible?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We know that to be able to have the product of the 2 matrices, the size of the column of A must equal the size of the row of B. This gives :

.

Solving for n, we find

Since n is a natural number  is  the only possible solution.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors