SAT II Math II : Matrices

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math II

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Matrices

Given the following matrices, what is the product of  and ?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When subtracting matrices, you want to subtract each corresponding cell.

 

 

Now solve for  and 

 

 

Example Question #1 : Find The Sum Or Difference Of Two Matrices

If , what is ?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

You can treat matrices just like you treat other members of an equation. Therefore, you can subtract the matrix

from both sides of the equation.  This gives you:

Now, matrix subtraction is simple. You merely subtract each element, matching the correlative spaces with each other:

Then, you simplify:

Therefore, 

Example Question #1 : 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 #21 : Matrices

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The element in row , column , of  can be found by multiplying row  of  by row  of  - that is, by multiplying elements in corresponding positions and adding the products. Therefore, 

Example Question #22 : Matrices

The determinant of this matrix is equal to 4. Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A matrix  has as its determinant . Setting , this becomes 

Set this determinant equal to 4 and solve for :

the correct response.

Example Question #23 : Matrices

Let .

Which of the following real value(s) of  makes  a matrix without an inverse?

Possible Answers:

 has an inverse for all real values of 

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  and 

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  and 

Correct answer:

There are two such values:  and 

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is 

.

Setting this equal to 0:

Taking the square root of both sides:

The matrix therefore has no inverse if either  or .

Example Question #21 : Matrices

Let  be the two-by-two identity matrix and .

Which matrix is equal to the inverse of ?

Possible Answers:

 does not have an inverse.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

; the two-by-two identity matrix is . Add the two by adding elements in corresponding positions:

.

The inverse of a two-by-two matrix  is , where 

.

We can find  by setting . The determinant of  is

Replacing:

;

simplifying the fractions, this is 

 

Example Question #25 : Matrices

Let  and .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

 does not exist.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The inverse  of any two-by-two matrix  can be found according to this pattern:

If 

then 

,

where determinant  is equal to .

Therefore, if , then , the first row/first column entry in the matrix , can be found by setting , then evaluating:

Example Question #21 : Matrices

For which of the following real values of  does  have determinant of sixteen?

Possible Answers:

 or 

 or 

None of these

Correct answer:

 or 

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is

We seek the value of  that sets this quantity equal to 16. Setting it as such then solving for :

Therefore, either  or .

Example Question #21 : Matrices

Let  equal the following:

.

Which of the following values of  makes  a matrix without an inverse?

Possible Answers:

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  or 

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  or 

There is one such value: 

Correct answer:

There is one such value: 

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is

Set this equal to 0 and solve for :

,

the only such value.

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