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What is a matrix?
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What is a matrix?
A matrix is a rectangular array of elements (numerical or algebraic) that are arranged in rows and columns.
E.g.
True or False?
AÂ matrix has columns and rows.
False.
AÂ matrix does not have columns and rows.
A matrix of order has  rows and columns, so a matrix has rows and columns, e.g.
For a matrix , defined by , where and , which element does refer to?
For a matrix , defined by , where and , the element indicated by is the element in the second row and the third column.
What is a column matrix?
A column matrix (or column vector) is a matrix with a single column, .
E.g.
What is a row matrix?
A row matrix is a matrix with a single row, .
E.g.
What can be said about the number or rows and columns in a square matrix?
A square matrix is one in which the number of rows is equal to the number of columns, .
Under what conditions are two matrices considered to be equal?
The conditions under which two matrices are considered to be equal, are::
The matrices are of the same order, e.g. both are 3 x 2 matrices.
The corresponding elements in both matrices are equal, i.e. for all elements.
What is a zero matrix?
A zero matrix, , is a matrix in which all the elements are , e.g. .
True or False?
The matrix is known as the identity matrix, .
False.
The matrix is not the identity matrix, .
The identity matrix is a square matrix in which all elements along the leading diagonal are  and the rest are , e.g. .
What must be the same for two matrices for it to be possible to add or subtract them?
In order to be able to add or subtract two matrices, they must be of the same order, i.e. they must have the same number of rows and columns.
What is the size of the resultant matrix when two 3 x 4 matrices are added?
A resultant matrix is of the same order as the original matrices being added or subtracted, so when two 3 x 4 matrices are added, the resultant matrix is also 3 x 4.
True or False?
In the context of matrices, .
False.
E.g.
True or False?
Subtracting a matrix from another matrix is the same as adding its negative.
True.
Subtracting a matrix from another matrix is the same as adding its negative,
E.g.
True or False?
In the context of adding matrices, .
True.
E.g.
When a matrix, , is added to the zero matrix, , what is the resultant matrix?
When a matrix, , is added to the zero matrix, , the resultant matrix is ,.
It is also the case that when a matrix, , is subtracted from the zero matrix, , the resultant matrix is , .
How do you multiply a matrix by a scalar, e.g. ?
When multiplying a matrix by a scalar, multiply each element in the matrix by the scalar value, .
E.g.
Remember, multiplication by a negative scalar changes the sign of each element in the matrix.
True or False?
To multiply a matrix by another matrix, the number of columns in the first matrix must be equal to the number of columns in the second matrix.
False.
To multiply a matrix by another matrix, the number of columns in the first matrix must be equal to the number of rows in the second matrix.
E.g.
When multiplying two matrices, if the order of the first matrix is  and the order of the second matrix is , what will the order of the resultant matrix be?
When multiplying two matrices, if the order of the first matrix is  and the order of the second matrix is , the order of the resultant matrix will be .
How do you find the product of two matrices?
The product of two matrices is found by:
multiplying the corresponding elements in the row of the first matrix with the corresponding elements in the column of the second matrix,
and finding the sum to place in the resultant matrix.
E.g. if ,Â
then  .
True or False?
In the context of matrices, .
True.
E.g.
True or False?
In the context of matrices, .
True
E.g.
What is the resultant matrix for the product of a matrix, , and the zero matrix, ?
The resultant matrix for the product of a matrix, , and the zero matrix, is the zero matrix, , .
In the context of matrices, what is the identity law?
The identity law states that when any square matrix is multiplied by the identity matrix, the result is always the original matrix, .
What is the determinant of a matrix?
The determinant of a matrix is a single numerical value (positive or negative) that is calculated from the elements in a matrix.
The determinant is used to find the inverse of a matrix.
True or False?
The determinant can be calculated for any matrix.
False.
The determinant can not be calculated for any matrix.
It can only be calculated for square matrices.
What is the equation for the determinant of a matrix?
The equation for the determinant of a  matrix is:
This is given in the exam formula booklet.
What is the determinant of an identity matrix?
The determinant of an identity matrix is .
What is the determinant of a zero matrix?
What is the determinant of a zero matrix is .
True or False?
In the context of matrices,
True.
What must be true about the determinant if a matrix, , is invertible.
If a matrix, , is invertible, then its determinant must not be equal to zero,
What is the equation for finding the inverse of a matrix?
The equation for finding the inverse of a matrix is:
This is given in your exam formula booklet.
What matrix is the result of the product of a square matrix and its inverse?
The product of a square matrix, , and its inverse, , is an identity matrix, .
True or False?
True.
This is known as pre-multiplying by an inverse matrix to find an unknown matrix and is a result of the property .
You can also post-multiply by an inverse matrix, .
What is the general form of a system of linear equations involving a matrix?
The general form of a linear equation involving a matrix is , where is the matrix of coefficients.
What must be true about a matrix in a system of linear equations to have a unique solution?
For a system of linear equations to have a unique solution, the matrix of coefficients must be invertible and therefore must be a square matrix.
After writing a system of linear equations in matrix form, e.g. , what is the next step in solving the system?
After writing a system of linear equations in matrix form, the next step in solving the system is to rewrite the equation using the inverse of the matrix of coefficients.
E.g. becomes .
True or False?
You must be able use matrices to solve by hand, a system of linear equations for 2 variables.
True.
You must be able use matrices to solve by hand, a system of linear equations for 2 variables.
You must be able use a mixture of matrices and technology to solve a system of linear equations for up to 3 variables,