Matrix Algebra & Linear Systems
30 Practice Questions for Mathematics, Data Science & Physics
Designed for Comprehensive Conceptual and Analytical Practice
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions (1–15)
[1pt]
1. If a matrix A has order 3 × 4 and matrix B has order 4 × 2, what is the order of the product
matrix AB?
(A) 4 × 4 (B) 3 × 2 (C) 2 × 3 (D) Multiplication is not possible
2 −3
2. Evaluate the determinant of the matrix A = .
4 5
(A) −2 (B) 22 (C) 2 (D) 14
1 2
3. Find the inverse of the matrix A = .
3 4
−2 1 4 −2 −2 1
(A) (B) (C) (D) It does not exist
1.5 −0.5 −3 1 −1.5 0.5
4. For any two invertible matrices A and B of the same order, which of the following identities is
true?
(A) (AB)−1 = A−1 B −1 (B) (AB)T = AT B T (C) (AB)−1 = B −1 A−1 (D) AB =
BA
x 2
5. Find the value of x for which the matrix A = is singular.
8 4
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 0 (D) 1
5 2 −1
6. What is the trace of the matrix A = 3 0 4 ?
1 −2 −3
(A) 2 (B) 5 (C) −3 (D) 8
7. If A is a square matrix of order 3 such that |A| = 5, find the value of |adj(A)|.
(A) 5 (B) 15 (C) 25 (D) 125
8. A square matrix A is called orthogonal if it satisfies which of the following conditions?
(A) A2 = I (B) AT = A−1 (C) AT = A (D) AT = −A
0 1
9. If A = , then A is an example of a:
0 0
(A) Symmetric matrix (B) Idempotent matrix (C) Nilpotent matrix (D) Orthog-
onal matrix
3 0
10. Find the eigenvalues of the matrix A = .
0 −2
(A) 3 and −2 (B) 1 and 5 (C) 0 and 3 (D) −3 and 2
11. If A is a symmetric matrix, then AT is equal to:
1
(A) −A (B) A−1 (C) A (D) I
12. What is the determinant of a 3 × 3 skew-symmetric matrix?
(A) 1 (B) −1 (C) Always 0 (D) Depends on elements
13. If A and B are square matrices of order n, which of the following statements is always true?
(A) A + B = B + A (B) AB = BA (C) (A + B)2 = A2 + 2AB + B 2 (D) A = B
14. For a matrix A, if A2 = A, then A is called:
(A) Involutory (B) Idempotent (C) Nilpotent (D) Non-singular
15. If the system of linear equations AX = 0 has a unique trivial solution (X = 0), then the matrix
A:
(A) Must be singular (B) Must be non-singular (C) Must be a zero matrix (D) Is
symmetric
2
Part Ii: Short Answer & Computational Questions (16–25)
[1pt]
1 0 2
16. Find the inverse of the 3 × 3 matrix A = 2 −1 3 using the adjoint method.
4 1 8
3 5
17. Express the matrix M = as the sum of a symmetric matrix and a skew-symmetric
1 −1
matrix.
1 4
18. Verify the Cayley-Hamilton Theorem for the matrix A = , and use it to compute A−1 .
2 3
19. Solve the following system of linear equations using Matrix Inversion or Cramer’s Rule:
2x + y + z = 1
x−y+z =0
x+y−z =2
4 1
20. Find the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors of the matrix A = .
2 3
10 2 0
21. Compute A where A = .
0 3
1 2 3
22. Find the rank of the matrix B = 2 4 6 by reducing it to its row echelon form.
3 6 9
1 a a2
23. Evaluate the determinant using row/column operations: 1 b b2 .
1 c c2
24. For what values of k does the system of equations have a unique solution?
kx + 2y = 5
3x + y = 1
1 2 2
25. Show that the matrix Q = 13 2 1 −2 is an orthogonal matrix.
−2 2 −1
Part Iii: Advanced & Application Problems (26–30)
[1pt]
26. Markov Chains Application: A small economy has two states: Boom (B) and Recession
0.8 0.2
(R). The transition matrix is given by P = . Find the steady-state probability
0.3 0.7
vector ⃗π = π1 π2 such that ⃗π P = ⃗π and π1 + π2 = 1.
27. If A and B are symmetric matrices of the same order, prove that the matrix AB − BA is always
a skew-symmetric matrix.
3
28. Investigate for what values of λ and µ the system of linear equations:
x+y+z =6
x + 2y + 3z = 10
x + 2y + λz = µ
has: (i) No solution, (ii) A unique solution, (iii) Infinitely many solutions.
Find anon-singular matrix P and a diagonal matrix D such that A = P DP −1 , where A =
29.
1 2
.
3 2
30. Prove that the eigenvalues of a real symmetric matrix are always real numbers.
Answer Key
[1pt]
1. B 2. B 3. A
4. C 5. B 6. A
7. C 8. B 9. C
10. A 11. C 12. C
13. A 14. B 15. B
−11 2 2
16. A−1 = −4 0 1
6 −1 −1
3 3 0 2
17. Symmetric part S = , Skew-Symmetric part K = . M = S + K.
3 −1 −2 0
18. Characteristic equation: λ2 − 4λ − 5 = 0. A2 − 4A − 5I = 0 =⇒ A−1 = 1
5 (A − 4I) =
−3/5 4/5
.
2/5 −1/5
19. x = 0, y = 1, z = 0.
1 −1
20. Eigenvalues: λ1 = 5, λ2 = 2. Corresponding Eigenvectors: ⃗v1 = , ⃗v2 = .
1 2
210 0
1024 0
21. A10 = = .
0 310 0 59049
22. Rank = 1 (Rows 2 and 3 are direct scalar multiples of Row 1).
23. (b − a)(c − a)(c − b)
24. k ̸= 6
25. Show that QQT = I.
26. ⃗π = 0.6 0.4 .
27. Proof: (AB − BA)T = (AB)T − (BA)T = B T AT − AT B T = BA − AB = −(AB − BA).
28. (i) No solution: λ = 3, µ ̸= 10. (ii) Unique solution: λ ̸= 3. (iii) Infinite solutions: λ = 3, µ = 10.
4
4 0 2 −1
29. D = ,P = .
0 −1 3 1
30. Proof: Let Ax = λx. Take conjugate transpose xH A = λ̄xH . Pre-multiply and post-multiply by
xH and x to show λ = λ̄.