NDA Maths - Matrices Notes
Matrices — NDA Maths Notes
1. Basic Definitions
Matrix: Rectangular arrangement of numbers in rows and columns, order m×n (m rows, n
columns).
Element: aᵢⱼ = element in i-th row, j-th column.
2. Types of Matrices
Row matrix: 1×n (single row)
Column matrix: m×1 (single column)
Square matrix: m = n
Diagonal matrix: square, all non-diagonal elements = 0
Scalar matrix: diagonal matrix with all diagonal elements equal
Identity/Unit matrix (I): diagonal matrix with all diagonal elements = 1
Null/Zero matrix: all elements = 0
Upper triangular: all elements below diagonal = 0
Lower triangular: all elements above diagonal = 0
Symmetric matrix: A = A’ (i.e., aᵢⱼ = aⱼᵢ)
Skew-symmetric matrix: A’ = −A (diagonal elements always 0)
3. Matrix Operations
Equality: Same order + corresponding elements equal
Addition/Subtraction: Only for same order matrices; element-wise
Scalar multiplication: Multiply every element by scalar k
Matrix multiplication: A(m×n) · B(n×p) possible only if columns of A = rows of B → result is
m×p
Not commutative generally: AB ≠ BA
Associative: (AB)C = A(BC)
Distributive: A(B+C) = AB + AC
4. Transpose of a Matrix (A’)
Rows ↔ Columns
(A’)’ = A
(A+B)’ = A’ + B’
(AB)’ = B’A’ (reverse order law)
(kA)’ = kA’
5. Symmetric & Skew-Symmetric Results
Every square matrix A can be written as: A = ½(A + A’) + ½(A − A’) → sum of symmetric +
skew-symmetric matrix
A + A’ → always symmetric
A − A’ → always skew-symmetric
Diagonal elements of skew-symmetric matrix = 0
6. Determinants (linked with square matrices)
Only square matrices have determinants
Order 2: |A| = a₁₁a₂₂ − a₁₂a₂₁
Order 3: Expand along any row/column using cofactors
Singular matrix: |A| = 0
Non-singular matrix: |A| ≠ 0 (inverse exists)
Determinant Properties
|A| = |A’|
|AB| = |A|·|B|
|kA| = kⁿ|A| (n = order of matrix)
If two rows/columns identical → |A| = 0
If two rows/columns interchanged → sign of determinant changes
Row/column of zeros → |A| = 0
Triangular/diagonal matrix → |A| = product of diagonal elements
7. Minors & Cofactors
Minor (Mᵢⱼ): determinant obtained by deleting i-th row & j-th column
Cofactor (Cᵢⱼ): Cᵢⱼ = (−1)^(i+j) · Mᵢⱼ
|A| = Σ aᵢⱼ·Cᵢⱼ (expansion along any row/column)
8. Adjoint of a Matrix
adj(A) = Transpose of cofactor matrix
Key result: A·adj(A) = adj(A)·A = |A|·I
9. Inverse of a Matrix
A⁻¹ = adj(A) / |A| (exists only if |A| ≠ 0)
A·A⁻¹ = A⁻¹·A = I
(A⁻¹)⁻¹ = A
(AB)⁻¹ = B⁻¹A⁻¹
(A’)⁻¹ = (A⁻¹)’
|A⁻¹| = 1/|A|
10. Solving Linear Equations (Matrix Method / Cramer’s
Rule)
For system AX = B: - If |A| ≠ 0 → unique solution: X = A⁻¹B (consistent) - Cramer’s Rule: xᵢ =
Dᵢ/D, where D = |A|, Dᵢ = det with i-th column replaced by B - If |A| = 0 and all Dᵢ = 0 → infinite
solutions (consistent) - If |A| = 0 and any Dᵢ ≠ 0 → no solution (inconsistent)
11. Rank of a Matrix
Order of the largest non-zero minor
Rank of zero matrix = 0
Rank ≤ min(m, n)
12. Idempotent, Involutory, Nilpotent Matrices
Idempotent: A² = A
Involutory: A² = I
Nilpotent: Aᵏ = 0 for some positive integer k
Orthogonal matrix: A·A’ = A’·A = I
13. Quick Formula Sheet
Property Formula
Multiplicative identity AI = IA = A
Additive inverse A + (−A) = 0
Determinant of I |I| = 1
Trace Sum of diagonal elements
No. of elements m×n
14. Common NDA Exam Traps
Matrix multiplication AB may exist but BA may not (check compatibility)
A + B may exist but AB may not
Symmetric matrix determinant can be non-zero; skew-symmetric of odd order always has |A|
=0
For skew-symmetric matrix of odd order n: |A| = 0 (since |A|=|A’|=|−A|=(−1)ⁿ|A|)
Inverse of a matrix is unique when it exists