Problem Set - 5
MA 1201 Spring Sem, 2025
" #
1 5
1. Given an example of two 2 by 2 matrices B and C such that B ̸= C but AB = AC, where A = .
3 15
2. If the inverse of A2 is B, show that the inverse of A is AB. (Thus A is invertible whenever A2 is
invertible.)
3. Find three 2 by 2 matrices, other than I and −I, that are their own inverses: A2 = I.
4. Give examples of 2 by 2 matrices matrices A and B such that
(a) A + B is not invertible although A and B are invertible.
(b) A + B is invertible although A and B are not invertible.
(c) All of A, B, and A + B are invertible.
5. Let A and B be n by n matrices such that all of A, B, and A + B are invertible. In this case, show that
C = A−1 + B −1 is also invertible, and find a formula for C −1 .
6. Under what conditions on their entries are A and B invertible?
a b c a b 0
A = d e 0 and B = c d 0 .
f 0 0 0 0 e
7. (Remarkable) Let A and B be n by n matrices. Prove that I − BA is invertible if and only if I − AB
is invertible. [Hint: One can make use of the identity B(I − AB) = (I − BA)B.]
8. Invert these matrices A by the Gauss-Jordan method starting with [A I]:
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 1 0 0
A = 2 1 3 and A = 41 .
1
3 3
1 0
0 0 1 1 1 1
2 2 2
1
9. True or false (with a counterexample if false and a reason if true):
(a) A 4 by 4 matrix with a row of zeros is not invertible.
(b) A matrix with 1s down the main diagonal is invertible.
End of problem sheet