Day 1: Matrices Overview

Matrix: (Plural Form is Matrices)

Dimensions of the matrix depend on the number of rows and columns.

Always read a matrix __________________ by _______________.

# Rows: ________ Dimensions: ________

# Columns: _____

Numbers in the matrix are called entries. What is the entry in the 2nd row and 3rd column? _____

Different Types of Matrices

Name Description Example

Row Matrix

Column Matrix

Square Matrix

Zero Matrix

Matrix Operations

Addition and Subtraction:

1. Matrices must have the SAME __________________.

2. Add or subtract the corresponding ________________.

Scalar Multiplication:

1. Multiply the constant OUTSIDE the matrix to EACH entry inside the matrix.
1
Perform the indicated operations:

1. 2.

3. = 4. =

Solve the following matrix for x and y:

5.

Matrix Multiplication

In order to multiply two matrices:

The number of____________ in the first matrix must match the number of ____________ in the
second matrix.

If A=m⋅n Product of AB A x B = AB

If B=n ⋅ p (m x n) (n x p) = ______

2
Describe the matrix product AB:

6. A :2 x 3 B: 3 x 4 7. A :3 x 2 B: 3 x 4

Multiply the following matrices on your graphing calculator. You must follow the order given.

8. Find AB: 9. Find BA :

Determinant of a Matrix

The determinant of a matrix is a number associated with the matrix. Denoted as det( ).

Determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix:

det =______________________

Find the determinant of the below matrices.

10. 11.

Determinant of a 3 x 3 matrix:

det

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Find the determinant of the matrices using your graphing calculator.

12. 13. 14.

Identity Matrix

The identity matrix has 1’s along the main diagonal.

2 x 2 Identity Matrix (I) 3 x 3 Identity Matrix (I)

I= I=

Let’s discover why the above matrices are called identity matrices:

15. 16. =
=

If two matrices are inverses then AB=I and BA=I .

Prove the following are inverses of each other using your graphing calculator.

A= B=

The inverse of matrix A is denoted A−1.

Given A = , then the inverse of matrix A, denoted A-1 =

17. Given A = find A−1.

18. Prove that A and the matrix computed for A−1 are truly inverses:

A ( A−1 )=¿
−1
AND A ( A ) =¿

Solving a Matrix Equation

To solve the matrix equation A ⋅ X =B , multiply both sides of the equation by A−1:

( A−1 ) A ⋅ X=( A−1 ) B

19. 20:

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 Day 2: Elementary Matrix Operations

There are three elementary matrix operations that can be applied to a matrix:

- row swapping
- row multiplication
- row addition

Use this matrix for each of the following elementary matrix operations.

Row swapping: We can “swap” rows in a matrix.

1. R1 ↔ R2 2. R2 ↔ R3

Row multiplication: We can multiply a row in a matrix by a scalar and replace the row by the
“scaled” row.

1
3. 2 R1 → R1 4. R → R2
3 2

Row addition: We can add two rows in a matrix and replace a row by the sum.

5. R1 + R2 → R2 6. R2 + R3 → R 3

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Row multiplication and addition: We can multiply a row in a matrix by a scalar, and add it to
another row, and then replace a row by the result.

1
7. −2 R1 + R2 → R2 8. R2 + R → R3
4 3

But….why? Why do we want to do this? The goal is to place a matrix in Row Echelon Form
(REF).

Row Echolon Form:

A matrix that has 1’s along the main diagonal and 0’s to the left of each 1 in each row is said to
be in Row Echelon Form (REF).

Examples:

9. Rewrite the matrix in REF.

−1
Step 1. Multiply row 1 by and replace row 1.
3

−1
R → R1
3 1

7
Step 2. Multiply row 1 by −4, add to row 3, and replace row 3.

−4 R1 + R3 → R3

1
Step 3. Multiply row 2 by and replace row 2.
3

1
R → R2
3 2

17
Step 4. Multiply row 2 by , add to row 3, and replace row 3.
3

17
R + R → R3
3 2 3

9
Step 5. Multiply row 3 by and replace row 3.
32

9
R → R3
32 3

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10. Rewrite the matrix in REF.

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 Day 3: Solving Systems of Linear Equations Using Matrices

Option 1: Use the Inverse Matrix

We can use matrices to solve a system of linear equations.

x + y + z=10
5 x− y=1
3 x+ 4 y + z=8

First, write the system of equations as matrices: A ⋅ X =B

Then, multiply both sides of the equation by A−1 and solve for X :

( A−1 ) A ⋅ X=( A−1 ) B ⇒ X =( A−1) B

Practice: Solve the systems using an inverse matrix.

1. 2.

−3 x−2 y +4 z =9 x +2 y−z=−4
3 y−2 z=5 −2 x+ 4 y −z=6
4 x−3 y +2 z=7 2 x+ 2 y +3 z=1

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Option 2: Gaussian Elimination

Gaussian Elimination requires that we apply elementary matrix operations on an augmented

We start with a system of linear equations:

x + y−z=9
y +3 z=3
−x−2 z=2

Step 1. Write an augmented matrix.

Step 2. Add rows 1 and 3, then replace row 3.

R1 + R3 → R 3

Step 3. Multiply row 2 by -1 and add that to row 3, then replace row 3.

−R2 + R3 → R 3

−1
Step 4. Multiply row 3 by and then replace row 3.
6

−1
R → R3
6 3

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Step 5. Write an equivalent linear system from the REF matrix and solve for z, then y, then x.

Practice: Solve the systems using Guassian Elimination.

3.

−3 x−2 y +4 z =9
3 y−z=3
2 x−4 y+ z=1

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4.

x +2 y−z=−4
−2 x+ 4 y −z=6
2 x+ 2 y +3 z=1

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