Department of Mathematics

Assoc. Prof. W. Emam

Spring 2018

Mathematics
for Management Students (MATH-201)
Worksheet Nr. (3)
Determinants
Exercise 1
Evaluate the determinant for each one of the following matrices:

Solution:

(i)

Let
1 2
𝐴= [ ]
−1 3
det(𝐴) = (3 ∗ 1) − (−1 ∗ 2) = 3 + 2 = 5

(ii)

2 −1 3
Let 𝐵 = [1 0 4]
2 −3 1
By a cofactor along the second row

−1 3 2 3 2 −1
det(𝐵) = −(1) ∗ | |+0∗ | |−4∗ | |
−3 1 2 1 2 −3

1
= −(−1 + 9) − 4 ∗ (−6 + 2) = −8 + 16 = 8
(iii)

1 0 1
Let 𝐶 = [0 4 1]
0 0 5
By a cofactor along the third row

1 0
det(𝐶 ) = 0 − 0 + 5 ∗ | | = 5 ∗ 4 = 20
0 4
Exercise 2

Solution:

Let

1 𝑥 𝑥2
A= |1 1 1|
1 −3 9
By a cofactor along the first column

det(𝐴) = 1 ∗ |
1 1
|−1∗ | 𝑥 𝑥 2 | + 1 ∗ |𝑥 𝑥 2 |= 0
−3 9 −3 9 1 1
= (9 + 3) − (9𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 ) + (𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) = 0
= 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 12 = 0
𝑥 = −3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 1

2
Exercise 3

Find 𝐴−1 (if possible)

Solution:
2 −1 3
(i) 𝐴 = [1 0 4]
2 −3 1

By a cofactor along the second row

−1 3 2 −1
det(𝐴) = −1 ∗ | |+0−4∗ | |
−3 1 2 −3
= −(−1 + 9) − 4 ∗ (−6 + 2) = −8 + 16 = 8 ≠ 0
Cofactors:

0 4 1 4 1 0
𝐶11 = + | |= 12 𝐶12 = − | |= 7 𝐶13 = + | |= −3
−3 1 2 1 2 −3

−1 3 2 3 2 −1
𝐶21 = − | |= -8 𝐶22 = + | |= -4 𝐶23 = − | |=4
−3 1 2 1 2 −3

−1 3 2 3 2 −1
𝐶31 = + | |= -4 𝐶32 = − | |= - 5 𝐶33 = + | |= 1
0 4 1 4 1 0

3
Adjoint matrix:

12 7 −3 𝑇
12 −8 −4
[𝐶𝑖𝑗 ] = [−8 −4 4] 𝑎𝑑𝑗(𝐴) = [𝐶𝑖𝑗 ] = [ 7 −4 −5]
−4 −5 1 −3 4 1

Inverse:

3⁄ 1 −1⁄
2 2
12 −8 −4
−1 1 1 7⁄ −1⁄ 5⁄
𝐴 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗(𝐴) = [ 7 −4 −5] = 8 2 8
det(𝐴) 8
−3 4 1 −3⁄ 1⁄ 1⁄
[ 8 2 8]

(ii)

0 1 2
A= [ 1 0 3]
−1 −2 1

By a cofactor along the first row

1 3 1 0
det(𝐴) = 0 − 1 ∗ | |+2 | | = −8 ≠ 0
−1 1 −1 −2
Cofactors:

0 3 1 3 1 0
𝐶11 = + | |= 6 𝐶12 = − | |= -4 𝐶13 = + | |= −2
−2 1 −1 1 −1 −2

4
 1 2 0 2 0 1
𝐶21 = − | |= -5 𝐶22 = + | |= 2 𝐶23 = − | |=-1
−2 1 −1 1 −1 −2

1 2 0 2 0 1
𝐶31 = + | |= 3 𝐶32 = − | |= 2 𝐶33 = + | |= -1
0 3 1 3 1 0
Adjoint matrix:

6 −4 −2 𝑇
6 −5 3
[𝐶𝑖𝑗 ] = [−5 2 −1] 𝑎𝑑𝑗(𝐴) = [𝐶𝑖𝑗 ] = [−4 2 2]
3 2 −1 −2 −1 −1
Inverse:

−3⁄ 5⁄ −3⁄
4 8 8
6 −5 3
−1 1 −1 1⁄ −1⁄ −1⁄
𝐴 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗(𝐴) = [−4 2 2 ]= 2 4 4
det(𝐴) 8
−2 −1 −1 1⁄ 1⁄ 1⁄
[ 4 8 8]

Exercise 4.
2 3
Find A such that (4𝐴𝑇 )−1 = ( ).
−4 −4
Solution:
2 3
Let 𝐵 = ( )
−4 −4
Thus,

(4𝐴𝑇 )−1 = 𝐵
1
(𝐴𝑇 )−1 = 𝐵
4

5
 (𝐴𝑇 )−1 = 4𝐵

[(𝐴𝑇 )−1 ]−1 = [4𝐵]−1

𝐴𝑇 = [4𝐵]−1
1
𝐴 = [[4𝐵]−1 ]𝑇 = [[𝐵]−1 ]𝑇
4

−1 −3⁄
4
2 3
𝐵= ( ) 𝐵−1 = ( )
−4 −4 1 1⁄
2

−1 1
[[𝐵]−1 ]𝑇 = (−3⁄ 1⁄ )
4 2

−1⁄ 1⁄
1 4 4
𝐴= [[𝐵]−1 ]𝑇 =
4 −3⁄ 1⁄
16 8
[ ]

Recall:

The following properties hold for an invertible

matrix A:

 (A−1)−1 = A

 (kA)−1 = k−1A−1 for nonzero scalar k

 (AT)−1 = (A−1)T
Properties of matrix transpose:

 (𝐴𝑇 )𝑇 = 𝐴
 (𝑘 𝐴)𝑇 = 𝑘 𝐴𝑇 for nonzero scalar k
 (𝐴𝑇 )−1 = (𝐴−1 )𝑇

6
Exercise 5.
1 1 1
Let 𝐴 = (1 2 𝑥 ). For what values of 𝑥, A is invertable?
1 4 𝑥2
Solution:

Hint: A matrix is invertible if and only if its determinant is non-zero.

Thus,

By a cofactor along the first column

2 𝑥 1 𝑥 1 2
det(𝐴) = | 2| − | 2| + | |
4 𝑥 1 𝑥 1 4
= 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − (𝑥 2 − 𝑥) + (4 − 2) (**)

By equating det(𝐴) with 0 and solving for 𝑥, we get values of 𝑥 that make the
determinant = 0. Hence, excluding these points the matrix would be invertible on
all the other points.

Therefore, from (**)

𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0

(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 1) = 0

𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 1

The matrix A is invertible for all values of 𝑥 except for 1 and 2.