Matrices and simultaneous equations

One of the many applications of Matrices is that they can be used to solve simultaneous
equations. There are a few Matrix methods

Using Row reduction methods such as Gaussian Elimination

Cramers Rule
Using the inverse Matrix
CXC/CSEC chooses to use the inverse matrix method so we will discuss that method in detail
A matrix equation is an equation of the form AX B
Where A is the coefficient matrix
X is the matrix of variables

3x 2 y 13
Consider the following pair of simultaneous equations
x 2 y 1

3 2 x 13
We can rewrite this system of equations in the form AX B as
1 2 y 1
Recall that any matrix multiplied by its inverse gives the matrix I, and that for (2x2) matrices
1 0
I
0 1
Also recall that
1 0 a b a b

0 1 c d c d

The process of solving a simultaneous system using the inverse matrix is as follows
1. Write the given set of equations in the form AX B
2. Determine the inverse of A
3. Pre-multiply both sides of the equation by the inverse
4. The results are the solution of the system

Using the general equation AX B if we multiply both sides of the equation by the inverse of
A then we have
AX B
A1 AX A1 B
IX A1 B
X A 1 B

So the solution to any simultaneous system is simply X A1B

Now let us re-examine our system of equations

3x 2 y 13 3 2 x 13
x 2 y 1
Which can be rewritten as
1 2 y 1
3 2
Now we find the determinant of
1 2
3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2
3 2 8 8 8 8
6 2 Which implies that the inverse of the matrix is
1 2 1 3 1 3
8
8 8 8 8
Now our solution is X A1B

2 2
x 8 8 13

y 1 3 1

8 8
2 2 26 2
13 1
x 8 8 8 8

y 1 13 3 1 13 3

8 8 8 8
26 2 24

8 8 8
x

y 13 3 16

8 8 8
x 3

y 2
Example 2

5 1
Given that B
3 2
(i) Write down the determinant of B
(ii) Write down B 1
5 x y 11
(iii) Hence solve the equations
3x 2 y 8

Solution

B 5 2 3
(i) The determinant B 10 3
B 7
2 1
1 2 1 7 7
(ii) The inverse on the matrix B 1
7 3 5 3 5

7 7
1
Solving the equations using X A B
(iii)
2 1
x 7 7 11

y 3 5 8

7 7
2 1
8

x 7 7

y 3 11 5 8

7 7
22 8 14

x 7 7 x 7 2

y 33 40 y 7 1

7 7 7
x 2

y 1
Practice Questions

Matrices and simultaneous equations

3 2
1. If A
2 3
a. Evaluate the determinant of A
b. Determine A1
3x 2 y 1
c. Using A1 solve the simultaneous equations
2x 3y 5

x y 5
2. Given the equations
3x 2 y 5
a. Write the equations in matrix form
b. Determine the inverse of the matrix
c. Hence solve the equations

3. Write down the inverse of the matrix

1 4
a.
2 1
b. Hence or otherwise determine the value of a, b, c and d for
1 4 a b 4 13

2 1 c d 8 5

2 1
4. Given that P
5 3
a. Evaluate P 1
2 1 7
b. Use a matrix method to solve x y
5 3 1
2 5
5. Given That M
7 15
a. Show that M is a non-singular matrix
b. Write down the inverse of M
1
c. Write down the 2x2 matrix which is equal to the product of M M
1 2 5 x 3
d. Pre multiply both sides of the following equation by M
7 15 y 17
e. Hence solve for x and y
 2x 5 y 6
6. Given the linear equations
3x 4 y 8
a. Write the equations in the form AX B , where A , X and B are matrices
b. Calculate the determinant of Matrix A
4 5
7 7
c. Show that A1
3 2

7 7
d. Using A1 solve for x and y