Practice Maths

Matrix Operations — Solutions

  1. Fluency

    Both matrices are 2 × 2 → addition is defined.

    A + B =

    5+4−3+1
    2+(−6)7+3
    =
    9−2
    −410

  2. Fluency

    Both matrices are 2 × 3 → subtraction is defined.

    A − B =

    8−2 3−(−4) −1−3
    5−(−1) −2−5 6−2
    =
    6 7 −4
    6 −7 4

  3. Fluency

    (a) 3A = 3 × every element of A:

    3A =

    9−6
    312

    (b) −2B = −2 × every element of B:

    −2B =

    2−6
    −42

    (c) 3A − 2B = 3A + (−2B):

    3A − 2B =

    9+2−6+(−6)
    3+(−4)12+2
    =
    11−12
    −114

  4. Fluency

    Rearrange: X = B − A

    X =

    7−22−5
    4−(−1)−1−3
    =
    5−3
    5−4

    Verify: X + A =

    5+2−3+5
    5+(−1)−4+3
    =
    72
    4−1
    = B ✓

  5. Understanding

    (a) A + B =

    61
    36

    (b) 2B =

    10−2
    04
    . 2B − C =
    8−5
    13

    (c) A + B + C =

    84
    27

    (d) B + A =

    61
    36
    = A + B ✓ (commutative property verified)

  6. Understanding

    (a) M + D =

    2827
    3525

    (b) (M + D) − S =

    28−1427−11
    35−1825−6
    =
    1416
    1719

    (c) All closing stock levels are positive (14, 16, 17, 19). No stock has dropped below zero, so no stockout occurred.

  7. Understanding

    First expand: 2

    a3
    1b
    =
    2a6
    22b

    Then subtract:

    2a−46−(−1)
    2−32b−5
    =
    07
    −13

    Equate corresponding elements:

    Position (1,1): 2a − 4 = 0 → 2a = 4 → a = 2

    Position (1,2): 6 − (−1) = 7 = 7 ✓ (consistent, no unknown)

    Position (2,1): 2 − 3 = −1 = −1 ✓ (consistent)

    Position (2,2): 2b − 5 = 3 → 2b = 8 → b = 4

  8. Understanding

    Each reading is 2°C too high, so we subtract 2 from every element. This is the same as subtracting 2 × (3×2 matrix of ones), or simply T − 2J where J is the 3×2 matrix of all 1s.

    Corrected matrix Tc = T − 2 =

    28−232−2
    25−230−2
    31−227−2
    =
    2630
    2328
    2925

    This is scalar subtraction: subtracting a constant from every element is equivalent to subtracting the scalar multiplied by the same-order matrix of all 1s.

  9. Problem Solving

    (a) J + F =

    $1550$950
    $580$420

    (b) Monthly average = ½(J + F) =

    $775$475
    $290$210

    (c) F − J =

    750−800500−450
    280−300220−200
    =
    −$50+$50
    −$20+$20

    Column 1 (Actual spending): Food decreased by $50, Rent decreased by $20. No category increased in actual spending. The budgeted column (column 2) both increased by $50 and $20 respectively.

  10. Problem Solving

    (a) For kA = B, we need k × every element of A to equal the corresponding element of B.

    Checking position (1,1): k × 2 = 6 → k = 3

    Checking position (1,2): k × 4 = 12 → k = 3 ✓

    Checking position (2,1): k × 1 = 3 → k = 3 ✓

    Checking position (2,2): k × 3 = 9 → k = 3 ✓

    The only value is k = 3.

    (b) kA = B + A means kA = 3A + A = 4A (since B = 3A). So k = 4.

    Verify: 4A =

    816
    412
    and B + A =
    816
    412

    (c) B = 3A. Matrix B is exactly 3 times matrix A — every element of B is 3 times the corresponding element of A. We say B is a scalar multiple of A.