Practice Maths

Solving Systems of Equations Using Matrices — Solutions

  1. Fluency

    A =

    32
    1−1
    ,  X =
    x
    y
    ,  B =
    11
    1

  2. Fluency

    A =

    21
    11
    ,  B =
    7
    5

    det(A) = 2×1 − 1×1 = 1

    A−1 = (1/1)

    1−1
    −12

    X = A−1B =

    1×7 − 1×5
    −1×7 + 2×5
    =
    2
    3

    x = 2, y = 3. Check: 2(2)+3=7 ✓ and 2+3=5 ✓

  3. Fluency

    A =

    4−1
    21
    ,  B =
    9
    3

    det(A) = 4×1 − (−1)×2 = 4 + 2 = 6

    A−1 = ⅙

    11
    −24

    X = ⅙

    9 + 3
    −18 + 12
    = ⅙
    12
    −6
    =
    2
    −1

    x = 2, y = −1. Check: 4(2)−(−1)=9 ✓ and 2(2)+(−1)=3 ✓

  4. Fluency

    A =

    13
    2−1
    ,  B =
    10
    1

    det(A) = −1 − 6 = −7

    A−1 = −&frac17;

    −1−3
    −21
    = &frac17;
    13
    2−1

    X = &frac17;

    10 + 3
    20 − 1
    = &frac17;
    13
    19

    x = 13/7, y = 19/7. Check: 13/7 + 3(19/7) = 13/7 + 57/7 = 70/7 = 10 ✓

  5. Understanding

    det(A) = 1×4 − 2×2 = 4 − 4 = 0.

    The determinant is zero, so A is singular (no inverse exists). The matrix method cannot be applied. Geometrically, the two equations represent parallel lines (no intersection → no solution) or the same line (infinitely many solutions). To determine which, check if the equations are consistent.

    Equation 1: x + 2y = e. Equation 2: 2x + 4y = f = 2e (if consistent) or f ≠ 2e (no solution).

  6. Understanding

    A =

    35
    12
    ,  B =
    1
    0

    det(A) = 3×2 − 5×1 = 6 − 5 = 1

    A−1 =

    2−5
    −13

    X = A−1B =

    2×1 − 5×0
    −1×1 + 3×0
    =
    2
    −1

    x = 2, y = −1. Verify: 3(2)+5(−1)=6−5=1 ✓ and 2+2(−1)=0 ✓

  7. Understanding

    Let L = number of lattes, C = number of cappuccinos.

    System: L + C = 40 and 5L + 4C = 182

    A =

    11
    54
    ,  B =
    40
    182

    det(A) = 4 − 5 = −1

    A−1 = −1 ×

    4−1
    −51
    =
    −41
    5−1

    X =

    −160 + 182
    200 − 182
    =
    22
    18

    22 lattes and 18 cappuccinos. Check: 22+18=40 ✓ and 5(22)+4(18)=110+72=182 ✓

  8. Understanding

    A =

    2−3
    11
    ,  B =
    4
    3

    det(A) = 2(1) − (−3)(1) = 2 + 3 = 5

    A−1 = ⅕

    13
    −12

    X = ⅕

    4 + 9
    −4 + 6
    = ⅕
    13
    2

    x = 13/5 = 2.6, y = 2/5 = 0.4. Check: 2(2.6)−3(0.4)=5.2−1.2=4 ✓ and 2.6+0.4=3 ✓

  9. Problem Solving

    (a) Let a = adult tickets, c = concession tickets.

    a + c = 120   and   15a + 9c = 1470

    A =

    11
    159
    ,  B =
    120
    1470

    (b) det(A) = 9 − 15 = −6

    A−1 = −⅙

    9−1
    −151

    X = −⅙

    9(120) − 1470
    −15(120) + 1470
    = −⅙
    −390
    −330
    =
    65
    55

    65 adult tickets and 55 concession tickets.

    (c) Check: 65 + 55 = 120 ✓ and 15(65) + 9(55) = 975 + 495 = 1470 ✓

  10. Problem Solving

    Let x = kg of Alloy X, y = kg of Alloy Y.

    Equation 1 (total mass): x + y = 100

    Equation 2 (copper content): 0.60x + 0.30y = 0.45 × 100 = 45

    A =

    11
    0.600.30
    ,  B =
    100
    45

    det(A) = 0.30 − 0.60 = −0.30

    A−1 = (1/−0.30)

    0.30−1
    −0.601

    X = (1/−0.30)

    0.30(100) − 45
    −0.60(100) + 45
    = (1/−0.30)
    −15
    −15
    =
    50
    50

    50 kg of Alloy X and 50 kg of Alloy Y.

    Check: 50 + 50 = 100 ✓ and 0.60(50) + 0.30(50) = 30 + 15 = 45 ✓ (45% of 100 = 45 kg copper)