PAST YEAR QUESTIONS ( CHAPTER 3 MATRICES)

2002: (1) Determine the values of a, b and c so that the matrix

[ ]
2 2
2b−1 a b
2 a−1 a bc
b b+c 2c−1 is a symmetric matrix. [5]

( )
1 2 −3
3 1 1
2003: (2) The matrix A is given by A =
0 1 −2
a) Find the matrix B such that B = A2 – 10I, where I is the 3 x 3 identity matrix. [3]
b) Find (A + I ) B, and hence find (A + I )21 B. [6]

2005: (3) A, B and C are square matrices such that BA = B-1 and ABC = (AB )-1. Show that A-1 = B2 = C. [3]

( )
1 2 0
0 −1 0 ,
If B =
1 0 1 find C and A.

( )
k 1 3
2k+1 −3 2
2006: (4) Determine the values of k such the determinant of the matrix 0 k 2 is 0. [4]

( ) ( )
−1 2 1 −35 19 18
−3 1 4 −27 −13 45
2007:(5) The matrices A and B are given by A = 0 1 2 , B = −3 12 5 .
Find the matrix A2B and deduce the inverse of A. [5]
Hence, solve the system of linear equations
x−2 y−z=−8,
3 x− y−4 z=−15,
y+2z=4. [5]

2012:(6) Matrix A is given by

( )
1 x 1
−1 −1 0
A=
1 0 0 and A2 = A-1. Determine the value of x. [7]

2013:(7) A system of linear equations is given by

x+ y+ z=k ,
x− y+z=0,
4 x+2 y+λz=3.
where λ and k are real numbers. Show that the augmented matrix for the system may be reduced to

( )
1 1 1 k
0 −2 0 | −k
0 0 λ−4 3−3 k .
Hence, determine the values of λ and k so that the system of linear equations has
(a) a unique solution, [1]
(b) infinitely many solutions, [1]
(c) no solution. [1]
2014:(8) A Matrix P is given by
 ( )
−5 0 2
0 2 −1
P=
−1 4 −2 .
By using elementary row operations, find the inverse of P. [5]

( ) ( )
1 a bc 1 b ca
1 b ca 1 a bc
2015:(9) The matrices M and N are given by M = 1 c ab , N = 3 3c 3ab .
Show that det M = (a – b)(b – c)(c – a). [4]
Deduce det N. [2]
10. The variables x, y and z satisfy the system of linear equations
2x + y + 2z = 1 ,
4x + 2y + z = k ,
8x + 4y + 7z = k2, where k is a real constant.
(a) Write a matrix equation for the system of linear equations. [1] Q8
(b) Reduce the augmented matrix to row-echelon form, and show that the system
of linear equations does not have a unique solution. [6]
(c) Determine all the values of k for which the system of linear equations has
infinitely many solutions, and find the solutions in the case when k is positive. [6]
(d) Find the set of values of k for which the system of linear equations is inconsistent. [2]

( )
1 1 2
0 2 2
2016:(11) A matrix P is given by P = −1 1 3 .
(a) Find P2 – 6P + 11I. [3]
(b) Show that P(P2 – 6P + 11I) = 6I, where I is the 3 x 3 identity matrix, and deduce P–1. [5]

( ) ( )
−5 6 18 −1 2 6
12 1 9 4 1 3
2017:(12) Matrices P and Q are given by P = 0 6 1 and Q = 0 2 1 respectively.
Find integers m and n such that P = mQ + nI, where I is the 3 x 3 identity matrix. [5]
(13). A system of linear equations is given by
x + 2y + z = q , 2x + py + 4z = 3q , x + y + pz = q,
where p and q are constants.
(a) Write the augmented matrix for the system above and reduce it to row-echelon form. [5]
(b) Determine the values of p and q such that the system has
(i) a unique solution, [3]
(ii) no solution. [2]
(c) Determine the values of p and q such that the system has infinitely many solutions.
Using the value of q and the smaller value of p obtained, find the solutions of the system. [5] Q7

( )
−3 2 −1
1 1 1
2018:(14) The matrix A is given A = 2 0 1
By performing elementary row operations on the augmented matrix (A|I), where I is the
3 x 3 identity matrix, find A–1. [6]
 ( )( ) ( )
−3 2 −1 x −7
1 1 1 y 2
Hence, solve the equation 2 0 1 z = 4 [3]

2019:(15) A system of linear equations is given by

2x+3 y=−6 ,
4 x− y+3z=1,
2x−4 y+kz=7,
where k is a real number.
(a) Reduce the augmented matrix for the system of linear equations to row-echelon form. [4]
(b) State the values of k such that the system has infinitely many solutions, and find the
general form of the solutions. [5]

( )
3−t 4 −3
1 4−t −2
2020:(16) A matrix M is given M = 2 10 −5−t
(a) If M is a singular matrix, form a cubic equation in terms of t. [4]
(b) Calculate the possible values of t. [2]

( )
2 2
2b−1 a b
2a−1 a bc
2020:(17) Given a symmetric matrix, A = 4b−4 b+c 2c−1 .
(a) Find the values of a, b and c. [4]
(b) Using elementary row operations, determine the inverse of A for the values in (a). [6]
Hence, solve

(2b−1 )x+a2 y+b2 z=3 ,

(2a−1 )x+ay+bcz=11,
(4 a−4 )x+(b+c) y +(2c−1)z=8.
[5]Q7