Linear Algebra Examples

$[\begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 & 4 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \end{array}]$

Step 1

Find the determinant.

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Step 1.1

Choose the row or column with the most $0$ elements. If there are no $0$ elements choose any row or column. Multiply every element in row $3$ by its cofactor and add.

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Step 1.1.1

Consider the corresponding sign chart.

$| \begin{array}{c} + & - & + \\ - & + & - \\ + & - & + \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.2

The cofactor is the minor with the sign changed if the indices match a $-$ position on the sign chart.

Step 1.1.3

The minor for $a_{31}$ is the determinant with row $3$ and column $1$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} 1 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.4

Multiply element $a_{31}$ by its cofactor.

$0 | \begin{array}{c} 1 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.5

The minor for $a_{32}$ is the determinant with row $3$ and column $2$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.6

Multiply element $a_{32}$ by its cofactor.

$- 1 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.7

The minor for $a_{33}$ is the determinant with row $3$ and column $3$ deleted.

$| \begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.8

Multiply element $a_{33}$ by its cofactor.

$0 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{array} |$

Step 1.1.9

Add the terms together.

$0 | \begin{array}{c} 1 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 \end{array} | - 1 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} | + 0 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{array} |$

Step 1.2

Multiply $0$ by $| \begin{array}{c} 1 & 4 \\ 2 & 1 \end{array} |$ .

$0 - 1 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} | + 0 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{array} |$

Step 1.3

Multiply $0$ by $| \begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 \end{array} |$ .

$0 - 1 | \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} | + 0$

Step 1.4

Evaluate $| \begin{array}{c} 3 & 4 \\ 1 & 1 \end{array} |$ .

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Step 1.4.1

The determinant of a $2 \times 2$ matrix can be found using the formula $| \begin{array}{c} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} | = a d - c b$ .

$0 - 1 (3 \cdot 1 - 1 \cdot 4) + 0$

Step 1.4.2

Simplify the determinant.

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Step 1.4.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 1.4.2.1.1

Multiply $3$ by $1$ .

$0 - 1 (3 - 1 \cdot 4) + 0$

Step 1.4.2.1.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

$0 - 1 (3 - 4) + 0$

Step 1.4.2.2

Subtract $4$ from $3$ .

$0 - 1 \cdot - 1 + 0$

Step 1.5

Simplify the determinant.

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Step 1.5.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$0 + 1 + 0$

Step 1.5.2

Add $0$ and $1$ .

$1 + 0$

Step 1.5.3

Add $1$ and $0$ .

$1$

Step 2

Since the determinant is non-zero, the inverse exists.

Step 3

Set up a $3 \times 6$ matrix where the left half is the original matrix and the right half is its identity matrix.

$[\begin{array}{c} 3 & 1 & 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4

Find the reduced row echelon form.

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Step 4.1

Multiply each element of $R_{1}$ by $\frac{1}{3}$ to make the entry at $1, 1$ a $1$ .

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Step 4.1.1

Multiply each element of $R_{1}$ by $\frac{1}{3}$ to make the entry at $1, 1$ a $1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{3}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{0}{3} & \frac{0}{3} \\ 1 & 2 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.1.2

Simplify $R_{1}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.2

Perform the row operation $R_{2} = R_{2} - R_{1}$ to make the entry at $2, 1$ a $0$ .

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Step 4.2.1

Perform the row operation $R_{2} = R_{2} - R_{1}$ to make the entry at $2, 1$ a $0$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 1 - 1 & 2 - \frac{1}{3} & 1 - \frac{4}{3} & 0 - \frac{1}{3} & 1 - 0 & 0 - 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.2.2

Simplify $R_{2}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & \frac{5}{3} & - \frac{1}{3} & - \frac{1}{3} & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.3

Multiply each element of $R_{2}$ by $\frac{3}{5}$ to make the entry at $2, 2$ a $1$ .

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Step 4.3.1

Multiply each element of $R_{2}$ by $\frac{3}{5}$ to make the entry at $2, 2$ a $1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ \frac{3}{5} \cdot 0 & \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{5}{3} & \frac{3}{5} (- \frac{1}{3}) & \frac{3}{5} (- \frac{1}{3}) & \frac{3}{5} \cdot 1 & \frac{3}{5} \cdot 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.3.2

Simplify $R_{2}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & - \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{1}{5} & \frac{3}{5} & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.4

Perform the row operation $R_{3} = R_{3} - R_{2}$ to make the entry at $3, 2$ a $0$ .

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Step 4.4.1

Perform the row operation $R_{3} = R_{3} - R_{2}$ to make the entry at $3, 2$ a $0$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & - \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{1}{5} & \frac{3}{5} & 0 \\ 0 - 0 & 1 - 1 & 0 + \frac{1}{5} & 0 + \frac{1}{5} & 0 - \frac{3}{5} & 1 - 0 \end{array}]$

Step 4.4.2

Simplify $R_{3}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & - \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{1}{5} & \frac{3}{5} & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \frac{1}{5} & \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{3}{5} & 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.5

Multiply each element of $R_{3}$ by $5$ to make the entry at $3, 3$ a $1$ .

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Step 4.5.1

Multiply each element of $R_{3}$ by $5$ to make the entry at $3, 3$ a $1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & - \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{1}{5} & \frac{3}{5} & 0 \\ 5 \cdot 0 & 5 \cdot 0 & 5 (\frac{1}{5}) & 5 (\frac{1}{5}) & 5 (- \frac{3}{5}) & 5 \cdot 1 \end{array}]$

Step 4.5.2

Simplify $R_{3}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & - \frac{1}{5} & - \frac{1}{5} & \frac{3}{5} & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.6

Perform the row operation $R_{2} = R_{2} + \frac{1}{5} R_{3}$ to make the entry at $2, 3$ a $0$ .

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Step 4.6.1

Perform the row operation $R_{2} = R_{2} + \frac{1}{5} R_{3}$ to make the entry at $2, 3$ a $0$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot 0 & 1 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{5} + \frac{1}{5} \cdot 1 & - \frac{1}{5} + \frac{1}{5} \cdot 1 & \frac{3}{5} + \frac{1}{5} \cdot - 3 & 0 + \frac{1}{5} \cdot 5 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.6.2

Simplify $R_{2}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & \frac{4}{3} & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.7

Perform the row operation $R_{1} = R_{1} - \frac{4}{3} R_{3}$ to make the entry at $1, 3$ a $0$ .

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Step 4.7.1

Perform the row operation $R_{1} = R_{1} - \frac{4}{3} R_{3}$ to make the entry at $1, 3$ a $0$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 - \frac{4}{3} \cdot 0 & \frac{1}{3} - \frac{4}{3} \cdot 0 & \frac{4}{3} - \frac{4}{3} \cdot 1 & \frac{1}{3} - \frac{4}{3} \cdot 1 & 0 - \frac{4}{3} \cdot - 3 & 0 - \frac{4}{3} \cdot 5 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.7.2

Simplify $R_{1}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & \frac{1}{3} & 0 & - 1 & 4 & - \frac{20}{3} \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.8

Perform the row operation $R_{1} = R_{1} - \frac{1}{3} R_{2}$ to make the entry at $1, 2$ a $0$ .

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Step 4.8.1

Perform the row operation $R_{1} = R_{1} - \frac{1}{3} R_{2}$ to make the entry at $1, 2$ a $0$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 0 & \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 1 & 0 - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 0 & - 1 - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 0 & 4 - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 0 & - \frac{20}{3} - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 4.8.2

Simplify $R_{1}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} 1 & 0 & 0 & - 1 & 4 & - 7 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

Step 5

The right half of the reduced row echelon form is the inverse.

$[\begin{array}{c} - 1 & 4 & - 7 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & - 3 & 5 \end{array}]$

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