Examples

$[\begin{array}{c} 2 & 4 \\ 8 & 6 \end{array}]$

Step 1

The inverse of a $2 \times 2$ matrix can be found using the formula $\frac{1}{a d - b c} [\begin{array}{c} d & - b \\ - c & a \end{array}]$ where $a d - b c$ is the determinant.

Step 2

Find the determinant.

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Step 2.1

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

$2 \cdot 6 - 8 \cdot 4$

Step 2.2

Simplify the determinant.

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Step 2.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.2.1.1

Multiply $2$ by $6$ .

$12 - 8 \cdot 4$

Step 2.2.1.2

Multiply $- 8$ by $4$ .

$12 - 32$

Step 2.2.2

Subtract $32$ from $12$ .

$- 20$

Step 3

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

Step 4

Substitute the known values into the formula for the inverse.

$\frac{1}{- 20} [\begin{array}{c} 6 & - 4 \\ - 8 & 2 \end{array}]$

Step 5

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{20} [\begin{array}{c} 6 & - 4 \\ - 8 & 2 \end{array}]$

Step 6

Multiply $- \frac{1}{20}$ by each element of the matrix.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 6 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7

Simplify each element in the matrix.

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Step 7.1

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 7.1.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{1}{20}$ into the numerator.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot 6 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.2

Factor $2$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{2 (10)} \cdot 6 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.3

Factor $2$ out of $6$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{2 \cdot 10} \cdot (2 \cdot 3) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.4

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{2 \cdot 10} \cdot (2 \cdot 3) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.5

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{10} \cdot 3 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.2

Combine $\frac{- 1}{10}$ and $3$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1 \cdot 3}{10} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.3

Multiply $- 1$ by $3$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 3}{10} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.4

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

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Step 7.5.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{1}{20}$ into the numerator.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5.2

Factor $4$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- 1}{4 (5)} \cdot - 4 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5.3

Factor $4$ out of $- 4$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- 1}{4 \cdot 5} \cdot (4 \cdot - 1) \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5.4

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- 1}{4 \cdot 5} \cdot (4 \cdot - 1) \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5.5

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- 1}{5} \cdot - 1 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.6

Combine $\frac{- 1}{5}$ and $- 1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{- - 1}{5} \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.7

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.8

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

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Step 7.8.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{1}{20}$ into the numerator.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.8.2

Factor $4$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- 1}{4 (5)} \cdot - 8 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.8.3

Factor $4$ out of $- 8$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- 1}{4 \cdot 5} \cdot (4 \cdot - 2) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.8.4

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- 1}{4 \cdot 5} \cdot (4 \cdot - 2) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.8.5

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- 1}{5} \cdot - 2 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.9

Combine $\frac{- 1}{5}$ and $- 2$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{- - 2}{5} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.10

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 2$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.11

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 7.11.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{1}{20}$ into the numerator.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.11.2

Factor $2$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & \frac{- 1}{2 (10)} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.11.3

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & \frac{- 1}{2 \cdot 10} \cdot 2 \end{array}]$

Step 7.11.4

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & \frac{- 1}{10} \end{array}]$

Step 7.12

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{3}{10} & \frac{1}{5} \\ \frac{2}{5} & - \frac{1}{10} \end{array}]$

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