Precalculus Examples

$- 4 a = [\begin{array}{c} 4 & - 2 \\ 0 & - 5 \end{array}]$

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 $| \begin{array}{c} a & b \\ c & d \end{array} | = a d - c b$ .

$4 \cdot - 5 + 0 \cdot - 2$

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 $4$ by $- 5$ .

$- 20 + 0 \cdot - 2$

Step 2.2.1.2

Multiply $0$ by $- 2$ .

$- 20 + 0$

Step 2.2.2

Add $- 20$ and $0$ .

$- 20$

Step 3

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

Step 4

Substitute the known values into the formula for the inverse.

$\frac{1}{- 20} [\begin{array}{c} - 5 & 2 \\ 0 & 4 \end{array}]$

Step 5

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{20} [\begin{array}{c} - 5 & 2 \\ 0 & 4 \end{array}]$

Step 6

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

$[\begin{array}{c} - \frac{1}{20} \cdot - 5 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7

Simplify each element in the matrix.

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Step 7.1

Cancel the common factor of $5$ .

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Step 7.1.1

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

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot - 5 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.2

Factor $5$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{5 (4)} \cdot - 5 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.3

Factor $5$ out of $- 5$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{5 \cdot 4} \cdot (5 \cdot - 1) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.4

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{5 \cdot 4} \cdot (5 \cdot - 1) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.1.5

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- 1}{4} \cdot - 1 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.2

Combine $\frac{- 1}{4}$ and $- 1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{- - 1}{4} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.3

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 7.4.1

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

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.4.2

Factor $2$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & \frac{- 1}{2 (10)} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.4.3

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & \frac{- 1}{2 \cdot 10} \cdot 2 \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.4.4

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & \frac{- 1}{10} \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.5

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.6

Multiply $- \frac{1}{20} \cdot 0$ .

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Step 7.6.1

Multiply $0$ by $- 1$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 (\frac{1}{20}) & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.6.2

Multiply $0$ by $\frac{1}{20}$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & - \frac{1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.7

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

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Step 7.7.1

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

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & \frac{- 1}{20} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.7.2

Factor $4$ out of $20$ .

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & \frac{- 1}{4 (5)} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.7.3

Cancel the common factor.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & \frac{- 1}{4 \cdot 5} \cdot 4 \end{array}]$

Step 7.7.4

Rewrite the expression.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & \frac{- 1}{5} \end{array}]$

Step 7.8

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$[\begin{array}{c} \frac{1}{4} & - \frac{1}{10} \\ 0 & - \frac{1}{5} \end{array}]$