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Mathematics — Class 12 — L20: Matrices

NIOS Code 311 · Module 6 · Algebra-II

Notes extracted from NIOS Mathematics Course (311), Lesson 20 — Matrices (ilovepdf_merged (6).pdf). Content covers sections 20.1–20.x.
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Overview — Matrices (L20)

A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers arranged in m rows and n columns. This lesson covers types of matrices, equality, addition, scalar multiplication, multiplication, transpose, and elementary ideas used later for determinants and inverses.

A = [aᵢⱼ]_(m×n)
aᵢⱼ = entry in i-th row, j-th column
Matrix A (m×n) a₁₁ a₁₂ a₁₃ a₂₁ a₂₂ a₂₃
Rows × columns layout of a matrix

20.1 Types

  • Row / column matrix: 1×n or m×1.
  • Square matrix: m = n. Diagonal, scalar, identity I, zero O, symmetric (Aᵀ=A), skew-symmetric (Aᵀ=−A).

20.2 Operations

Addition: only for same order; add corresponding entries. Scalar multiple: kA multiplies every entry by k.

Multiplication: AB defined when columns of A = rows of B. Entry (i,j) of AB is the dot product of row i of A with column j of B. In general AB ≠ BA.

(AB)C = A(BC) · A(B+C)=AB+AC
Associative & distributive when products exist

20.3 Transpose

Aᵀ is obtained by writing rows of A as columns. (AB)ᵀ = BᵀAᵀ. (Aᵀ)ᵀ = A.

Exam trap: Multiplying matrices of incompatible orders — always check n of A equals m of B.

MCQ Quiz — L20 Matrices

0 / 10 correct

Flashcards — L20

1 / 16

Golden Rules — L20 Matrices

Most exam-important points from this chapter:

Know the definitions of L20

Start every answer with the key definition or standard form from Matrices.

Write the formula first

Copy the formula, then substitute values; never jump to the number alone.

Watch conditions

Check domain, quadrant, non-zero denominators, and applicability of the theorem.

Master result 1

Memorise and apply: Find the minors of the elements of the 3rd row of matrix

Master result 2

Memorise and apply: Find the cofactors of elements of the 2nd row of matrix

Order m×n
A+B, kA
AB (compatible)
(AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ
I identity
Symmetric Aᵀ=A

1. Formulas & Definitions

Full Ch 20 — Matrices study guide: definitions, derivations, why each formula works, history, deep understanding, pencil diagrams, step-by-step use, and 4-level solved examples.

AB (matrix product)

Definition: If A is m×n and B is n×p, product AB is m×p with (AB)ᵢⱼ = row i of A · column j of B.

Derivation

Composition of linear maps: apply B then A.

Variables

Inner dimensions must match (n)

Why it works

Each entry mixes one row with one column — encodes successive linear actions.

Historical context

Cayley developed matrix algebra in the 1850s.

Deep understanding

AB ≠ BA in general; always check order.

2. Diagrams & Visuals

AB (matrix product) Row of A × column of B Inner size n must match AB ≠ BA often

Pencil sketch · labelled · step-by-step breakdown below

  1. Check dimensions n match
  2. For each i,j compute row·column
  3. Write m×p result
  4. Never assume commutativity

3. Solved Examples

Basic

Q: [[1,2],[3,4]][[1,0],[0,1]]

Solution: Equals A

Answer: A itself

Intermediate

Q: [[1,2],[3,4]][[2,0],[1,3]]

Solution: [[4,6],[10,12]]

Answer: [[4,6],[10,12]]

Advanced

Q: Show AB≠BA for A=[[0,1],[0,0]], B=[[0,0],[1,0]]

Solution: AB=[[1,0],[0,0]], BA=[[0,0],[0,1]]

Answer: Not equal

Exam

Q: Order of AB if A is 2×3, B is 3×4.

Solution: 2×4

Answer: 2 × 4

(AB)ᵀ = Bᵀ Aᵀ

Definition: Transpose of a product reverses the order.

Derivation

Entry-wise: ((AB)ᵀ)ᵢⱼ = (AB)ⱼᵢ = row j of A · col i of B = row i of Bᵀ · col j of Aᵀ.

Variables

Aᵀ flips rows and columns

Why it works

Order reverse mirrors composition of adjoints.

Historical context

Standard identity in linear algebra texts.

Deep understanding

Useful for proving symmetry of AᵀA.

2. Diagrams & Visuals

(AB)ᵀ = Bᵀ Aᵀ Transpose flips Product order reverses (AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ

Pencil sketch · labelled · step-by-step breakdown below

  1. Take Bᵀ then Aᵀ
  2. Multiply in that order
  3. Compare with (AB)ᵀ
  4. Use in proofs

3. Solved Examples

Basic

Q: (I)ᵀ?

Solution: I

Answer: I

Intermediate

Q: If A symmetric, Aᵀ=?

Solution: A

Answer: A

Advanced

Q: (ABC)ᵀ

Solution: CᵀBᵀAᵀ

Answer: Cᵀ Bᵀ Aᵀ

Exam

Q: If AB = I then BᵀAᵀ=?

Solution: I

Answer: I

A + B and kA

Definition: Addition entrywise for same order; scalar multiplies every entry.

Derivation

Vector space structure on M_{m×n}.

Variables

A,B same order · k scalar

Why it works

Matrices of same shape form a vector space.

Historical context

Part of Cayley’s matrix algebra framework.

Deep understanding

Cannot add different orders.

2. Diagrams & Visuals

A + B and kA Same order to add kA scales entries Vector space of matrices

Pencil sketch · labelled · step-by-step breakdown below

  1. Confirm same order for +
  2. Add corresponding entries
  3. For kA multiply each entry
  4. Keep order m×n

3. Solved Examples

Basic

Q: [[1,2]]+[[3,4]]

Solution: [[4,6]]

Answer: [[4, 6]]

Intermediate

Q: 3[[1,−1],[0,2]]

Solution: [[3,−3],[0,6]]

Answer: [[3,−3],[0,6]]

Advanced

Q: Solve X+[[1,0],[0,1]]=[[2,3],[4,5]]

Solution: X=[[1,3],[4,4]]

Answer: [[1,3],[4,4]]

Exam

Q: Can 2×3 and 3×2 be added?

Solution: No

Answer: No — different order

5. Special Features & Extras

Complete study guide — exam tips, common mistakes, memory aids, and quick reference.

Exam Tips & Tricks

  • Write orders before multiplying.
  • Check AB and BA separately.
  • I_n is multiplicative identity.

Common Student Mistakes

  • Multiplying when columns ≠ rows
  • Assuming AB=BA
  • Transposing product without reversing

Memory Aids & Mnemonics

Multiply: “row-dot-column”.
Transpose product: reverse the order.

Which Formula When?

  • Combine linear maps → multiply
  • Flip rows/cols → transpose
  • Same shape arithmetic → + and kA

Quick reference box

• AB needs n match · (AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ · A+B entrywise

PYQ — Previous Year Questions

English questions from NIOS Mathematics (311) public / sample papers (Sample 2024, Apr 2024, Oct 2024, Apr 2025; board-style where scanned papers had no extractable text). Mapped exclusively to this chapter — no cross-chapter duplicates. Use Model Answer for the marking key and Explanation for working.

L20 — Matrices

5 question(s) · Sources: Board-style multiplication, Board-style transpose property, Sample QP 2024

PYQ1. If A = [[1, 2], [3, 4]], then A + Aᵀ equals:

  • (A) [[2,5],[5,8]]
  • (B) [[2,8],[5,5]]
  • (C) [[2,5],[8,5]]
  • (D) [[1,5],[5,4]]

1 mark(s) · MCQ · Sample QP 2024 · Q7

Model Answer

1)  [[2, 5], [5, 8]]

Explanation

1)  Aᵀ=[[1,3],[2,4]]. A+Aᵀ=[[2,5],[5,8]].

PYQ2. If [[p+q, 2], [5, q]] = [[6, 2], [5, 2]], find p.

1 mark(s) · SA · Sample QP 2024 · Q8

Model Answer

1)  p = 4

Explanation

1)  Equating: q=2 and p+q=6 ⇒ p+2=6 ⇒ p=4.

PYQ3. If A = [[1, 0], [0, 0]] and B = [[0, 0], [0, 1]], find AB.

1 mark(s) · SA · Sample QP 2024 · Q6 concept

Model Answer

1)  [[0, 0], [0, 0]] (zero matrix)

Explanation

1)  Row-column products: first row of A times columns of B give zeros

2)  second row of A is zero. Hence AB = O.

PYQ4. State (AB)ᵀ in terms of Aᵀ and Bᵀ (when AB is defined).

1 mark(s) · SA · Board-style transpose property

Model Answer

1)  (AB)ᵀ = Bᵀ Aᵀ

Explanation

1)  Transpose of a product reverses the order of the factors.

PYQ5. If A=[[1,2],[0,1]] and B=[[3,0],[1,4]], compute AB.

2 mark(s) · SA · Board-style multiplication

Model Answer

1)  [[5, 8], [1, 4]]

Explanation

1)  AB₁₁=1·3+2·1=5; AB₁₂=1·0+2·4=8; AB₂₁=0·3+1·1=1; AB₂₂=0·0+1·4=4.

Problem Solving — L20 Matrices

10 English exam-style problems for this chapter (NIOS Mathematics 311). Each question states the formula, gives full step-by-step working with the final answer, plus formal/easy explanations. English only.

Question 1 of 10Order

If A = [[1,2,3],[0,−1,4]], write the order of A and the entry a₂₃.

Order = rows × columns

1)  A has 2 rows and 3 columns ⇒ order 2×3.

2)  a₂₃ is row 2, column 3 = 4.

Answer:  Order 2×3; a₂₃ = 4

Formula used

Order = rows × columns

Textbook formal language

Order is m×n; aᵢⱼ is the element in row i, column j.

Easy language (same calculation)

Two rows, three columns; bottom-right-ish entry in row2 col3 is 4.

Why this formula

Indexing starts at 1 in standard school notation.

Exam tip

Do not confuse a₂₃ with a₃₂ (which does not exist here).

Common mistakes

  • Saying 3×2
  • a₂₃=−1
Question 2 of 10Addition

If A=[[1,2],[3,4]] and B=[[0,−1],[5,2]], find A+B.

(A+B)ᵢⱼ = aᵢⱼ + bᵢⱼ

1)  A+B = [[1+0, 2+(−1)],[3+5, 4+2]] = [[1,1],[8,6]].

Answer:  [[1, 1], [8, 6]]

Formula used

(A+B)ᵢⱼ = aᵢⱼ + bᵢⱼ

Textbook formal language

Matrix addition is entrywise for equal order matrices.

Easy language (same calculation)

Add numbers in the same positions.

Why this formula

A−B subtracts entrywise.

Exam tip

Orders must match.

Common mistakes

  • Multiplying instead of adding
  • Order error
Question 3 of 10Multiplication

Compute AB if A=[[1,2],[0,1]] and B=[[3,0],[1,4]].

(AB)ᵢⱼ = row i of A · column j of B

1)  AB₁₁ = 1·3+2·1 = 5; AB₁₂ = 1·0+2·4 = 8.

2)  AB₂₁ = 0·3+1·1 = 1; AB₂₂ = 0·0+1·4 = 4.

3)  AB = [[5,8],[1,4]].

Answer:  [[5, 8], [1, 4]]

Formula used

(AB)ᵢⱼ = row i of A · column j of B

Textbook formal language

Row-by-column multiplication yields [[5,8],[1,4]].

Easy language (same calculation)

Dot each row of A with each column of B.

Why this formula

AB and BA need not be equal; check BA separately if asked.

Exam tip

Inner dimensions must agree (here both 2×2).

Common mistakes

  • Elementwise multiplication
  • Arithmetic slip in a dot product
Question 4 of 10Transpose

Find the transpose of A=[[1,2,3],[4,5,6]].

(Aᵀ)ᵢⱼ = aⱼᵢ

1)  Rows become columns: Aᵀ = [[1,4],[2,5],[3,6]].

2)  Order becomes 3×2.

Answer:  [[1,4],[2,5],[3,6]] (order 3×2)

Formula used

(Aᵀ)ᵢⱼ = aⱼᵢ

Textbook formal language

Transpose interchanges rows and columns.

Easy language (same calculation)

Write the first row downward as the first column, etc.

Why this formula

(Aᵀ)ᵀ=A; (AB)ᵀ=BᵀAᵀ.

Exam tip

Order flips from m×n to n×m.

Common mistakes

  • Keeping order 2×3
  • Transposing only one row
Question 5 of 10Scalar

If A=[[2,−1],[0,3]], find 3A.

(kA)ᵢⱼ = k aᵢⱼ

1)  3A = [[6,−3],[0,9]].

Answer:  [[6, −3], [0, 9]]

Formula used

(kA)ᵢⱼ = k aᵢⱼ

Textbook formal language

Scalar multiplication multiplies every entry by the scalar.

Easy language (same calculation)

Triple each number in the matrix.

Why this formula

Distributes over addition: k(A+B)=kA+kB.

Exam tip

Sign of −1 becomes −3.

Common mistakes

  • Adding 3 instead of multiplying
  • Missing a zero
Question 6 of 10Identity

Write the 2×2 identity matrix I₂ and compute I₂[[2,1],[0,3]].

AI = IA = A

1)  I₂ = [[1,0],[0,1]].

2)  I₂A = A = [[2,1],[0,3]].

Answer:  I₂=[[1,0],[0,1]]; product = [[2,1],[0,3]]

Formula used

AI = IA = A

Textbook formal language

The identity acts as the multiplicative neutral element for compatible matrices.

Easy language (same calculation)

Ones on the diagonal, zeros elsewhere; multiplying by I leaves A unchanged.

Why this formula

Only square identity matrices are used this way.

Exam tip

Do not write all ones.

Common mistakes

  • [[0,1],[1,0]] as I
  • Changing A
Question 7 of 10Multiply

If A = [[1, 0], [2, 3]] and B = [[2, 1], [0, 4]], find AB.

Row of A · column of B

1)  Row1·col1: 1·2+0·0=2; row1·col2: 1·1+0·4=1.

2)  Row2·col1: 2·2+3·0=4; row2·col2: 2·1+3·4=14.

3)  AB = [[2, 1], [4, 14]].

Answer:  [[2, 1], [4, 14]]

Formula used

Row of A · column of B

Textbook formal language

Matrix product by row–column multiplication.

Easy language (same calculation)

Each entry is a dot product.

Why this formula

Order 2×2 times 2×2 gives 2×2.

Exam tip

Check each algebraic step carefully.

Common mistakes

  • Adding instead of multiplying
  • BA instead of AB
Question 8 of 10Transpose

Find the transpose of [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].

(Aᵀ)ᵢⱼ = Aⱼᵢ

1)  Rows become columns: [[1, 4], [2, 5], [3, 6]].

Answer:  [[1, 4], [2, 5], [3, 6]]

Formula used

(Aᵀ)ᵢⱼ = Aⱼᵢ

Textbook formal language

Transpose flips rows and columns.

Easy language (same calculation)

3 columns become 3 rows.

Why this formula

Order changes from 2×3 to 3×2.

Exam tip

Check each algebraic step carefully.

Common mistakes

  • Same matrix
  • Only reversing rows
Question 9 of 10Scalar

If A = [[2, −1], [0, 3]], find −2A.

kA multiplies every entry

1)  −2A = [[−4, 2], [0, −6]].

Answer:  [[−4, 2], [0, −6]]

Formula used

kA multiplies every entry

Textbook formal language

Scalar multiplication acts entrywise.

Easy language (same calculation)

Multiply each number by −2.

Why this formula

Signs change carefully.

Exam tip

Check each algebraic step carefully.

Common mistakes

  • Only first row
  • Adding −2
Question 10 of 10Compatible

Can we form AB if A is 2×3 and B is 2×3? Explain.

AB needs columns(A)=rows(B)

1)  A has 3 columns; B has 2 rows.

2)  3 ≠ 2 ⇒ AB is not defined.

Answer:  No — AB not defined

Formula used

AB needs columns(A)=rows(B)

Textbook formal language

Inner dimensions must match for a product.

Easy language (same calculation)

Need B to have 3 rows.

Why this formula

BA would need columns(B)=rows(A) ⇒ 3=2, also false.

Exam tip

Check each algebraic step carefully.

Common mistakes

  • Saying yes
  • Confusing with addition