Unit 10: Matrices

Precalculus Honors | Standards PC.NR.1 & PC.PAFR.7

Brian Risden

Standards Overview

We will explore the representation and manipulation of data using matrices and using them in solving complex systems.

  • Matrix Operations (PC.NR.1) — Addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Exploring identity/zero matrices and the non-commutative nature of multiplication.
  • Inverses & Determinants (PC.NR.1) — Finding additive and multiplicative inverses and using determinants to verify inverse existence.
  • Systems & Modeling (PC.PAFR.7) — Solving linear-quadratic systems and representing linear systems as matrix equations (\(AX = B\)).

Matrix Operations & Properties

Basic Definitions

Identity Matrix (\(I\)): A square matrix with 1s on the main diagonal and 0s elsewhere. Multiplying any matrix \(A\) by \(I\) results in \(A\).

Zero Matrix (\(0\)): A matrix of any dimension where every element is 0. Adding it to \(A\) results in \(A\).

Commutativity: Unlike real numbers, matrix multiplication is not commutative. In general, \(AB \neq BA\).

Interactive: Matrix Commutativity Check

Practice: PC.NR.1.1

1. Find \(A + B\) if \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & -1 \\ 4 & 0 \end{bmatrix}\) and \(B = \begin{bmatrix} 5 & 3 \\ -2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\).

\(\begin{bmatrix} 2+5 & -1+3 \\ 4-2 & 0+1 \end{bmatrix}\) \(\rightarrow\) \(\begin{bmatrix} 7 & 2 \\ 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\)

2. Multiply \(C = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\) by scalar \(k = -3\).

\(\begin{bmatrix} -3(1) & -3(2) \\ -3(3) & -3(4) \end{bmatrix}\) \(\rightarrow\) \(\begin{bmatrix} -3 & -6 \\ -9 & -12 \end{bmatrix}\)

3. Find the product \(AB\) if \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\) and \(B = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 1 \\ 4 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\).

\(\begin{bmatrix} (1)(3)+(0)(4) & (1)(1)+(0)(2) \\ (2)(3)+(1)(4) & (2)(1)+(1)(2) \end{bmatrix}\) \(\rightarrow\) \(\begin{bmatrix} 3 & 1 \\ 10 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\)

4. True or False: If \(A\) is \(2 \times 3\) and \(B\) is \(3 \times 2\), then \(AB\) and \(BA\) are both defined.

True. \(AB\) is \(2 \times 2\) and \(BA\) is \(3 \times 3\). However, they cannot be equal because their dimensions differ!

5. Identify the \(3 \times 3\) Identity Matrix \(I_3\).

\(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\)

Determinants & Inverses

The Role of the Determinant

For a square matrix \(A\), the determinant (\(\det A\) or \(|A|\)) is a scalar value that determines if an inverse exists.

Invertibility: A square matrix \(A\) has a multiplicative inverse \(A^{-1}\) if and only if \(\det A \neq 0\).

2x2 Formula: If \(A = \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}\), then \(\det A = ad - bc\).

Multiplicative Inverse: \(A^{-1} = \frac{1}{\det A} \begin{bmatrix} d & -b \\ -c & a \end{bmatrix}\).

Practice: PC.NR.1.2 - 1.4

1. Find the determinant of \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 2 \\ 5 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\).

\((3)(4) - (2)(5) = 12 - 10\) \(\rightarrow\) 2

2. Does the matrix \(B = \begin{bmatrix} 6 & 3 \\ 4 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\) have an inverse?

\(\det B = (6)(2) - (3)(4) = 12 - 12 = 0\) \(\rightarrow\) No inverse exists (singular matrix).

3. Find the additive inverse of \(C = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 5 \\ 0 & -2 \end{bmatrix}\).

\(-C = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -5 \\ 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\)

4. Calculate \(A^{-1}\) for \(A = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 1 \\ 7 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\).

\(\det A = 8 - 7 = 1\). \(A^{-1} = \frac{1}{1}\begin{bmatrix} 4 & -1 \\ -7 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\)

5. If \(\det(M) = 5\), what is \(\det(M^{-1})\)?

\(\det(M^{-1}) = \frac{1}{\det M}\) \(\rightarrow\) \(\frac{1}{5}\)

Systems of Equations

Linear-Quadratic Systems

A system consisting of a line and a parabola can have 0, 1, or 2 real solutions.

Algebraic Path: Set the equations equal (\(f(x) = g(x)\)) and solve the resulting quadratic equation.

Graphical Path: Identify the points of intersection on the coordinate plane.

Matrix Equations: \(AX = B\)

Any system of linear equations can be written as a single matrix equation:

\(\begin{cases} a_1x + b_1y = c_1 \\ a_2x + b_2y = c_2 \end{cases} \implies \begin{bmatrix} a_1 & b_1 \\ a_2 & b_2 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} c_1 \\ c_2 \end{bmatrix}\)

  • \(A\): Coefficient Matrix
  • \(X\): Variable Vector
  • \(B\): Output/Constant Vector

To solve: \(X = A^{-1}B\)

Practice: PC.PAFR.7

1. Solve the system: \(y = x^2\) and \(y = x + 2\).

\(x^2 = x + 2 \rightarrow x^2 - x - 2 = 0 \rightarrow (x-2)(x+1) = 0\) Solutions: \((2, 4)\) and \((-1, 1)\)

2. How many solutions does \(y = x^2 + 5\) and \(y = 2\) have?

\(x^2 + 5 = 2 \rightarrow x^2 = -3\) \(\rightarrow\) 0 real solutions (no intersection).

3. Represent as \(AX=B\): \(\begin{cases} 3x - 2y = 10 \\ 5x + y = 7 \end{cases}\)

\(\begin{bmatrix} 3 & -2 \\ 5 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 10 \\ 7 \end{bmatrix}\)

4. Use a graph to solve \(\sqrt{x+3} = x + 1\).

Points of intersection for \(f(x)=\sqrt{x+3}\) and \(g(x)=x+1\). Intersection at \(x = 1\).

5. Solve \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & -1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 6 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix}\) using \(X = A^{-1}B\).

\(\det A = -2, A^{-1} = -\frac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} -1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0.5 & 0.5 \\ 0.5 & -0.5 \end{bmatrix}\) \(X = \begin{bmatrix} 0.5(6)+0.5(2) \\ 0.5(6)-0.5(2) \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 4 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix}\)

Summary

Feature Key Concept Constraint
Multiplication \(AB \neq BA\) Inner dimensions must match
Inverse \(A \cdot A^{-1} = I\) \(\det A \neq 0\)
Systems \(AX = B\) \(X = A^{-1}B\)
Lin-Quad Intersection points Max 2 solutions

\(ad - bc = \det A\) \(\quad\) \(A^{-1} = \frac{1}{\det A} \begin{bmatrix} d & -b \\ -c & a \end{bmatrix}\) \(\quad\) \(f(x) = g(x)\)

Geometric Interpretations (PC.NR.3.2)

  • Addition: Follows the parallelogram rule (identical to vectors).
  • Conjugation: A reflection over the Real (\(x\)) axis.
  • Multiplication by \(i\): A \(90^\circ\) counter-clockwise rotation.
  • Multiplication by \(r(\cos \theta + i \sin \theta)\): A scaling by \(r\) and rotation by \(\theta\).