Matrix Inverse
If A is a non-singular square matrix, there is an existence of n x n matrix A-1, which is called
the inverse matrix of A such that it satisfies the property:
AA-1 = A-1A = I, where I is the Identity matrix
The identity matrix for the 2 x 2 matrix is given by
Inverse Matrix Method
The inverse of a matrix can be found using the three different methods. However, any of these
three methods will produce the same result.
Method 1:
Similarly, we can find the inverse of a 3×3 matrix by finding the determinant value of the given
matrix.
Method 2:
One of the most important methods of finding the matrix inverse involves finding the minors and
cofactors of elements of the given matrix. Observe the below steps to understand this method
clearly.
The inverse matrix is also found using the following equation:
A-1= adj(A)/det(A),
where adj(A) refers to the adjoint of a matrix A, det(A) refers to the determinant of a matrix A.
The adjoint of a matrix A or adj(A) can be found using the following method.
In order to find the adjoint of a matrix A first, find the cofactor matrix of a given matrix and
then
take the transpose of a cofactor matrix.
The cofactor of a matrix can be obtained as
Cij = (-1)i+j det (Mij)
Here, Mij refers to the (i,j)th minor matrix after removing the ith row and the jth column. You can also
say that the transpose of a cofactor matrix is also called the adjoint of a matrix A.
Learn how to find the adjoint of a matrix here.
Similarly, we can also find the inverse of a 3 x 3 matrix. Here also the first step would be to find the
determinant, followed by the next step – Transpose.
Method 3:
Finding an Inverse Matrix by Elementary Transformation
Let us consider three matrices X, A and B such that X = AB. To determine the inverse of a matrix
using elementary transformation, we convert the given matrix into an identity matrix. Learn more
about how to do elementary transformations of matrices here.
If the inverse of matrix A, A-1 exists then to determine A-1 using elementary row operations
1. Write A = IA, where I is the identity matrix of the same order as A.
2. Apply a sequence of row operations till we get an identity matrix on the LHS and use the same elementary
operations on the RHS to get I = BA. The matrix B on the RHS is the inverse of matrix A.
3. To find the inverse of A using column operations, write A = IA and apply column operations sequentially
till I = AB is obtained, where B is the inverse matrix of A.
Click here to understand the method of finding the inverse of a matrix using elementary operations.
Inverse of a Matrix Formula
Let
A=[abcd]
be the 2 x 2 matrix. The inverse matrix of A is given by the formula,
A−1=1ad−bc[d−b−ca]
Let
A=[a11a12a13a21a22a23a31a32a33]
be the 3 x 3 matrix. The inverse matrix is:
Inverse Matrix 2 x 2 Example
To understand this concept better let us take a look at the following example.
Example: Find the inverse of matrix A given below:
Inverse Matrix 3 x 3 Example
Problem:
Solution:
Determinant of the given matrix is
Let us find the minors of the given matrix as given below:
Now, find the adjoint of a matrix by taking the transpose of cofactors of the given matrix.
Now,
A-1 = (1/|A|) Adj A
Hence, the inverse of the given matrix is:
Properties
A few important properties of the inverse matrix are listed below.
If A is nonsingular, then (A-1)-1 = A
If A and B are nonsingular matrices, then AB is nonsingular. Thus, (AB) -1 = B-1A-1
If A is nonsingular then (AT)-1 = (A-1)T
If A is any matrix and A-1 is its inverse, then AA-1 = A-1A = In, where n is the order of matrices
Practice Problems
1. Find the inverse of a matrix:
A=[1233−21411]
2. Obtain the inverse of the matrix using elementary operations:
A=[012123311]
3. Find the inverse of a matrix:
[1234]
