Matrix Properties and Formula Sheet
1. Basic Definitions
• Matrix: A rectangular array of numbers arranged in rows and columns.
• Order of Matrix: If a matrix has m rows and n columns, its order is m × n.
• Square Matrix: Number of rows = number of columns (m = n).
• Row Matrix: Only one row.
• Column Matrix: Only one column.
• Zero Matrix: All elements are zero.
• Diagonal Matrix: All non-diagonal elements are zero.
• Scalar Matrix: Diagonal matrix with equal diagonal elements.
• Identity Matrix (I): Diagonal elements are 1, others are 0.
• Transpose (A■): Interchanging rows and columns.
2. Matrix Operations
• Addition: A + B = [a■■ + b■■], defined when A and B are of same order.
• Subtraction: A - B = [a■■ - b■■].
• Scalar Multiplication: kA = [k × a■■].
• Matrix Multiplication: (AB)■■ = Σ a■■b■■, defined when columns of A = rows of B.
• (AB)■ = B■A■
• (kA)■ = kA■
• A(BC) = (AB)C (Associative Law)
• A(B + C) = AB + AC (Distributive Law)
3. Special Matrices and Properties
• Symmetric Matrix: A■ = A
• Skew-Symmetric Matrix: A■ = -A
• For any square matrix A, (A + A■) is symmetric and (A - A■) is skew-symmetric.
• Idempotent Matrix: A² = A
• Involutory Matrix: A² = I
• Orthogonal Matrix: A■A = AA■ = I
• Determinant of A (|A|): Scalar value used for solving systems and inverses.
4. Determinant Properties
• |A■| = |A|
• |AB| = |A||B|
• |kA| = k■|A| (for n×n matrix)
• If two rows/columns are identical → |A| = 0
• If any row/column is multiplied by k → determinant is multiplied by k
• Interchanging two rows/columns changes sign of determinant
5. Inverse and Adjoint
• Adjoint (adj A): Transpose of cofactor matrix of A.
• Inverse: A■¹ = (1/|A|) adj(A), if |A| ≠ 0
• AA■¹ = A■¹A = I
• If AB = I, then A = B■¹ and B = A■¹
6. Rank of a Matrix
• Rank: Maximum number of linearly independent rows or columns.
• If rank(A) = n for n×n matrix, then A is non-singular (|A| ≠ 0).
• If rank(A) < n, A is singular (|A| = 0).
7. System of Linear Equations
• AX = B form, where A = coefficient matrix, X = variable matrix, B = constant matrix.
• If |A| ≠ 0 → unique solution, X = A■¹B.
• If |A| = 0 and rank(A) = rank(A|B) < n → infinitely many solutions.
• If rank(A) ≠ rank(A|B) → no solution.
8. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
• If A is a square matrix, λ is an eigenvalue if A X = λX for some non-zero vector X.
• To find λ: solve |A - λI| = 0 (characteristic equation).
• Corresponding vector X is eigenvector of λ.
9. Important Formulas Summary
• (A■)■ = A
• (AB)■ = B■A■
• (A■¹)■ = (A■)■¹
• |A■¹| = 1/|A|
• adj(AB) = adj(B) adj(A)
• If A is orthogonal → A■¹ = A■
