Introduction to Matrices Examples

A matrix is a array of numbers set out in a table of varying shapes and sizes.
These sizes are described as the dimensions of the matrix. This is given by two numbers n and m and written in the form n x m.
The letter n represents the number of rows in the matrix, and m represents the number of columns.
Matrices are usually denoted in bold print with a capital letter, for example, The matrix M

Example 1
What is the order of the following matrices? Write down the element a21 in each case

(a)

2

4
7

(b)

4 7 -6 5 -11 2

9
5 10 11 0 2

How to add/subtract matrices?

You can add and subtract matrices of the same dimensions. To do so,
you just add/subtract corresponding elements in each matrix.

a)

How to multiply a matrix with a scalar?

A scalar value is just a number.
To multiply a matrix by a scalar, you simply multiply each element of
the matrix by that number.

Halve each element (you can

use fractions in matrices if
the division isnt exact!)

Example 2
Calculate the following:
4
7

(a)

-6

10

(c)

7
3


6 2 12 4
1


0

(b)

9
6

(32)

(23 )

-2

( )

1 0
2 2 1 3 1 1
3 4
2 5
(d)

Example 3
(a)

( 2y x7)

(b)

( )
a b
c 0

(34 2y )

2 5
3 d

( xz 99)

1 a
2
b 1

(c)

(2a e3)

(d)

( ) ( ) ( )

3 1
+ k
0 2

x
2
1 2
w
3

(38 16 )

x y
y 3
v 5

8 z
x w
w 8

Equal matrices
Two matrices are equal if all the corresponding elements are the same and also the dimension of
the matrix is the same
P=

(15

4 3
6 7

Q=

(15

T = (1 3 5 ) U =

4 3
6 7

()
1
3
5

Matrix P and Q are the equal

Matrix T and U are Not equal

Example 4
Find the value of x and y in each of the following.
3x
9
(a)
=
16
4y

( )

( )

(c)

( 2 x 3 y ) = ( 8 y )

(e)

x+ 3
(3
y)

(22 )

(b)

(8x 3y ) = ( x2
5y

(d)

( x +4 y 1y ) = ( 84 31)

(f)

(32y

x+ y
4

3
x8

) = (62 74)