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Matrices- PYQs | Engineering Mathematics

Last Updated : 5 Sep, 2025

In examinations, questions on matrices are considered very important. Most PYQs are based on definitions, basic operations, and special properties of matrices. To solve such questions, one must have a clear understanding of the fundamentals of matrices, their types, and standard results.

Short Question on Matrices

Question 1: Find the value of k such that the rank of

Question 2: Find the Inverse of the matrix

Question 3: If then find the eigenvalues of A -1.

Question 4: Determine if A is diagonalizable and, if so, find a diagonal matrix

Question 5: Find the characteristic equation of the matrix

Question 6: Solve the system of equations by the Gauss-Elimination Method: 4x - y = 3, 2x + y = 5

Question 7: Show that the matrix satisfies its own characteristic equation.

Question 8: Determine the null space of A and verify the Rank-Nullity Theorem.

Question 9: Solve the following equation by using Cramer's Rule: 2x + 3y = 7, 3x + 5y = 9

Question 10: Find the LU Decomposition of

Long Question on Matrices

Question 1: Find the eigen values .

Question 2: Solve the following question by gauss jordan method:

Question 3: Obtain the matrix A6 βˆ’25A 2 + 122A where .

Question 4: Verify Cayley- Hamilton for the matrix .

Question 5: Solve the following equations by using Cramer’s rule: x + 4 y + 3z = 2, 2x βˆ’ 6 y + 6z = βˆ’3, 5x βˆ’ 2 y + 3z = βˆ’5

Check if you were right - full answer with solution below.

Short Question on Matrices: Answers

Solution 1:

To find rank,

det(M1​)=2k+4.

  • If k β‰  βˆ’2 then det⁑(M1) β‰  0. rank = 3.
  • If k = βˆ’2, then det⁑(M1) = 0

, det(M2) = 6 β‰  0.

so, rank = 3 for all values of k.

Solution 2:

det(A)=(3+2i)(3βˆ’2i) βˆ’ (i)(βˆ’i).

= (3+2i)(3βˆ’2i)=9 βˆ’ (2i)2 = 9 + 4= 13

(i)(βˆ’i) =βˆ’ i2 = 1.

Therefore,

det⁑(A)= 13 βˆ’ 1 = 12.

Adjugate matrix

adj⁑(A) =

Finding inverse

A -1 = 1/12

Simplifying :

A -1 =

Solution 3:

If πœ† is an eigen values of A with eigenvectors v , then for A-1 :

Av = πœ†u
A -1 v = 1/ πœ† v

so matrix A is upper triangular matrix, so eigen values are the diagonal elements:

Ξ»1 = 3, Ξ»2 = 2, Ξ»3 = 5

Eigenvalues of A-1

u1 = 1/3 , u2 = 1/2, u3 = 1/5

Solution 4:

We solve det(A - πœ†) = 0

A - πœ† =

So it is upper traingular matrix

Block 1: = det = ( 2 - Ξ») (-1 - Ξ»)

Block 2: = det = (-3 - Ξ»)(2 - Ξ»)

So characteristic polynomial:

( 2 - Ξ») (-1 - Ξ»)(-3 - Ξ»)(2 - Ξ»)

EigenValues:

Ξ»1 = 2, Ξ»2 = -1, Ξ»3 = -3

Solution 5:

The characteristic equation is

𝝀 2 βˆ’ s1𝝀 + s2 = 0

s1 = sum of the main diagonal element = 1 + 2 = 3

s2 = |A| = = 2

Characteristic equation is 𝝀2 2 βˆ’ 3𝝀 + 2 = 0

Solution 6:

Write in augmented matrix form:

Elimination : R2 = R2 - 2R1

Back Subsitution :

y = 7/3 , x 5 - y /2 = 4 /3

so x = 4/3 and y = 7/3

Solution 7:

The characteristic equation of the given matrix is

|A - Ξ»I |= 0

A -Ξ»I = = (1 - Ξ»)(1 - Ξ») - (-2)(2) = Ξ»2 - 2Ξ» + 5

Hence, the characteristic equation is

Ξ»2 - 2Ξ» + 5 = 0

A2 - 2A + 5 = 0

A2 =

2A =

5I =

.

Solution 8:

  • Solve Ax = 0β€…β€ŠβŸΉβ€…β€Šx2 = 2x1
    Null space: N(A) = span{(1,2)T} Nullity = 1.
  • Rows are dependent β‡’ Rank = 1.
  • Rank–Nullity: 1 + 1 = 2 = number of columns.

Solution 9:

Determinats:

= 2(5) - 3(3) = 1

= 7(9) - 3(5) = 8

= 2(9) - 7(3) = -3

x = Dx/D = 8/1 = 8

y= Dy/D = -3/1 = -3

(x, y) = ( 8, -3)

Solution 10:

Let

From calculations:

Thus

\quad

Long Question on Matrices: Answers

Solution 1:

Characteristic polynomial:

Expanding along the first row:

= ( 8 - Ξ»)((7 - Ξ»)(3 - Ξ») -16) + 6 ((-6)(3 - Ξ») - (-8)) + 2(24 - (14 - 2Ξ»))

Simplifying the minors:

( 7 - Ξ»)(3 - Ξ») - 16 = Ξ»2 - 10Ξ» + 5

(- 6)(3 - Ξ») - (- 8) = 6Ξ» - 10

24 - (14 - 2Ξ») = (8 - Ξ»)(Ξ»2 - 10Ξ» + 5) + 6(6Ξ» - 10) + 2(10 + 2Ξ»)

Expand and combine terms:

(8βˆ’Ξ»)(Ξ»2βˆ’10Ξ»+5) = βˆ’Ξ»3 + 18Ξ»2 βˆ’ 85Ξ» + 40 + 40Ξ» βˆ’ 40
= βˆ’Ξ»3+ 18Ξ»2 βˆ’ 45

Factor: βˆ’Ξ»(Ξ»2 βˆ’ 18Ξ» + 45)
Ξ»2 βˆ’ 18Ξ» + 45=(Ξ»βˆ’3)(Ξ»βˆ’15)

Hence eigenvalues: Ξ»=0, 3, 15.

Solution 2:

Step 1: Augmented matrix:

Step 2: Make the first pivot 1 R 1 β†’R1/10

R2​ β†’ R2 β€‹βˆ’ 2R1​, R3 ​→ R3 β€‹βˆ’ R1​

R2​ β†’ 9.8R2​​

R1​ β†’ R1​ βˆ’ 0.1R2​, R3​ β†’ R3​ βˆ’ 0.9R2​

Step 7: Eliminate third column in R1 and R2

R3​ β†’ 4.826/R3​​

R1​ β†’R1​ βˆ’ 0.0918R3 ​, R2​ β†’ R2​ βˆ’ 0.0816R3​

x = 1, y = 1, z =1

Solution 3:

Find characteristic polynomial

det⁑(Aβˆ’Ξ»I) = 0

A - Ξ» =

Compute the determinant:

det⁑(Aβˆ’Ξ»I) = + 2

Compute first minor:

​​= (1 βˆ’ Ξ»)(3 βˆ’ Ξ») βˆ’ (0)(βˆ’1) = (1 βˆ’ Ξ»)(3 βˆ’ Ξ»)

Compute second minor:

= -2 + 1 - Ξ» = -1 - Ξ»

Now, determinant:

det⁑(A βˆ’ Ξ»I) = βˆ’Ξ»(Ξ»2 βˆ’ 4Ξ» + 3) βˆ’ 2 βˆ’ 2Ξ» =βˆ’ Ξ»3 + 4Ξ»2 βˆ’ 3Ξ» βˆ’ 2 βˆ’ 2Ξ» = βˆ’Ξ»3 + 4Ξ»2 βˆ’ 5Ξ» βˆ’ 2

Multiply by -1 for simplicity:

Ξ»3 βˆ’ 4Ξ»2 + 5Ξ» + 2 = 0

So the characteristic equation is:

Ξ»3 βˆ’ 4Ξ»2 + 5Ξ» + 2=0

Characterstic Equation :

A3βˆ’ 4A2 + 5A + 2I = 0β€…β€ŠβŸΉβ€…β€ŠA3 = 4A2 βˆ’ 5A βˆ’2I= 0

A4 = Aβ‹…A3 = A(4A2 βˆ’ 5A βˆ’ 2I) = 4A3 βˆ’5A2 βˆ’ 2A = 4(4A2 βˆ’ 5A βˆ’2I) βˆ’ 5A2 βˆ’ 2A = 11A2 βˆ’ 22A βˆ’ 8I

A6 = (A3)2 = (4A2 βˆ’ 5A βˆ’ 2I)2

Compute step by step:

16A4βˆ’ 40A3+ 9A2 + 20A + 4I

Substitute A4 and A3:

16(11A2 βˆ’ 22A βˆ’ 8I) βˆ’ 40(4A2 βˆ’ 5A βˆ’ 2I) + 9A2 + 20A + 4I

Simplify:

A6 = 25A2 βˆ’ 132A βˆ’ 44I

A6 βˆ’ 25A2 + 122A = (25A2βˆ’ 132A βˆ’44I) βˆ’ 25A2 + 122A = βˆ’10Aβˆ’44I

βˆ’10A βˆ’ 44I =

Solution 4:

Characteristic equation: ∣Aβˆ’Ξ»I∣ = 0

Ξ»3βˆ’ S1Ξ»2 + S2Ξ» βˆ’ S3 = 0

Where:

  • S1 = sum of diagonal elements= 1+ 2 + 1 = 4
  • S2 = sum of minors of leading diagonal elements.

Compute S2 :

  • Minor of a11 = = 2.1 - 3.2 = 2 - 6 = -4
  • Minor of a22 = = 1.1 -7.1 = 1 - 7 = -6
  • Minor of a33 == 1.2 -3.4 = 2 -12 = -10​

S2 = βˆ’4 βˆ’ 6 βˆ’ 10= βˆ’20

S3 = = 1(2.1 βˆ’ 3.2) βˆ’ 3(4.1 βˆ’ 3βˆ—.1) + 7(4.2 βˆ’ 2.1) = 1(βˆ’4) βˆ’ 3(1) + 7(6) = βˆ’4 βˆ’3 + 42 = 35

Ξ»3 βˆ’ 4Ξ»2 βˆ’ 20Ξ» βˆ’ 35 = 0

By Cayley-Hamilton:

A3 βˆ’ 4A2 βˆ’ 20A βˆ’ 35I = 0β€…β€Š

A =

A2 = A . A

=

=

=

A3 - 4A2 - 20A - 35I = 0

35I =

Perform the subtraction element-wise:

A3 - 4A2 - 20A - 35I

Calculate each element:

Thus, we verify that:

A3 - 4A2 - 20A - 35I = 0

Solution 5:

Solve the system using Cramer's Rule:

Step 1: Write coefficient matrix and constants vector

\]

Step 2: Compute det(Ax)

Calculate minors:

M11 = (-6)(3) - (6)(-2) = -18 + 12 = - 6

M12 = 2(3) - 6(5) = 6 - 30 = - 24

M13 = 2(-2) - (-6)5 = -4 + 30 = 26

Substitute back:

det(A) = 1(-6) - 4(-24) + 3(26) = -6 + 96 + 78 = 168

\]

Calculate minors:

M11 = (-6)(3) - (6)(-2) = -18 + 12 = -6

M12 = (-3)(3) - 6(-5) = -9 + 30 = 21

M13 = (-3)(-2) - (-6)(-5) = 6 - 30 = -24

Substitute:

det(Ax) = 2(-6) - 4(21) + 3(-24) = -12 - 84 - 72 = -168

Calculate minors:

M11 = (-3)(3) - 6(-5) = -9 + 30 = 21

M12 = 2(3) - 6(5) = 6 - 30 = -24

M13 = 2(-5) - (-3)5 = -10 + 15 = 5

det(Ay) = 1(21) - 2(-24) + 3(5) = 21 + 48 + 15 = 34

det(Az) =

Calculate minors:

M11 = (-6)(-5) - (-3)(-2) = 30 - 6 = 24

M12= 2(-5) - (-3)5 = -10 + 15 = 5

M13 = 2(-2) - (-6)5 = -4 + 30 = 26

Substitute:

det(Az) = 1(24) - 4(5) + 2(26) = 24 -20 + 52 = 56

x = - 1, y = 1/2 , z = 1/3

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