MATRIX AND DETERMINANTS

Single Type
1 0 0  1 0 0 
1. If A  0 1 1  , I  0 1 0 
  and A –1 
6
 A  cA  d 
1 2
then the values
0 2 4   0 0 1 

of c and d are respectively -

(A) –6, –11 (B) 6, 11
(C) –6, 11 (D) None of these
Ans: (C)
We evaluate A and A and write the given equation as
2 3

1 3
AA –1  I   A  cA 2  dA  .
6

Comparing the corresponding elements on both the sides,

we get c  –6, d  11.

0  
2. If A   2    is an orthogonal matrix, then the number of
    

possible triplets  , ,  
(A) 8 (B) 6
(C) 4 (D) 2
Ans: (A)
AAT  I
 0     0 2    1 0 0 
2         0 1 0 
    
         0 0 1

1
 2 2 0 0  1 0 0
 
  0 6 2
0   0 1 0 
 0 0 3  2  0 0 1


 22  1, 62  1, 3 2  1
1 1 1
  ,   ,  
2 6 3

 1 tan x 
3. If A then A T A –1 
 – tan x 1 
 cos 2x – sin 2x   – cos 2x sin 2x 
(A)  sin 2x cos 2x 
(B)  – sin 2x cos 2x 
  
 sin 2x cos 2x 
(C)  cos 2x sin 2x 
(D) None of these

Ans: (A)
1 tan x
A 
– tan x 1
 1  tan2 x  0. So A is invertible.
Let Cij be the cofactor of aij in A  aij 

Then C11  (–1)111  1,

C12  (–1)12 (– tan x)  tan x

C21  (–1)21 tan x  – tan x, C22   –1

2 2
.1
T
 1 tan x   1 – tan x 
 adj A    
 – tan x 1   tan x 1 
1
Now, A –1 
A
adj A

 1 – tan x 
1  1 – tan x   1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x 
 A –1    
(1  tan2 x)  tan x 1   tan x 1 
 1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x 
 1 – tan x 
 1 – tan x   1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x 
 A T A –1     
 tan x 1   tan x 1 
1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x 

2
  1– tan2 x – 2 tan x 
 
1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x  cos 2x – sin 2x 
  
 2 tan x 1– tan2 x   sin 2x cos 2x 
 
 1  tan2 x 1  tan2 x 

 0 2y z 
4. Let A   x y z  and A  A  I, then the value of x 2  y2  z 2 is -
 x  y z 

(A) 1 (B) 2
1
(C) (D) None of these
2
Ans: (A)
0 x x  0 2y z   2x 2 0 0 
 
I  A A  2y y  y   x y z    0 6y 2
0 
 z z z   x  y z   0 0 3z 2 


 2x2  6y2  3z2  1

1 1 1 3  1 2
 x 2  y 2  z2     1
2 6 3 6

 1 2 a b 
5. Let A  and B  are two matrices such that AB =
 3 4 c d 
a d
BA and c  0, then value of is
3b  c
(A) 0 (B) 2
(C) –2 (D) –1
Ans: (D)
 1 2  a b   a  2c b  2d 
AB       
3 4  c d 3a  4c 2c  4d
a b   1 2  a  3b 2a  4b 
BA     
c d 3 4  c  3d 2c  4d

if AB = BA, then a + 2c = a + 3b
3
  2c  3b  b  0

b  2d  2a  4b

 2a – 2d  –3b
3
 b
ad 2
  –1
3b  c 3
3b  b
2

6. It a, b and c are the pth, qth and rth terms of an HP. then
bc ca ab
p q r 
1 1 1

(A) A term containing a, b, c, p, q, r (B) a constant

(C) zero (D) none of these
Ans: (C)
If A is the first term and D is the common difference of the
corresponding A.P. then
1
 A  (p – 1) D
a
1
 A  (q – 1) D
b
1
 A  (r – 1) D
c
1 1 1
a b c A  (p – 1) D A  (q – 1) D A  (r – 1) D
Now   abc p q r  abc p q r
1 1 1 1 1 1

0 0 0
Operating R1  R1 – D(R2 ) – (A – D)R3   abc p q r  0
1 1 1

Hence, (C) is the correct answer.

4
 2r  1 m
Cr 1
7. Let m be a positive integer and r  m 1
2
2 m
m 1 .
sin 2 (m 2 ) sin 2 (m) sin(m 2 )
m
Then the value of   is given by r
r 0

(A) 0 (B) m –1 2

(C) 2 m
(D) 2 sin (2 ) m 2 m

Ans: (A)
Using concept of summation of determinant.
m
We get R1,R 2 are identical so   is zero. r
r 0

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

8. Given x  vy  bz; y  az  cx; z  bx  ay where x, y, z are not all

zero. The value of a  b  c  2abc is:
2 2 2

(A) 1 (B) 0
(C) 2 (D) 3
Ans: (A)
–x  cy  bz  0

cx – y  az  0

bx  ay – z  0

Since x, y, z are not all zero, using the condition for

concurrency
1 c b
c 1 a  0  – 1  2abc  a2  b2  c 2  0
b a 1

 a2  b2  c 2  2abc  1.

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

5
 n
9. If   n  an 2  bn, where a, b are constants and
n 1

1 ,  2 , 3  1, 2, 3, ..., 9 and 251 , 37 2 , 493 be three digit numbers,

1 2 3
then 5 7 9 
251 37 2 493

(A)  1   2  3 (B) 1 –  2  3

(C) 7 (D) 0
Ans: (D)
n
 n  an2  bn
n 1

as sum of a series is a quadratic function of n so this series

must be an A.P. so 2     2 1 3

Applying R  R – 10R  R  3 3 2 1

1 2 3
5 7 9
200 300 400

1 0 3
 C  C3 
C2  C2 –  1  5 0 9 0
 2 
200 0 400

10. In a third order determinant, each element of the first

column consists of sum of two terms, each element of the
second column consists of sum of three terms and each
element of third column consists of sum of four terms.
Then, it can be decomposed in n determinants, where n has
the value
(A) 24 (B) 16
(C) 9 (D) 1
6
Ans: (A)
No. of determination corresponding to 1st column = 2
No. of determinants corresponding to 2nd column = 3
No. of determinants corresponding to 3rd column = 4
Total No.  2  3  4  24
From multiplication theorem
So, choice (A) is correct.

Multiple Correct Type

0 0 1 
11. If A  0 1 0  , then
1 0 0 

 0 0 1
(A) Adj A is a zero matrix (B) Adj A   0 1 0 
 1 0 0 

(C) A  A –1
(D) A  I 2

Ans: (B, C)
(A) is obviously false and since most of the elements in A
are 0, the adjoint can be easily found.
 0 0 1
We note that adj A   0 1 0 
 1 0 0 

Choice (B) is correct.

Now A  adj  adj A  A  1
A –1

|A|

 Choice (C) is also true.

If A  I then A  A  Adj A which is not true.
2 –1

 Choice (D) is not true.

7
  
 0  tan
2
12. If A  and I is identity matrix of order 2 then
 tan  0 
 2 
 cos  sin    cos   sin  
(A) I  A  (I – A)   (B) I  A  (1  A)  
  sin  cos     sin  cos  
cos   sin  
(C) I  A  (I – A)   (D) (A) and (B) are not true
 sin  cos  
Ans: (C, D)
0 1
If   /2 A 
1 0 
1 1  1 1
I A    & I– A   
1 1   1 1
1 1
(A)  R.H.S.    I A
 1 1

(A) is false


Similarly (B) is incorrect

 1 1 0 1 1 1
(C) R.H.S     
 1 1  1 0  1 1 

 I  A  L.H.S.

If choice (C) is coming out to be true as a special case then

only one choice is true which is (D). Since more than one
answer should be correct (C) should also be true. We can
prove (C) in general.

   
13. If A()      ,   0, then -
   

(A) 2A(1)  A (1) 2

(B) A (1)  9A(1)
3

(C) (adj.A) does not exist (D) A does not exist.

–1

8
Ans: (B, D)
  
A( )      0
  

 A –1 does not exist.

 2 2 2 
 
Now A 2 ( )  3  2 2 2 
 2 2  2 


A 2 (a)  3A(2 )  A 2 (1)  3A(1)

 A3 (1)  3A2 (1)  A3 (1)  9A(1)

14. If D and D are two diagonal matrices, both of order 3, then -

1 2

(A) D D is a diagonal matrix

1 2 (B) D D  D D 1 2 2 1

(C) D  D is a diagonal matrix (D) None of these

2
1
2
2

Ans: (A, B, C)
 d1 0 0 .... 0 
0 d 0 .... 0 
D1   2

.... .... .... .... ....

 
 0 0 0 .... dn 

 c1 0 .... 0
0 c .... 0 
D2   2

.... .... .... ....

 
 0 0 .... c n 

d1c1 0 .... 0 
 0 dc .... 0 
D1D2 = D1D2   1 2

 .... .... .... .... 

 
 0 0 .... dnc n 

= A diagonal matrix
D1D2  D2D1

9
 d12  c12 0 .... 0 
 
0 d c
2 2
.... 0 
D1  D2  
2 2 2 2
 .... .... .... .... 
 
 0 0 .... dn2  c n2 

A diagonal matrix

 x ; if i  j, x  R

15. Let A  a ij be a matrix of order 3 where a ij   1 ; if | i  j | 1
 0 ; otherwise

then which of the following hold(s) good:
(A) for x = 2, A is a diagonal matrix (B) A is a
symmetric matrix
(C) for x = 2, det A has the value equal to 6
(D) Let f(x) = det A, then the function f(x) has both the
maxima and minima
Ans: (B, D)
x 1 0
A   1 x 1
0 1 x 

A  x3 – x – 1

If f(x)  x3 – x – 1

f (x)  3x 2 – 1   3x – 1  3x  1 
1 –1
So, x point of minima and x is maxima.
3 3

16. System of equation x  3y  2z  6

x  y  2z  7

x  3y  2z   has

10
 (A) unique solution if   2,   6
(B) infinitely many solution if   4,   5

(C) no solution if   5,   7
(D) no solution if   3,   5
Ans: (B, C, D)
x  3y  2z  6 ..................... (i)

x  y  2z  7 ..................... (ii)

x  3y  2z   ..................... (iii)

(A) If   2, then D = 0, therefore unique solution is not

possible
(B) If   4,   6
x  3y  6 – 2z

x  4y  7 – 2z

 y  1 and x  3 – 2z

Substituting in equation (iii)

3 – 2z  3  2z  6 is satisfied

 Infinite solutions

(C)   5,   7
Consider equation (ii) and (iii)
x  5y  7 – 2z

x  3y  7 – 2z

 y  0 x  7 – 2z are solution
Sub. in (i)
does not satisfy
7 – 2z  2z  6

 No solution

11
 (D) If   3,   5
Then equation (i) and (ii) have no solution
 No solution

17. The values of lying between 0 &  /2 & satisfying the
1  sin 2  cos 2  4sin 4
equation sin 
2
1  cos  2
4sin 4  are –
sin 
2
cos 2
1  4sin 4
7 5
(A) (B)
24 24
11 
(C) (D)
24 24
Ans: (A, C)
1  sin2  cos2  4 sin 4
0 sin 
2
1  cos  2
4 sin 4
sin 
2
cos 2
1  4 sin 4

2 cos2  4 sin 4 2 cos2  4 sin 4

 2 1  cos2  4 sin 4  0 1 0  2  4 sin 4
1 cos 2
1  4 sin 4 1 0 1

1
 sin 4  –
2
7 4 7 4
 4  , i.e., ,
6 6 24 24

a b a  b
18. The determinant b c b  c is equal to zero, if
a  b b  c 0

(A) a, b, c are in A.P.

(B) a, b, c are in G. P.
(C) a, b, c are in H.P.

12
 (D) (x – (A)) is a factor of ax  2bx  c 2

Ans: (B, D)
Operating R – R  R  and expanding, we shall easily get
3 1 2

  – a  2b  c ac – b 

2 2

Hence  is zero if ac – b  0 2

or a  2b  c  0, i.e., a, b, c are in G.P. or

2
x– is a factor
ax2  2bx  c.

2a 2b bc
19. 2b 2a ac is divisible by
ab ab b

(A)  a – b  (B)  a – b  2

(C) ab (D)  a  b  c 

Ans: (A, B, C)
2a 2b bc
 2b 2a ac
ab ab b

R2  R2  R1
2a 2b bc
  2(a  b) 2(a  b) a  b
ab ab b

2a 2b bc
  (a  b) 2 2 1
ab ab b

C1  C1 – C2
2(a  b) 2b bc
 a  b 0 2 1  (a  b)2(a – b)(2b – a  b)  –2(a  b)(a  b)2
0 ab b

13
20. If a, b, c are positive and distinct then which of the
0 x a xb
following cannot be roots of xa 0 x c  0
xb xc 0

(A) a (B) 0
(C) b (D) c
Ans: (A, C, D)
0 x a x b
xa 0 xc 0
xb xc 0

(x  a)(x  b)(x  c)  (x  b)(x  a)(x  c)  0

((x2  ac)  x(a  c))(x  b)  ((x2  ac)  (a  c)x)(x  b)  0

2(x2  ac)x  2bx(a  c)  0

x0 or x2  ac  b(a  c)  0

Numeric Type
1 2 2
21. If  
A   2 1 2 and A2  4A  5I = O where I and O are the
2 2 1
 

unit matrix and the null matrix of order 3 respectively. If

3 2 2
1
15A   2 3 2 then the find the value of .
2 2 3

Ans: (3)
1 2 2 
A   2 1 2 
 2 2 1 

 1 2 2   1 2 2  9 8 8 
A   2 1 2   2 1 2   8 9 8 
2

 2 2 1   2 2 1  8 8 9 

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 4 8 8
4A  8 4 8 
8 8 4 

A 2  4A  5I  0
9 8 8   4 8 8   5 0 0   0 0 0 
8 9 8    8 4 8    0 5 0    0 0 0   0
       
8 8 9  8 8 4  0 0 5  0 0 0 

A 2  4A  5I  0

Multiplying by A–1 both sides,

A1 A2  4A  5I   A1 0

A  4I  5A 1  0

A  4I  5A 1
 1 2 2  4 0 0  
1 
A   A  4I     2 1 2   0 4 0  
1
1
5 5 
  2 2 1   0 0 4  
 3 2 2 
–1 1
A = 2 3 2  .
5
 2 2 3

x x 2 1  x3
22. If x  y  z and y y 2 1  y3  0 , then find the value of |xyz|
z z 2
1 z 3

Ans: (1)
x x2 1  x3 x x2 1 x x2 x3
We have y y 2 1  y3  y y2 1  y y2 y3
z z 2 1  z3 z z2 1 z z2 z3

[Since each element of third column is sum of two

1 x x2
elements]  1 y y 2 (1  xyz)
1 z z2

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 (x – y) (y – z) (z – x) (1 + xyz)
(x – y) (y – z) (z – x) (1 + xyz) = 0
1 + xyz = 0
xyz = 1.

1 x x 1
23. f ( x)  2x x( x  1) x( x  1) ; f (100) 
3 x( x  1) x( x  1)( x  2) x( x  1)( x  1)

Ans: (0)
Take x from R2 , R3

x  1 from R 3

x  1 from C 3

1 x 1 1 x 1
1 2 2
f ( x)  x ( x  1) 2 x  1 1 ; R2 : 2 R2  R1  R3  x ( x  1) 0
2 2
0 0 0
2
3 x2 1 3 x2 1

f (100)  0

24. Let ,  be the roots of the equation x2 + x –1 = 0. Let Sn =

3 1  S1 1  S2
 +  for n  1. Evaluate the determinant
n n
1  S1 1  S2 1  S3
1  S2 1  S3 1  S4

Ans: (5)
3 1  s1 1  s 2 3 1    1   2  2
  1  s1 1  s 2 1  s3  1    1   2  2 1   3  3  Sn  n  n 
1  s 2 1  s3 1  s 4 1   2  2 1   3  3 1   4   4

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1   1    ' 2
where '  1  
1  2
 1 2 2
 2
1  2
2

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 By applying R2 – R1 and R3 – R1
1 1 1
1 1
'  0  1  1 =    1  1
 1  1
0  2  1 2  1

 '               1

  '2     2         1
2
=     2

 4          1
2
= 5.

n 2 n 2 n 2
n
Cr  2 Cr 1 Cr
 (2)
r 2
r
3 1 1  ( 1) n 1
2 1 0
25. If n > 2, then evaluate 2n  1

Ans: (1)
n 2 n 2 n 2
n
Cr  2 C r 1 Cr
 r   (2) r
3 1 1 , r  2,3,...., n
r2
2 1 0

Applying c1  c1 + 2c2 + c3
n 2
n
C r  2  2n  2 C r 1  n  2 C r n 2
C r 1 n 2
Cr
  (2) r
0 1 1
r 2
0 1 0

Applying C1  C1 + 2C2 + C3
n 1
C r 1  n 1 Cr n 2
Cr 1 n 2
Cr
= 2n – 1 + (1)n
n
  (2) r
0 1 1
r 2
0 1 0

(1  x)a1b1 (1  x) a1b2 (1  x) a1b3

26. If f(x) is a polynomial given by f (x)  (1  x) a 2 b1 (1  x) a 2 b2 (1  x) a 2 b3 ,
(1  x)a 3 b1 (1  x) a 3 b2 (1  x) a 3b3

then find the coefficient of x in f(x).

Ans: (0)

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 If (x) = a0xn + a1xn – 1 + ….. + an – 1 x + an is a polynomial
of degree n, then
(0) = an = Constant term
and (0) = an – 1 = Coefficient of x.
It follows from this that we have to find f(0).
(1  x)a1b1 (1  x) a1b2 (1  x) a1b3
Now f (x)  (1  x)a 2 b1 (1  x) a 2 b2 (1  x) a 2 b3
(1  x)a 3 b1 (1  x) a 3 b2 (1  x) a 3b3

 f (0) = 0
Hence, the coefficient of x in f(x) is 0.

27. The number of value of t for which the system of equations

(a – t)x + by + cz = 0
bx + (c – t)y + az = 0
and cx + ay + (b – t) z = 0
has non trivial solution
Ans: (3)
System of equation have a non-trivial solution if  = 0
  = p0t3 + p1t2 + p2t + p3, p0, p1, p2, p3  R. Hence  is
cubic polynomial in t.
Hence number of values of t is 3.

28. Let (x, y, z) be points with integer coordinates satisfying

the system of homogeneous equations:
3x – y – z = 0, -3x + z = 0, -3x + 2y + z = 0

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 Then the number of such points for which x2 + y2 + z2 100
is
Ans: (7)
3x – y – z = 0 (1)
-3x + z = 0 (2)
-3x + 2y + z = 0 (3)
Solving (1) and (ii), y = 0
So 3x – z = 0
z = 3x
Now, x2 + y2 + z2  100
x2 + 9x2  100
|x|  10
 10  x  10

Integral values of x are 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3

So, 7 points are there.

a2 1 a 2 a 2 2
29. Find the value of a 2 a 2 2  1 a 2 3 , where  is a non-real
a  2 2
a 2 3
a  1
2 4

cube root of unity.

Ans: (1)
Applying C1  C1 + C2 + C3
1 a 2 a 2 2
We get  = 1 a 2 2  1 a2
1 a2 a 2  1

then applying R3  R3 + R2 + R1

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 1 a 2 a 22
We get  = 1 a 2 2  1 a2
3 1 1

On expansion,  = (a2 2 + 1 - a2) - (a2 - a22) + 3 (a4 -

a44 - a22)
= -a22 - a2 - a2 + 1 = 1.

i 1 i i2
30. Find the value of i i2  1 i3 , where  is a non-real
i2
i 3
i  1
4

cube root of unity and i= 1 .

Ans: (1)
Applying C1  C1 + C2 + C3
We get
1 i i2
= 1 i2  1 i
1 i i  1

Then, applying R3  R3 + R2 + R1
1 i i2
We get,  = 1 i2  1 i
3 1 1

On expansion,
 = (i 2 + 1 - i) - (i - i2) + 3 (i2 - i24 - i2)
= -i(2 +  + 1) + 1 = -i(0) + 1 = 1.

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