Matrices and Determinants

Basics

DPP 1
Define A = find a vertical matrix V such that

(A8 + A6 + A4 + A2 + I) V =
Given a Matrix A = where a,b,c are real positive

numbers, abc = 1 and ATA = I, then find

(A) 4 (B) 1

(C) -4 (D) 2
Let A be the set of all 3 × 3 skew symmetric matrices whose
entries are either -1, 0 or 1. If there are exactly three 0’s, three
1’s and three (-1)’s, then the number of such matrices
(A) 4 (B) 128

(C) 8 (D) 512

If A and B are square matrices of order n, then A-λI and B-
λI commute for every scalar λ, only if

(A) AB=BA (B) AB+BA=O

(C) A=-B (D) None of these

Let A and B be two 2×2 matrices. Consider the statements
i. AB=O ⇒ A=O or B=O
ii. (A+B)2 = A2 + 2AB + B2

(A) (i) is true, (ii) is true

(B) (i) is false, (ii) is true
(C) (i) is true, (ii) is false
(D) (i) is false, (ii) is false
Let A, B, C and D be real matrices such that

for the matrix S= ABCD, then S3 = ?

(A) S (B) ABCD
(C) S2 (D) None of these
Assume X, Y, Z, W and P are matrices of order 2 × n, 3 × k,
2 × p, n × 3 and p × k, respectively

The restriction on n, k and p so that PY + WY will be

defined are
(A) k=3, p=n (B) k is arbitrary, p=2

(C) P is arbitrary, k=3 (D) k=2, p=3

Assume X, Y, Z, W and P are matrices of order 2 × n, 3 × k,
2 × p, n × 3 and p × k, respectively

If n=p, then the order of matrix 7X - 5Z is :

(A) p×2 (B) 2×n

(C) n×3 (D) p×n

The product of n matrices

is equal to matrix . Find n

(A) 12 (B) 10
(C) 13 (D) None of these
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 2 Properties of Matrices

 Find A2020

A. B. C. I D.
Find A2020

A2 (1,0,0) (1,1,0) (0,0,1)

(1,1,0)

(0,1,0)

(0,0,1)
Find A2020

A3 (1,0,0) (1,1,0) (0,0,1)

(1,2,0)

(0,1,0)

(0,0,1)
If AB = A and BA = B, then

A. A2B = A2 B. B2A = B2 C. ABA = A D. BAB = B

If AB = B
BA = A
Then find A2020 + B2020 = ?
A. A B. B C. A + B D. AB
If D1 and D2 are two 3 x 3 diagonal matrices, then

A. D1D2 is a diagonal matrix B. D1D2 = D2D1

C. D12 + D22 is a diagonal matrix D. None of these

Find all idempotent diagonal matrices of order 3 ?

A. 8 B. 16 C. 9 D. 81
P is an orthogonal matrix and A is a periodic matrix with
period 4 and Q = PAPT then X = PTQ2020P will be equal to
A. A B. A2 C. A3 D. A4
If

are such that, AB is a null matrix, then which of the following

should necessarily be an odd integral multiple of

A. α B. β C. α - β D. α + β
AB =

AB =
If Given ω is cube root of unity. Find A2020 = ?

A. B. C. D.
Find all matrices which can commute with
The matrix A = be a zero divisor of the

polynomial f(x) = x2 - 4x - 5. Find the trace of matrix A3.

Matrices and Determinants

DPP 3 Types of Matrices

Types of Matrices

Orthogonal Matrix ATA = AAT = I

Idempotent Matrix A2 = A

Involutory Matrix A2 = In

Nilpotent Matrix Ak = O

Periodic Matrix Ak+1 = A

Example If A is involutory than is _______?

A. Idempotent Matrix B. Nilpotent Matrix

C. Periodic Matrix D. Involutory Matrix

Find all idempotent diagonal matrices of order 3 ?

A. 8 B. 16 C. 9 D. 81
Types of Square Matrices

Diagonal Matrix
Atleast aii ≠ 0 & aij = 0 if i ≠ j

Abbreviated as dia(d1, d2, d3…..dn)

Scalar matrix Unit Matrix

If d1 = d2 = d3 ….. = a ≠ 0 If d1 = d2 =...... = 1
If A & B are idempotent matrices and AB = BA = O then A + B is
A. Involutory matrix B. Idempotent matrix
C. Orthogonal matrix D. Nilpotent matrix
Let A is a matrix of order 2 x 2 such that A2 = 0. Then Tr(A) is:
A. 1 B. 0 C. -1 D. None
Let A + 2B = , and 2A - B =

then find Tr(A) - Tr(B)

A. 1 B. 2 C. -1 D. -2
Let A, B be two matrices such that they commute, then for any
positive integer n,
(i) ABn = BnA
(ii) (AB)n = AnBn
A. Only (i) is correct B. Both (i) and (ii) are correct
C. Only (ii) is correct D. None of (i) and (ii) are correct
If Z is an idempotent matrix, then (I + Z)n
A. I + 2nZ B. I + (2n- 1)Z C. I - (2n- 1)Z D. None of these
If A and B are two matrices such that AB = B and BA = A. Then
A. (A5-B5)3=A-B B. (A5-B5)3=A3-B3
C. A-B is idempotent D. A-B is nilpotent
If A is a nilpotent matrix of index 2, then for any positive integer
n, A(I + A)n is equal to
A. A-1 B. A C. An D. In
If A and B are symmetric matrices of the same order and
X = AB + BA and Y = AB - BA, then (XY)T is equal to
A. XY B. YX C. -YX D. None of these
If A, B, A + B are idempotent matrices, then AB is equal to
A. BA B. -BA C. I D. 0
Matrices and Determinants
Properties of Matrices

DPP 4
If A = is a matrix satisfying the equation AAT = 9I,

where I is 3 x 3 identity matrix, then the ordered pair (a,b) is equal to:

A. (2, 1) B. (-2,-1) C. (2, -1) D. (-2,1)

JEE M 2015
Let P and Q be 3 x 3 matrices P ≠ Q. If P3 = Q3 and P2Q = Q2P then determinant
of (P2 + Q2) is equal to :

A. -2 B. 1 C. 0 D. -1

2012
Let z= where i = , and r, s ∈ {1, 2, 3}. Let P =

and I be the identity matrix of order 2. Then the total number of ordered
pairs (r, s) for which P2 = -I is

JEE Adv. 2016

=
If M is 3 x 3 matrix, where det M = 1 and MMT = I, where ‘I’ is an identity
matrix, prove that det ( M-I ) = 0.

2004-2 Marks
For 3 x 3 matrix M & n, which of the following statement(s) is (are) NOT
correct?
A. NTMN is symmetric or skew symmetric, according as M is
symmetric or skew symmetric
B. MN-NM is skew symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
C. MN is symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
D. (adj M) (adj N) = adj (MN) for all invertible matrices M and N

JEE Adv. 2013

A. NTMN is symmetric or skew symmetric, according as M is symmetric or skew
symmetric
B. MN-NM is skew symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
C. MN is symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
Let P = and I be the identity matrix of order 3.

If Q = [qij] is a matrix such that P50 - Q = I, then equals

A. 52 B. 103 C. 201 D. 205

JEE Adv. 2016

Let A be a 2 x 2 matrix with non-zero entries and let A2 = I, where I is 2 x 2
identity matrix. Define Tr(A) = sum of diagonal elements of A and IAI =
determinant of matrix A.
Statement-1: Tr(A) = 0 2010
Statement-2: IAI = 1.
A. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is not a
correct explanation for Statement-1.
B. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false,
C. Statement-1 is false, Statement-2 is true,
D. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is a
correct explanation for Statement-1.
Let A = and B = , a, b ∈ N. Then
2006
A. there cannot exist any B such that AB = BA
B. there exist more then one but finite numbers of B’s such
that AB = BA
C. there exists exactly one B such that AB = BA
D. there exist infinitely many B’s such that AB = BA
If A and B are square matrices of size n x n such that
A2 - B2 = (A - B) (A + B), then which of the following will be always true ?

A. A=B 2006
B. AB = BA
C. either of A or B is a zero matrix
D. either of A or B is identity matrix
Let A = . The only correct statement about the matrix A is

A. A2 = I 2004
B. A = (-1) I, where I is a unit matrix
C. det(A) = 0
D. A is a zero matrix
Let A and B be 3 x 3 matrices of real numbers, where A is symmetric, B is
skew-symmetric, and (A + B)(A -B) = (A - B)(A + B). If (AB)t = (-1)k AB, where
(AB)t is the transpose of the matrix AB, then the possible values of k are

A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 5 Properties of Matrices

For 3 x 3 matrix M & n, which of the following statement(s) is (are) NOT
correct?
A. NTMN is symmetric or skew symmetric, according as M is
symmetric or skew symmetric
B. MN-NM is skew symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
C. MN is symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N
D. (adj M) (adj N) = adj (MN) for all invertible matrices M and N

JEE Adv. 2013

Solution

A. NTMN is symmetric or skew symmetric, according as M is symmetric or skew

symmetric

=> If M is symmetric then NTMN is symmetric

=> If M is skew symmetric then NTMN is skew symmetric
Solution

B. MN-NM is skew symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N

Solution

C. MN is symmetric for all symmetric matrices M and N

Let P = and I be the identity matrix of order 3.

If Q = [qij] is a matrix such that P50 - Q = I, then equals

A. 52 B. 103 C. 201 D. 205

JEE Adv. 2016

Solution
Solution
Let A be a 2 x 2 matrix with non-zero entries and let A2 = I, where I is 2 x 2
identity matrix. Define Tr(A) = sum of diagonal elements of A and IAI =
determinant of matrix A.
Statement-1: Tr(A) = 0 2010
Statement-2: IAI = 1.
A. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is not a
correct explanation for Statement-1.
B. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is false,
C. Statement-1 is false, Statement-2 is true,
D. Statement-1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement-2 is a
correct explanation for Statement-1.
Solution
Let A = and B = , a, b ∈ N. Then
2006
A. there cannot exist any B such that AB = BA
B. there exist more then one but finite numbers of B’s such
that AB = BA
C. there exists exactly one B such that AB = BA
D. there exist infinitely many B’s such that AB = BA
Solution
If A and B are square matrices of size n x n such that
A2 - B2 = (A - B) (A + B), then which of the following will be always true ?

A. A=B 2006
B. AB = BA
C. either of A or B is a zero matrix
D. either of A or B is identity matrix
Let A = . The only correct statement about the matrix A is

A. A2 = I 2004
B. A = (-1) I, where I is a unit matrix
C. det(A) = 0
D. A is a zero matrix
Let A and B be 3 x 3 matrices of real numbers, where A is symmetric, B is
skew-symmetric, and (A + B)(A -B) = (A - B)(A + B). If (AB)t = (-1)k AB, where
(AB)t is the transpose of the matrix AB, then the possible values of k are

A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3
Let P = [aij] be a 3 x 3 matrix and let Q = [bij], where bij=2i+j aij for
1 ≤ i, j ≤ 3. If the determinant of P is 2, then the determinant of
the matrix Q is
A. 210 B. 211 C. 212 D. 213
2012
If f(x) = then f(100) is equal to

A. 0 B. 1 C. 100 D. -100
1999
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 6 Properties of
Determinants
Let α and β be the roots of the equation x2 + x + 1 = 0. Then for y ≠ 0 in R,

is equal to:

A. y(y2 - 1) B. y(y2 - 3) C. y3 D. y3 - 1

JEE M 2019 - 9 April(M)

Let ω be the complex number Then the number of distinct

complex numbers z satisfying is equal to

JEE - 2010
The total number of distinct x ∈ R for which = 10 is

JEE Adv. 2016

Let Then the value of the determinant

A. 3ω B. 3ω (ω - 1) C. 3ω2 D. 3ω (1 - ω)

2002
Let ω be a complex number such that 2ω + 1 = z, where z =

= 3k, then k is equal to:

A. 1 B. -z C. z D. -1

JEE M 2017
Let a > 0 and discriminant of ax2 + 2bx + c is -ve, then

is equal to

A. +ve B. -ve C. (ac-b2)(ax2+2bc+c) D. 0

2002
The determinant is equal to zero, if

A. a, b, c are in A.P.
B. a, b, c are in G.P.
C. a, b, c are in H.P. 1986
D. α is a root of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0
E. (x - α) is a factor of ax2 + 2bx + c.
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 7 Properties of
Determinants
If = xn (where n ∈ N), find the value of n.

A. 1 B. 0 C. 3 D. 2
If a2 + b2 + c2 = -2 and

JEE Adv. 2005

then f(x) is a polynomial degree
A. 1 B. 0 C. 3 D. 2
Find values of

JEE 2000
For positive numbers x, y and z, the numerical value of the

determinant is ________

A. 1 B. 0 C. 3 D. 2

JEE 1998
If = manbncn then

A. m + n = 6 B. m + n = 4
C. m - n = 0 D. m - n = 2
If none of a, b, c is zero, show that Δ =
If Δk = and then n is equal to

A. 4 B. 6 C. 8 D. 7
Let Δ =

Find

A. 1 B. 0 C. 3 D. 2

JEE 1989
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 8 Adjoint and Inverse

Let P = , where α ∊ R. Suppose Q = [qij] is a matrix such that

PQ = kI, where k ∊ R, k ≠ 0 and I is the identity matrix of order 3. If q23 =

and det(Q) = , then

A. α=0, k=8 B. 4α - k + 8 = 0 C. det(P adj (Q) ) = 29 D. det(Q adj (P) ) = 213

JEE Adv. 2016

Example If A2 - A + I = 0, then the inverse of A is
A. A + I B. A C. A - I D. I - A
If A = , then the matrix A-50

When , is equal to

A. B.

C. D.
Let M = = 𝝰I + 𝛃M-1

Where 𝝰 = 𝝰(𝚹) and 𝛃 = 𝛃(𝚹) are real numbers, and I is the 2 ⨉ 2 identity
matrix, if 𝝰* is the minimum of the set {𝝰(𝚹) : 0 𝞊 [0, 2, 𝞹)} and 𝛃* is
the minimum of the set {𝛃(𝚹) : 0 𝞊 [0, 2𝞹)}. Then the value of a* + b* is

A. -31/16
B. -17/16
C. -37/16
D. -29/16
Example Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct?

A. If A is square matrix of order 3, then the value of det{(A-AT)2011} is

equal to 0.
B. If A is a skew-symmetric matrix of order 3, then matrix A4 is symmetric

C. If 3A = and AAT = I, then (x + y) is equal to -3

D. If 𝝰, 𝞫, 𝝲 are the roots of the cubic x3 + px2 + q = 0, then the

value of determinant

Is equal to -p3
The parameter, on which the value of the determinant

does not depend upon is

A. a B. p C. d D. x
Matrices and Determinants

DPP 9 Adjoint of Matrix

If A is an idempotent matrix satisfying, (I - 0.4A)-1 = I - αA where I is the unit
matrix of the same order as that of A then the value of |9αI is equal to.

A. 3 B. 6 C. 1 D. None
 and f(x) is defined as f(x) = det (ATA-1) then find the value

of f(f(f(f……….f(x)))) is (n ≥2).

A.
}
3n
n times

B. n C. 1 D. None
If A is a square matrix of order 3 such that IAI = 2 then I(adj A-1)-1I is.

A. 2 B. 4 C. 8 D. None
If A = [aij]4x4, such that aij = , then is

(where {.} represents fractional part function)

A. 1/7 B. 2/7 C. 3/7 D. None of these

If a matrix A is given by A = , then the determinant of A2005 - 6A2004 is

A. 22006 B. (-11)22005 C. -22005 . 7 D. (-9)22004

If A is order 3 square matrix such that IAI = 2, then Iadj(adj(adj A))I is

A. 512 B. 256 C. 64 D. None of these

If adj B = A, IPI = IQI = 1, then adj (Q-1 BP-1) is

A. PQ B. QAP C. PAQ D. PA-1Q

If A and B are two square matrices such that B = -A-1 BA, then (A + B)2 is
equal to

A. A2 + B2 B. 0 C. A2 + 2AB + B2 D. A+B
If k ∈ R0, then det{adj(kIn)} is equal to

A. kn-1 B. kn(n-1) C. kn D. k
If A = , then which of the following is INCORRECT

A. adj(adjA) = A B. Iadj(adj A)I = 1 C. Iadj AI = 1 D. None of these

Matrices and Determinants
Cramer’s Rule

DPP 10
3 Variables 3 Equations

a1x + b1y + c1z = d1

a2x + b2y + c2z = d2
a3x + b3y + c3z = d3

a1 b1 c1
D= a2 b2 c2
a3 b3 c3

d1 b1 c1 a1 d1 c1 a1 b1 d1
D1 = d2 b2 c2 D2 = a2 d2 c2 D3 = a2 b2 d2
d3 b3 c3 a3 d3 c3 a3 b3 d3
 Cramer’s Rule

If D ≠ 0
If D = 0
Unique solution

If atleast one of If D1 = D2 = D3 = 0
D1, D2, D3 ≠ 0 No solution or
No solution Infinite Solution
 Homogeneous Linear Equation

If D ≠ 0 If D = 0
Trivial solution Non - Trivial solution
or
Infinite Solution
Consider the system of linear equations
x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 3
2x1 + 3x2 + x3 = 3
3x1 + 5x2 + 2x3 = 1
the system has 2010
A. exactly 3 solutions
B. a unique solution
C. No solution
D. Infinite number of solutions
If the system of linear equations
x + ky + 3z = 0
3x + ky - 2z = 0
2x + 4y - 3z = 0
has a non-zero solution (x, y, z), then k is equal to
JEE M 2018
A. 11 B. -30 C. 30 D. -11
The number of values of k for which the linear equations
4x + ky + 2z = 0, kx + 4y + z = 0 and 2x + 2y + z = 0 posses a
non-zero solutions

A. 2 B. 1 C. zero D. 3
2011
The system of equations
𝝰x + y + z = 𝝰 - 1
x + 𝝰y + z = 𝝰 -1
x + y + 𝝰z = 𝝰 -1
has infinite solutions, if 𝝰 is 2005

A. -2 B. either -2 or 1 C. not -2 D. 1
If the system of linear equations
x + 2ay + az = 0, x + 3by + bz = 0, x + 4cy + cz = 0, has a non - zero
solution, then a, b, c

A. satisfy a + 2b + 3c = 0 B. are in A.P 2003

C. are in G.P D. are in H.P

Let a, 𝝺, 𝛍, 𝟄 R. consider the system linear equations
ax + 2y = 𝝺
3x - 2y = 𝛍
Which of the following statement is incorrect?

A. If a = -3, then the system has infinitely many solutions for all values
of 𝝺 and 𝛍.
B. If a ≠ -3, then the system has a unique solution for all values of 𝝺
and 𝛍.
C. If 𝝺 + 𝛍 = 0, then the system has infinitely many solutions for a = -3
D. If 𝝺 + 𝛍 ≠ 0, then the system has no solution for a = -3

JEE Adv. 2016

The system of equations
λx + y + z = 0
-x + λy + z = 0
-x -y + λz = 0
Will have a non-zero solution if real values of λ are given by 1984

A. 0 B. -3 C. 3 D. None
For what value of k do the following system of equation posses a non
trivial (i.e., not all zero) solution over the set of rationals Q?
x + ky + 3z = 0
3x + ky - 2z = 0
2x +3y - 4z = 0

A. -33/2 B. 33/2 C. 13/2 D. -13/2

Consider the system of linear equations in x, y, z:
(sin 3θ)x - y + z = 0
(cos 2θ)x +4y + 3z = 0
2x + 7y + 7z = 0
Find the number of values of θ in [0, 2𝜋] for which this system has
nontrivial solutions.
A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6
Let λ and α be real. Find the set of all values of λ for which the system of
linear equations
λx + (sin α)y + (cos α)z = 0, x + (cos α)y + (sin α)z = 0, -x + (sin α)y - (cos α)z = 0
has a non-trivial solution.

A. [0, 2] B. [0, √2] C. [-2, 0] D. [-√2, √2]

The set of all values values of λ for which the system of linear equations:
2x1 - 2x2 + x3 = λx1
2x1 - 3x2 + 2x3 = λx2
-x1 + 2x2 = λx3
has a non-trivial solution

A. Contains two elements B. Contains more than two elements

C. Is an empty set D. Is a singleton

2015