MATH1031 Mathematics for Life Sciences
Term 3, 2021
Matrix Equations
Dr. Joshua Capel
Red Centre Room 5107
Based on the slides provided by Dr. Chi Mak
School of Mathematics and Statistics
University of New South Wales
j.capel@unsw.edu.au
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Solving Matrix Equations
This lecture we will learn how to solve matrix equations using matrix
inverses.
If
2 4 10
A= and B =
1 −3 −5
and we are asked to solve the equation
AX = B to find X ,
what is X ?
A number?
A matrix?
If it is a matrix, what order matrix?
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What is the order of the matrix X ?
We have the matrix equation
AX = B
2 4 10
X =
1 −3 |{z} −5
| {z } ?×? | {z }
2×2 2×1
The sizes must match, so X must be order:
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Solving Matrix Equations
In algebra, we would do the following:
ax =b
5x = 10
1
1 x = ×b
x = 5 × 10 a
x = a−1 b
For our matrix equation:
AX = B
−1
A AX = A−1 B
IX = A−1 B
X = A−1 B
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The order of the matrices matters!
Example. If A−1 exists then
AX = B
=⇒ X = A−1 B.
Example. If A−1 exists then
XA = B
=⇒ X = B A−1 .
REMEMBER: the order in which you multiply matrices is important!
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Solving Matrix Equations
Example. Returning to our original problem:
If
3 2 10
A= and B = ,
5 4 −5
solve the equation for X .
Further if D = −2 1 , solve XA = D,
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Solving Matrix Equations
Example.
3 1 1 0
A= , B= .
1 4 3 1
Solve AX = 2X + B
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Example application
Example.
A manufacturing company has by-products SO2 and CO from each of 2
plants P1 and P2.
P1 produces, per day, 80kg of SO2 and 25kg of CO.
P2 produces, per day, 65kg of SO2 and 25kg of CO.
All of these must be eliminated before they reach the environment.
The company finds that the total cost of removal is $291 at plant P1 and
$277 at plant P2.
What is the average cost, to the nearest cent, of removing 1kg of SO2 and
1kg of CO?
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A worked example
Example. If
4 2 −2 1
B = 1 , A = 1 −1 1
−3 2 −1 2
1 −3 1
and C = 0 −2 1
−1 2 0
Check AC = I, i.e. C = A−1 .
Hence solve the equation AX = B.
Solutions.
2 −2 1 1 −3 1 2 − 1 −6 + 4 + 2 2 − 2
AC = 1 −1 1 0 −2 1 = 1 − 1 −3 + 2 + 2 1 − 1
2 −1 2 −1 2 0 2 − 2 −6 + 2 + 4 2 − 1
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1 0 0
= 0 1 0 .
0 0 1
Hence C = A−1 .
AX = B
−1
A AX = A−1 B
IX = CB
1 −3 1 4
X = 0 −2 1 1
−1 2 0 −3
4−3−3
= 0−2−3
−4 + 2 + 0
−2
= −5
−2
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