matrix inverse

Matrix inverse

The inverse matrix is reciprocal in the sense that \[A^{-1}A=I\], see identity matrix. A matrix that can be inversed is known as a non-singular matrix while a matrix that cannot be inversed is known as a singular matrix (which essentially means it's determinant is 0).

In general \[(AB)^{-1}=B^{-1}A^{-1}\]. Note that \[(AB)^{-1}\ne A^{-1}B^{-1}\].

\[2\times 2\] matrix

In general, the inverse for a \[2 \times 2\] matrix, say \[A\] is:

\begin{align*} A&= \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \\ \end{pmatrix}\\ A^{-1}&= \frac{1}{ad-bc} \begin{pmatrix} d & -b \\ -c & a\\ \end{pmatrix} \end{align*}

The determinant of \[A\], \[\det(A)\], \[\det(A)=ad-bc\].

\[3\times 3\] matrix

See example in Gaussian elimination.

\[\det (A^{-1})=\det (A)^{-1}\]

We know that \[\det(AB)=\det(A)\cdot\det(B)\] and \[AA^{-1}=I\], \[\det(AA^{-1})=\det(I)\implies \det(A)\cdot\det(A^{-1})=\det(I)\]. Since \[\det(I)=1\] regardless of its dimensions, \[\det(A)\cdot\det(A^{-1})=1\] or \[\det(A^{-1})=\det(A)^{-1}\].

Referenced by:

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