CHAPTER – 3: DETERMINANTS

MARKS WEIGHTAGE – 10 marks

Previous Years Board Exam (Important Questions & Answers)

1. Let A be a square matrix of order 3 × 3. Write the value of |2A|, where |A| = 4.
Ans:
Since |2A| = 2n|A| where n is order of matrix A.
Here |A| = 4 and n = 3
 |2A| = 23 ×4 = 32

102 18 36
2. Write the value of the following determinant: 1 3 4
17 3 6
Ans:
102 18 36
Given that   1 3 4
17 3 6
Applying R1 R1 – 6R3
0 0 0
 1 3 4 0 (Since R1 is zero)
17 3 6
3. If A is a square matrix and |A| = 2, then write the value of | AA'| , where A' is the transpose of
matrix A.
Ans:
|AA|' = |A|. |A'| = |A|. |A|= |A|2 = 2 x 2 = 4.
[since, | AB|=|A|.|B| and| A|=| A'|, where A and B are square matrices.]

4. If A is a 3 × 3 matrix, |A|  0 and |3A| = k |A|, then write the value of k.

Ans:
Here, |3A| = k|A|
 33|A| = k|A| [ |kA| = kn|A| where n is order of A]
 27 |A| = k|A|
 k = 27

a  ib c  id
5. Evaluate:
c  id a  ib
Ans:
a  ib c  id
  (a  ib)(a  ib)  (c  id )(c  id )
c  id a  ib
 (a  ib)(a  ib)  (c  id )(c  id )
 a 2  i 2b 2  c 2  i 2 d 2
 a2  b2  c 2  d 2

x2 3
6. If  3 , find the value of x.
x5 4
Ans:
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 x2 3
Given that 3
x5 4
 4x + 8 – 3x – 15 = 3
x – 7 = 3
 x = 10

5 3 8
7. If  = 2 0 1 , write the minor of the element a23.
1 2 3
Ans:
5 3
Minor of a23 = = 10 – 3 = 7.
1 2
cos150 sin150
8. Evaluate:
sin 750 cos 750
Ans:
Expanding the determinant, we get
cos 15° . cos 75° - sin 15° . sin 75°
= cos (15° + 75° ) = cos 90° = 0
[since cos (A + B) = cos A. cos B – sinA . sin B]
a ab a  2b
9. Using properties of determinants, prove the following: a  2b a a  b  9b 2 (a  b)
a  b a  2b a
Ans:
a ab a  2b
Let   a  2b a a b
ab a  2b a
Applying R1  R1 + R2 + R3 , we have
3(a  b) 3(a  b) 3(a  b)
  a  2b a ab
a b a  2b a
Taking out 3(a + b) from 1st row, we have
1 1 1
  3(a  b) a  2b a ab
a  b a  2b a
Applying C1 C1 – C2 and C2 C2 – C3
0 0 1
  3(a  b) 2b b a  b
b 2b a
Expanding along first row, we have
D = 3(a + b) [1. (4b2 – b2 )]
= 3 (a + b)  3b2 = 9b2 (a + b)

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 2 3 4
10. Write the value of the determinant 5 6 8
6 x 9 x 12 x
Ans:
2 3 4
Given determinant |A|= 5 6 8
6 x 9 x 12 x
2 3 4
 3 x 5 6 8 = 0 ( R1 = R3)
2 3 4

11. Two schools P and Q want to award their selected students on the values of Tolerance,
Kindness and Leadership. The school P wants to award Rs. x each, Rs. y each and Rs. z each
for the three respective values to 3, 2 and 1 students respectively with a total award money of
Rs. 2,200. School Q wants to spend Rs. 3,100 to award its 4, 1 and 3 students on the respective
values (by giving the same award money to the three values as school P). If the total amount of
award for one prize on each value is Rs. 1,200, using matrices, find the award money for each
value. Apart from these three values, suggest one more value that should be considered for
award.
Ans:
According to question,
3x + 2y + z = 2200
4x + y + 3z = 3100
x + y + z = 1200
The above system of equation may be written in matrix form as AX = B
 3 2 1  x  2200 
A   4 1 3 , X   y  and B  3100 
   
 1 1 1  z  1200 
3 2 1
Here,| A | 4 1 3  3(1  3)  2(4  3)  1(4  1)  6  2  3  5  0
1 1 1
–1
 A exists.
Now, A11 = (1 – 3) = –2,
A12 = – (4 – 3) = –1,
A13 = (4 – 1) = 3,
A21 = – (2 – 1) = –1,
A22 = (3 – 1) = 2,
A23 = – (3 – 2) = –1
A31 = (6 – 1) = 5,
A32 = – (9 – 4) = –5,
A33 = (3 – 8) = –5
T
 2 1 3   2
1 5 
adj ( A)   1 2 1   1
  2 5 
 5 5 5  3
1 5 
 2 1
5  2 1 5
1 1  1
A 1
(adjA)  5   1 2 5 
1 2
| A| 5  5
 3 1
5  3 1 5 
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 x  2 1 5  2200 
1
Now, X  A B   y    1 2 5   3100 
1  
5
 z   3 1 5  1200 
x  4400  3100  6000  1500  300 
1 1
  y    2200  6200  6000    2000    400 
  
5 5
 z   6600  3100  6000   2500  500 
 x = 300, y = 400, z = 500
i.e., Rs. 300 for tolerance, Rs. 400 for kindness and Rs. 500 for leadership are awarded.
One more value like punctuality, honesty etc may be awarded.

12. Using properties of determinants, prove that

Ans:
ax y z
LHS  x a y z
x y az
Applying C1 C1 + C2 + C3 , we get
a x y z y z
 a x y z a y z
a x y z y az
Apply R1 R1 – R2 , we get
1 y z
 (a  x  y  z ) 1 a  y z
1 y az
0 a 0
 (a  x  y  z ) 1 a  y z
1 y az
Expanding along R1, we get
= (a + x + y + z) {0 + a (a + z – z)} = a2(a + x + y + z) = RHS

13. 10 students were selected from a school on the basis of values for giving awards and were
divided into three groups. The first group comprises hard workers, the second group has
honest and law abiding students and the third group contains vigilant and obedient students.
Double the number of students of the first group added to the number in the second group
gives 13, while the combined strength of first and second group is four times that of the third
group. Using matrix method, find the number of students in each group. Apart from the
values, hard work, honesty and respect for law, vigilance and obedience, suggest one more
value, which in your opinion, the school should consider for awards.
Ans:
Let no. of students in Ist, 2nd and 3rd group to x, y, z respectively.
From the statement we have
x + y+ z = 10
2x + y =13
x + y – 4z = 0
The above system of linear equations may be written in matrix form as AX = B where
1 1 1  x 10 
A   2 1 0  , X   y  and B  13
   
 1 1 4   z   0 
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 1 1 1
Here,| A | 2 1 0  1( 4  0)  1( 8  0)  1(2  1)  4  8  1  5  0
1 1 4
–1
 A exists.
Now, A11 = – 4 – 0 = –4
A12 = – (–8 – 0) = 8
A13 = 2 – 1 = 1
A21 = –(–4 – 1) = 5
A22 = –4 – 1 = –5
A23 = –(1 – 1) = 0
A31 = 0 – 1 = –1
A32 = –(0 – 2) = 2
A33 = 1 – 2 = –1
T
 4 8 1   4 5 1
adj ( A)   5 5 0    8 5
  2 
 1 2 1  1 0 1
 4 5 1
1 1
A 1
(adjA)   8 5 2 
| A| 5
 1 0 1
x  4 5 1 10 
  1
1
Now, X  A B   y    8 5 2  13
5
 z   1 0 1  0 
x  40  65  25  5 
  1  1   
  y    80  65   15    3 
5 5
 z   10  10   2 
 x = 5, y = 3, z = 2

14. The management committee of a residential colony decided to award some of its members (say
x) for honesty, some (say y) for helping others and some others (say z) for supervising the
workers to keep the colony neat and clean. The sum of all the awardees is 12. Three times the
sum of awardees for cooperation and supervision added to two times the number of awardees
for honesty is 33. If the sum of the number of awardees for honesty and supervision is twice the
number of awardees for helping others, using matrix method, find the number of awardees of
each category. Apart from these values, namely, honesty, cooperation and supervision, suggest
one more value which the management of the colony must include for awards.
Ans:
According to question
x + y + z = 12
2x + 3y + 3z = 33
x – 2y + z = 0
The above system of linear equation can be written in matrix form as AX = B where
 1 1 1 x 12 
A   2 3 3 , X   y  and B  33
   
 1 2 1  z   0 
1 1 1
Here,| A | 2 3 3
1 2 1
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 = 1 (3 + 6) –1 (2–3) + 1 (– 4 –3) = 9 + 1 – 7 = 3
 A–1 exists.
A11 = 9, A12 = 1, A13 = –7
A21 = –3, A22 = 0, A23 = 3
A31 = 0, A32 = –1, A33 = 1
T
 9 1 7   9 3 0 
adj ( A)   3 0 3    1 0 1
 
 0 1 1   7 3 1 
 9 3 0 
1 1
A 1
(adjA)   1 0 1
| A| 3
 7 3 1 
x  9 3 0  12 
1
Now, X  A B   y    1 0 1 33
1  
3
 z   7 3 1   0 
x  108  99   9  3
  1  1   
  y   12  0  0   12    4 
3 3
 z   84  99  15  5 
 x = 3, y = 4, z = 5
No. of awards for honesty = 3
No. of awards for helping others = 4
No. of awards for supervising = 5.
The persons, who work in the field of health and hygiene should also be awarded.

15. Using properties of determinants, prove the following:

3x  x  y  x  z
x y 3y z  y  3( x  y  z )( xy  yz  zx)
xz yz 3z
Ans:
3x  x  y  x  z
LHS  x  y 3y zy
xz yz 3z
Applying C1  C1 + C2 + C3
x  y  z x  y x  z
 x y z 3y zy
x y z yz 3z
Taking out (x + y + z) along C1, we get
1 x  y x  z
 ( x  y  z) 1 3y z y
1 yz 3z
Applying R2  R2 – R1; R3  R3 – R1
1 x  y x  z
 ( x  y  z) 0 2 y  x x  y
0 x  z x  2z
Applying C2  C2 – C3

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 1 y  z x  z
 ( x  y  z) 0 3y xy
0 3 z x  2 z
Expanding along I column, we get
D = (x + y + z)[(3y (x + 2z) + 3z (x – y)]
= 3(x + y + z)[xy + 2z + 2yz + xz – yz]
= 3(x + y + z)(xy + yz + zx) = R.H.S.

16. A school wants to award its students for the values of Honesty, Regularity and Hard work with
a total cash award of Rs. 6,000. Three times the award money for Hardwork added to that
given for honesty amounts to ` 11,000. The award money given for Honesty and Hardwork
together is double the one given for Regularity. Represent the above situation algebraically
and find the award money for each value, using matrix method. Apart from these values,
namely, Honesty, Regularity and Hardwork, suggest one more value which the school must
include for awards.
Ans:
Let x, y and z be the awarded money for honesty, Regularity and hardwork.
From the statement
x + y +z = 6000 …(i)
x + 3z =11000 …(ii)
x +z = 2y  x – 2y +z = 0 …(iii)
The above system of three equations may be written in matrix form as AX = B, where
1 1 1  x  6000 
A  1 0 3 , X   y  and B  11000 
0 2 1  z   0 
1 1 1
Here,| A | 1 0 3  1(0  6)  1(1  3)  1(2  0)  6  2  2  6  0
0 2 1
–1
Hence A exist
If Aij is co-factor of aij then
A11 = 0 + 6 = 6
A12 = – (1 – 3) = 2 ;
A13 = (–2 – 0) = –2
A21 = –(1 + 2) = –3
A22 = 0
A23 = (–2 – 1) = –3
A31 = 3 – 0 = 3
A32 = – (3 – 1) = – 2 ;
A33 = 0 – 1 = – 1
T
 6 2 2   6 3 3
adj ( A)   3 0 3    2 0
  2 
 3 2 1  2 3 1
 6 3 3 
1 1
A 1
(adjA)   2 0 2
| A| 6
 2 3 1
x  6 3 3   6000 
  1
1
Now, X  A B   y    2 0 2  11000 
6
 z   2 3 1  0 
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 x  36000  33000  0   3000   500 
1 1
  y    12000  0  0   12000    2000 
  
6 6
 z   12000  33000  0   21000  3500 
 x =500, y = 2000, z = 3500
Except above three values, school must include discipline for award as discipline has great
importance in student’s life.

x  1 x  1 4 1
17. If  , then write the value of x.
x3 x2 1 3
Ans:
x  1 x  1 4 1
Given that 
x3 x2 1 3
 (x +1) (x + 2) – (x – 1)(x – 3) =12 +1
 x2 + 2x + x + 2 – x2 + 3x + x – 3 =13
 7x – 1 =13
 7x =14
x = 2

a a b a bc
18. Using properties of determinants, prove that 2a 3a  2b 4a  3b  2c  a 3
3a 6a  3b 10a  6b  3c
Ans:
a a b a bc
LHS  2a 3a  2b 4a  3b  2c
3a 6a  3b 10a  6b  3c
a a abc a b abc
 2a 3a 4a  3b  2c  2a 2b 4a  3b  2c
3a 6a 10a  6b  3c 3a 3b 10a  6b  3c
1 1 a bc 1 1 a bc
2
a 2 3 4a  3b  2c  ab 2 2 4a  3b  2c
3 6 10a  6b  3c 3 3 10a  6b  3c
1 1 a bc
2
a 2 3 4a  3b  2c  ab.0 [since C1 = C2 in second determinant]
3 6 10a  6b  3c
1 1 a bc
2
a 2 3 4a  3b  2c
3 6 10a  6b  3c
1 1 a 1 1 b 1 1 c
2
a 2 3 4a  2 3 3b  2 3 2c
3 6 10a 3 6 6b 3 6 3c
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2
 a .a 2 3 4 b 2 3 3 c 2 3 2
3 6 10 3 6 6 3 6 3

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 1 1 1
2
 a .a 2 3 4  b.0  c.0 [since C2 = C3 in second determinant and C1 = C3 in third
3 6 10
determinant]
1 1 1
 a3 2 3 4
3 6 10
Applying C2  C2 – C1 and C3 C3 – C1 we get
1 0 0
3
a 2 1 2
3 3 7
Expanding along R1 we get
= a3 .1(7 – 6) – 0 + 0
= a3 .

19. Using matrices, solve the following system of equations:

x – y + z = 4; 2x + y – 3z = 0; x + y + z = 2
Ans:
Given equations
x–y+z=4
2x + y – 3z = 0
x+y+z=2
We can write this system of equations as AX = B where
 1 1 1  x 4
A   2 1 3 , X   y  and B   0 
   
 1 1 1   z   2 
1 1 1
Here,| A | 2 1 3
1 1 1
= 1 (1 + 3) - (- 1) (2 + 3) + 1 (2 - 1) = 4 + 5 + 1 = 10
 A–1 exists.
A11 = 4, A12 = –5, A13 = 1
A21 = 2, A22 = 0, A23 = –2
A31 = 2, A32 = 5, A33 = 3
T
 4 5 1   4 2 2
adj ( A)   2 0 2    5 0 5 
 
 2 5 3   1 2 3 
 4 2 2
1 1 
A 1
(adjA)   5 0 5 
| A| 10
 1 2 3 
x  4 2 2  4 
1 
Now, X  A B   y    5 0 5   0 
 1
10
 z   1 2 3  2 

Prepared by: M. S. KumarSwamy, TGT(Maths) Page - 9 -

 x  16  0  4   20   2 
1  1 
  y    20  0  10   10    1
  
10 10
 z   4  0  6   10   1 
The required solution is
 x = 2, y = - 1, z = 1
 3 1 1   1 2 2 
20. If A =  15 6 5 and B =  1 3 0  , find (AB)–1.
–1  
 5 2 2   0 2 1 
Ans:
For B–1
1 2 2
| B | 1 3 0 = 1(3 – 0) – 2(–1 – 0) – 2(2 – 0 ) = 3 + 2 – 4 = 1  0
0 2 1
i.e., B is invertible matrix
 B–1 exist.
A11 = 3, A12 = 1, A13 = 2
A21 = 2, A22 = 1, A23 = 2
A31 = 6, A32 = 2, A33 = 5
T
 3 1 2 3 2 6
adj ( B)   2 1 2   1 1
  2 
 6 2 5   2 2 5 
3 2 6  3 2 6
1 1
B  1
(adjb)   1 1 2   1 1 2
|B| 1
 2 2 5   2 2 5 
Now (AB)–1 = B–1. A–1
 3 2 6  3 1 1 
 1 1 2   15 6 5
  
 2 2 5   5 2 2 
 9  30  30 3  12  12 3  10  12 
  3  15  10 1  6  4 1  5  4 
 6  30  25 2  12  10 2  10  10 
 9 3 5 
  2 1 0 
 1 0 2 

Prepared by: M. S. KumarSwamy, TGT(Maths) Page - 10 -