OCR FP1 2009 June — Question 9

Exam BoardOCR
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2009
SessionJune
Topic3x3 Matrices

9 The matrix \(\mathbf { A }\) is given by \(\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } a & 1 & 1
1 & a & 1
1 & 1 & 2 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find, in terms of \(a\), the determinant of \(\mathbf { A }\).
  2. Hence find the values of \(a\) for which \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular.
  3. State, giving a brief reason in each case, whether the simultaneous equations $$\begin{aligned} a x + y + z & = 2 a
    x + a y + z & = - 1
    x + y + 2 z & = - 1 \end{aligned}$$ have any solutions when
    (a) \(a = 0\),
    (b) \(a = 1\).