4.03l Singular/non-singular matrices

120 questions

Sort by: Default | Easiest first | Hardest first
Edexcel F3 2021 January Q3
6 marks Standard +0.3
3. $$\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } 2 & k & 2 \\ 2 & 2 & k \\ 1 & 2 & 2 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { where } k \text { is a constant }$$
  1. Determine the values of \(k\) for which \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular. Given that \(\mathbf { A }\) is non-singular,
  2. find \(\mathbf { A } ^ { - 1 }\), giving your answer in terms of \(k\).
    3.
Edexcel F3 2021 January Q5
9 marks Standard +0.8
5. $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 6 & - 2 & - 1 \\ - 2 & 6 & - 1 \\ - 1 & - 1 & 5 \end{array} \right)$$ Given that 8 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\)
  1. determine an eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue 8
  2. Determine the other two eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  3. Hence find an orthogonal matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) such that \(\mathbf { P } ^ { T } \mathbf { M P } = \mathbf { D }\) 5.
Edexcel F3 2022 January Q4
9 marks Standard +0.8
4. $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } 6 & k & 2 \\ k & 5 & 0 \\ 2 & 0 & 7 \end{array} \right)$$ where \(k\) is a constant. Given that 3 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\),
  1. determine the possible values of \(k\). Given that \(k < 0\)
  2. determine the other eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  3. Determine a normalised eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue 3
Edexcel F3 2023 January Q5
12 marks Standard +0.8
5. $$\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } a & a & 1 \\ - a & 4 & 0 \\ 4 & a & 5 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { where } a \text { is a positive constant }$$
  1. Determine the exact value of \(a\) for which the matrix \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular. Given that 2 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { A }\)
  2. determine
    1. the value of \(a\)
    2. the other two eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { A }\) A normalised eigenvector for the eigenvalue 2 is \(\left( \begin{array} { c } \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 6 } } \\ \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 6 } } \\ - \frac { 2 } { \sqrt { 6 } } \end{array} \right)\)
  3. Determine a normalised eigenvector for each of the other eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { A }\)
    VJYV SIHI NI JIIIM ION OCVILV SIHI NI JLIYM ION OCV34V SIHI NI IIIIM ION OC
Edexcel F3 2024 January Q4
8 marks Standard +0.8
4. $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 0 & - 1 & 3 \\ - 1 & 4 & - 1 \\ 3 & - 1 & 0 \end{array} \right)$$ Given that \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ - 2 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\) is an eigenvector of \(\mathbf { M }\)
  1. determine its corresponding eigenvalue. Given that - 3 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\)
  2. determine a corresponding eigenvector. Hence, given that \(\left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 1 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\) is also an eigenvector of \(\mathbf { M }\)
  3. determine a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) and an orthogonal matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) such that \(\mathbf { D } = \mathbf { P } ^ { \mathrm { T } } \mathbf { M P }\)
Edexcel F3 2022 June Q3
8 marks Challenging +1.2
3. $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } - 2 & 5 & 0 \\ 5 & 1 & - 3 \\ 0 & - 3 & 6 \end{array} \right)$$ Given that \(\mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k }\) is an eigenvector of \(\mathbf { M }\),
  1. determine the corresponding eigenvalue. Given that 8 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\),
  2. determine a corresponding eigenvector.
  3. Determine a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) and an orthogonal matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) such that $$\mathbf { D } = \mathbf { P } ^ { \mathrm { T } } \mathbf { M P }$$
Edexcel F3 2023 June Q5
7 marks Challenging +1.2
5. $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 1 & 2 & k \\ - 1 & - 3 & 4 \\ 2 & 6 & - 8 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { where } k \text { is a constant }$$ Given that \(\mathbf { M }\) has a repeated eigenvalue, determine
  1. the possible values of \(k\),
  2. all corresponding eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { M }\) for each value of \(k\).
Edexcel F3 2024 June Q2
9 marks Standard +0.8
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.
$$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 2 & 0 & 3 \\ 0 & - 4 & - 3 \\ 0 & - 4 & 0 \end{array} \right)$$ Given that \(\mathbf { M }\) has exactly two distinct eigenvalues \(\lambda _ { 1 }\) and \(\lambda _ { 2 }\) where \(\lambda _ { 1 } < \lambda _ { 2 }\)
  1. determine a normalised eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue \(\lambda _ { 1 }\) The line \(l _ { 1 }\) has equation \(\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 4 \\ - 1 \\ 0 \end{array} \right) + \mu \left( \begin{array} { r } 2 \\ 0 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)\), where \(\mu\) is a scalar parameter.
    The transformation \(T\) is represented by \(\mathbf { M }\).
    The line \(l _ { 1 }\) is transformed by \(T\) to the line \(l _ { 2 }\)
  2. Determine a vector equation for \(l _ { 2 }\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf { r } \times \mathbf { b } = \mathbf { c }\) where \(\mathbf { b }\) and \(\mathbf { c }\) are constant vectors.
Edexcel FP3 2016 June Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.3
1. $$\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } - 2 & 1 & - 3 \\ k & 1 & 3 \\ 2 & - 1 & k \end{array} \right) \text {, where } k \text { is a constant }$$ Given that the matrix \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular, find the possible values of \(k\).
OCR MEI FP2 2010 June Q3
19 marks Standard +0.8
3
    1. A \(3 \times 3\) matrix \(\mathbf { M }\) has characteristic equation $$2 \lambda ^ { 3 } + \lambda ^ { 2 } - 13 \lambda + 6 = 0$$ Show that \(\lambda = 2\) is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\). Find the other eigenvalues.
    2. An eigenvector corresponding to \(\lambda = 2\) is \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ - 3 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\). Evaluate \(\mathbf { M } \left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ - 3 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 2 } \left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ - 1 \\ \frac { 1 } { 3 } \end{array} \right)\).
      Solve the equation \(\mathbf { M } \left( \begin{array} { l } x \\ y \\ z \end{array} \right) = \left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ - 3 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\).
    3. Find constants \(A , B , C\) such that $$\mathbf { M } ^ { 4 } = A \mathbf { M } ^ { 2 } + B \mathbf { M } + C \mathbf { I }$$
  1. A \(2 \times 2\) matrix \(\mathbf { N }\) has eigenvalues -1 and 2, with eigenvectors \(\binom { 1 } { 2 }\) and \(\binom { - 1 } { 1 }\) respectively. Find \(\mathbf { N }\). Section B (18 marks)
OCR FP1 2006 January Q3
4 marks Moderate -0.8
3 The matrix \(\mathbf { M }\) is given by \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } 2 & 1 & 3 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 3 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find the value of the determinant of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  2. State, giving a brief reason, whether \(\mathbf { M }\) is singular or non-singular.
OCR FP1 2008 January Q7
7 marks Moderate -0.3
7 The matrix \(\mathbf { A }\) is given by \(\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { c c } a & 3 \\ - 2 & 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Given that \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular, find \(a\).
  2. Given instead that \(\mathbf { A }\) is non-singular, find \(\mathbf { A } ^ { - 1 }\) and hence solve the simultaneous equations $$\begin{aligned} a x + 3 y & = 1 \\ - 2 x + y & = - 1 \end{aligned}$$
OCR FP1 2006 June Q8
10 marks Standard +0.3
8 The matrix \(\mathbf { M }\) is given by \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } a & 4 & 2 \\ 1 & a & 0 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find, in terms of \(a\), the determinant of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  2. Hence find the values of \(a\) for which \(\mathbf { M }\) is singular.
  3. State, giving a brief reason in each case, whether the simultaneous equations $$\begin{aligned} a x + 4 y + 2 z & = 3 a \\ x + a y & = 1 \\ x + 2 y + z & = 3 \end{aligned}$$ have any solutions when
    1. \(a = 3\),
    2. \(a = 2\).
OCR FP1 2007 June Q7
8 marks Standard +0.3
7 The matrix \(\mathbf { M }\) is given by \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } a & 4 & 0 \\ 0 & a & 4 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find, in terms of \(a\), the determinant of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  2. In the case when \(a = 2\), state whether \(\mathbf { M }\) is singular or non-singular, justifying your answer.
  3. In the case when \(a = 4\), determine whether the simultaneous equations $$\begin{aligned} a x + 4 y \quad = & 6 \\ a y + 4 z & = 8 \\ 2 x + 3 y + z & = 1 \end{aligned}$$ have any solutions.
OCR FP1 2013 June Q2
7 marks Moderate -0.8
2 The matrices \(\mathbf { A } , \mathbf { B }\) and \(\mathbf { C }\) are given by \(\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { l l } 5 & 1 \end{array} \right) , \mathbf { B } = \left( \begin{array} { l l } 2 & - 5 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\mathbf { C } = \binom { 3 } { 2 }\).
  1. Find \(3 \mathbf { A } - 4 \mathbf { B }\).
  2. Find CB. Determine whether \(\mathbf { C B }\) is singular or non-singular, giving a reason for your answer.
OCR FP1 2013 June Q10
12 marks Standard +0.3
10 The matrix \(\mathbf { A }\) is given by \(\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { l l l } a & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 3 & 2 \\ 4 & 1 & 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find the value of \(a\) for which \(\mathbf { A }\) is singular.
  2. Given that \(\mathbf { A }\) is non-singular, find \(\mathbf { A } ^ { - 1 }\) and hence solve the equations $$\begin{aligned} a x + 2 y + z & = 1 \\ x + 3 y + 2 z & = 2 \\ 4 x + y + z & = 3 \end{aligned}$$
OCR MEI FP1 2006 January Q4
5 marks Moderate -0.8
4 The matrix equation \(\left( \begin{array} { r r } 6 & - 2 \\ - 3 & 1 \end{array} \right) \binom { x } { y } = \binom { a } { b }\) represents two simultaneous linear equations in \(x\) and \(y\).
  1. Write down the two equations.
  2. Evaluate the determinant of \(\left( \begin{array} { r r } 6 & - 2 \\ - 3 & 1 \end{array} \right)\). What does this value tell you about the solution of the equations in part (i)?
OCR MEI FP1 2006 January Q9
12 marks Standard +0.3
9 A transformation T acts on all points in the plane. The image of a general point P is denoted by \(\mathrm { P } ^ { \prime }\). \(\mathrm { P } ^ { \prime }\) always lies on the line \(y = 2 x\) and has the same \(y\)-coordinate as P. This is illustrated in Fig. 9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{4048c232-6a4e-4baa-9262-93428f375203-4_821_837_475_612} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 9}
\end{figure}
  1. Write down the image of the point \(( 10,50 )\) under transformation T .
  2. P has coordinates \(( x , y )\). State the coordinates of \(\mathrm { P } ^ { \prime }\).
  3. All points on a particular line \(l\) are mapped onto the point \(( 3,6 )\). Write down the equation of the line \(l\).
  4. In part (iii), the whole of the line \(l\) was mapped by T onto a single point. There are an infinite number of lines which have this property under T. Describe these lines.
  5. For a different set of lines, the transformation T has the same effect as translation parallel to the \(x\)-axis. Describe this set of lines.
  6. Find the \(2 \times 2\) matrix which represents the transformation.
  7. Show that this matrix is singular. Relate this result to the transformation.
OCR MEI FP2 2006 January Q3
18 marks Challenging +1.2
3 The matrix \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 1 & 2 & 3 \\ - 2 & - 3 & 6 \\ 2 & 2 & - 4 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Show that the characteristic equation for \(\mathbf { M }\) is \(\lambda ^ { 3 } + 6 \lambda ^ { 2 } - 9 \lambda - 14 = 0\).
  2. Show that - 1 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\), and find the other two eigenvalues.
  3. Find an eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue - 1 .
  4. Verify that \(\left( \begin{array} { l } 3 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 0 \\ 3 \\ - 2 \end{array} \right)\) are eigenvectors of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  5. Write down a matrix \(\mathbf { P }\), and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\), such that \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 3 } = \mathbf { P D P } \mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 }\).
  6. Use the Cayley-Hamilton theorem to express \(\mathbf { M } ^ { - 1 }\) in the form \(a \mathbf { M } ^ { 2 } + b \mathbf { M } + c \mathbf { I }\). Section B (18 marks)
OCR MEI FP2 2007 January Q3
18 marks Challenging +1.2
3 Let \(\mathbf { P } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 4 & 2 & k \\ 1 & 1 & 3 \\ 1 & 0 & - 1 \end{array} \right) (\) where \(k \neq 4 )\) and \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 2 & - 2 & - 6 \\ - 1 & 3 & 1 \\ 1 & - 2 & - 2 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find \(\mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 }\) in terms of \(k\), and show that, when \(k = 2 , \mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 } = \frac { 1 } { 2 } \left( \begin{array} { r r r } - 1 & 2 & 4 \\ 4 & - 6 & - 10 \\ - 1 & 2 & 2 \end{array} \right)\).
  2. Verify that \(\left( \begin{array} { l } 4 \\ 1 \\ 1 \end{array} \right) , \left( \begin{array} { l } 2 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 2 \\ 3 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)\) are eigenvectors of \(\mathbf { M }\), and find the corresponding eigenvalues.
  3. Show that \(\mathbf { M } ^ { n } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 4 & - 6 & - 10 \\ 2 & - 3 & - 5 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{array} \right) + 2 ^ { n - 1 } \left( \begin{array} { r r r } - 2 & 4 & 4 \\ - 3 & 6 & 6 \\ 1 & - 2 & - 2 \end{array} \right)\). Section B (18 marks)
OCR MEI FP2 2008 January Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
3 You are given the matrix \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r } 7 & 3 \\ - 4 & - 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find the eigenvalues, and corresponding eigenvectors, of the matrix \(\mathbf { M }\).
  2. Write down a matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) such that \(\mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 } \mathbf { M P } = \mathbf { D }\).
  3. Given that \(\mathbf { M } ^ { n } = \left( \begin{array} { l l } a & b \\ c & d \end{array} \right)\), show that \(a = - \frac { 1 } { 2 } + \frac { 3 } { 2 } \times 5 ^ { n }\), and find similar expressions for \(b , c\) and \(d\). Section B (18 marks)
OCR MEI FP2 2012 January Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
3
  1. Show that the characteristic equation of the matrix $$\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 3 & - 1 & 2 \\ - 4 & 3 & 2 \\ 2 & 1 & - 1 \end{array} \right)$$ is \(\lambda ^ { 3 } - 5 \lambda ^ { 2 } - 7 \lambda + 35 = 0\).
  2. Show that \(\lambda = 5\) is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { M }\), and find its other eigenvalues.
  3. Find an eigenvector, \(\mathbf { v }\), of unit length corresponding to \(\lambda = 5\). State the magnitudes and directions of the vectors \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 2 } \mathbf { v }\) and \(\mathbf { M } ^ { - 1 } \mathbf { v }\).
  4. Use the Cayley-Hamilton theorem to find the constants \(a , b , c\) such that $$\mathbf { M } ^ { 4 } = a \mathbf { M } ^ { 2 } + b \mathbf { M } + c \mathbf { I } .$$ Section B (18 marks)
OCR MEI FP2 2013 January Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
3 You are given the matrix \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 1 & 3 & 0 \\ 3 & - 2 & - 1 \\ 0 & - 1 & 1 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Show that the characteristic equation of \(\mathbf { M }\) is $$\lambda ^ { 3 } - 13 \lambda + 12 = 0 .$$
  2. Find the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors of \(\mathbf { M }\).
  3. Write down a matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) such that $$\mathbf { M } ^ { n } = \mathbf { P D P } ^ { - 1 } .$$ (You are not required to calculate \(\mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 }\).)
OCR MEI FP2 2014 June Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
3
    1. Find the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors for the matrix \(\mathbf { A }\), where $$\mathbf { A } = \left( \begin{array} { l l } 6 & - 3 \\ 4 & - 1 \end{array} \right)$$
    2. Write down a matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) such that \(\mathbf { A } = \mathbf { P D P } ^ { - 1 }\).
    1. The \(3 \times 3\) matrix \(\mathbf { B }\) has characteristic equation $$\lambda ^ { 3 } - 4 \lambda ^ { 2 } - 3 \lambda - 10 = 0$$ Show that 5 is an eigenvalue of \(\mathbf { B }\). Show that \(\mathbf { B }\) has no other real eigenvalues.
    2. An eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue 5 is \(\left( \begin{array} { r } - 2 \\ 1 \\ 4 \end{array} \right)\). Evaluate \(\mathbf { B } \left( \begin{array} { r } - 2 \\ 1 \\ 4 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\mathbf { B } ^ { 2 } \left( \begin{array} { r } 4 \\ - 2 \\ - 8 \end{array} \right)\).
      Solve the equation \(\mathbf { B } \left( \begin{array} { l } x \\ y \\ z \end{array} \right) = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 20 \\ 10 \\ 40 \end{array} \right)\) for \(x , y , z\).
    3. Show that \(\mathbf { B } ^ { 4 } = 19 \mathbf { B } ^ { 2 } + 22 \mathbf { B } + 40 \mathbf { I }\).
OCR MEI FP2 2015 June Q3
18 marks Standard +0.8
3 This question concerns the matrix \(\mathbf { M }\) where \(\mathbf { M } = \left( \begin{array} { r r r } 5 & - 1 & 3 \\ 4 & - 3 & - 2 \\ 2 & 1 & 4 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Obtain the characteristic equation of \(\mathbf { M }\). Find the eigenvalues of \(\mathbf { M }\). These eigenvalues are denoted by \(\lambda _ { 1 } , \lambda _ { 2 } , \lambda _ { 3 }\), where \(\lambda _ { 1 } < \lambda _ { 2 } < \lambda _ { 3 }\).
  2. Verify that an eigenvector corresponding to \(\lambda _ { 1 }\) is \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ 3 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)\) and that an eigenvector corresponding to \(\lambda _ { 2 }\) is \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ 2 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right)\). Find an eigenvector of the form \(\left( \begin{array} { l } a \\ 1 \\ c \end{array} \right)\) corresponding to \(\lambda _ { 3 }\).
  3. Write down a matrix \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix \(\mathbf { D }\) such that \(\mathbf { M } = \mathbf { P D P } ^ { - 1 }\). (You are not required to calculate \(\mathbf { P } ^ { - 1 }\).) Hence write down an expression for \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 4 }\) in terms of \(\mathbf { P }\) and a diagonal matrix. You should give the elements of the diagonal matrix explicitly.
  4. Use the Cayley-Hamilton theorem to obtain an expression for \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 4 }\) as a linear combination of \(\mathbf { M }\) and \(\mathbf { M } ^ { 2 }\).