Multiplying Matrices
How do I multiply a 2x2 matrix by a 2x1 matrix?
- The answer will be a 2 x 1 matrix
- Multiply the corresponding elements in the row of the first matrix with the corresponding elements in the column of the second matrix, writing their sum in the answer matrix
How do I multiply a 2x2 matrix by another 2x2 matrix?
- The answer will be a 2 x 2 matrix
- Multiply the corresponding elements in the row of the first matrix with the corresponding elements in the column of the second matrix, writing their sum in the answer matrix
- The process becomes more natural the more times you do it!
How do I square a 2x2 matrix?
- Do not square each individual element
- Write out a matrix multiplication
- If then
- It is possible to have negative elements after squaring a matrix
What does commutative mean?
- Commutative means "swapping the order doesn't change the result"
- 5 × 4 = 4 × 5 and 3 + 2 = 2 + 3
- Multiplication and addition of numbers is commutative
- 4 ÷ 2 ≠ 2 ÷ 4 and 5 - 3 ≠ 3 - 5
- Division and subtraction of numbers is not commutative
- 5 × 4 = 4 × 5 and 3 + 2 = 2 + 3
- Matrix multiplication is not commutative
- AB ≠ BA
- For example, but
What does associative mean?
- Associative means "it doesn't matter which order you group operations into"
- To do 5 + 4 + 3, either (5 + 4) + 3 or 5 + (4 + 3) works
- To do 8 x 9 x 10, either (8 x 9) x 10 or 8 x (9 x 10) works
- Multiplication and addition of numbers is associative
- (8 ÷ 4) ÷ 2 ≠ 8 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) and (5 - 4) - 3 ≠ 5 - (4 - 3)
- Division and subtraction of numbers is not associative
- Matrix multiplication is associative
- (AB)C ≡ A(BC)
- To multiply three matrices together, it's fine to start by multiplying the first two together, or to start by multiplying the second two together
- Just don't switch the order
- A(BC) is not (BC)A
- Just don't switch the order
Worked example
If , and , find the following:
Write out in full
Multiply the matrices
Simplify
Write out in full
Multiply the matrices
Simplify
Write out as
Multiply the matrices
Simplify