# Math Help - Calculate the solution using X = A^-1B

1. ## Calculate the solution using X = A^-1B

I wrote the system of equations in the form AX = B, however how would I go about calculating the solution using the equation X = A^-1B?

2. ## Re: Calculate the solution using X = A^-1B

Go to this web page.
You will find material of inverses of a $2\times 2$ matrix.

3. ## Re: Calculate the solution using X = A^-1B

You would find the inverse of the matrix and multiply by it! That is exactly what $A^{-1}B$ means.

The inverse of the two by two matrix [tex]\begin{bmatrix}a & b \\ c & d\end{bmatrix} is $\frac{1}{\Delta}\begin{bmatrix}d & -b \\ -c & a\end{bmatrix}$ where $\Delta= ad- bc$, the determinant of the matrix. Be sure to do the multiplication in the order shown.

4. ## Re: Calculate the solution using X = A^-1B

if $AX = B$

then $A^{-1}(AX) = A^{-1}B$ so

$(A^{-1}A)X = A^{-1}B$, that is:

$IX = X = A^{-1}B$.

so if A is indeed invertible, then calculating $A^{-1}B$ tells you which vector "X" is.