Thread: how can i find the inverse of matrix?

m=

0 1 2
1 0 3
4 -3 8

Originally Posted by eunse16

m=

0 1 2
1 0 3
4 -3 8

Hi eunse.

To find the inverse of a 3x3 matrix you need to first find the determinant, and then need to transpose the matrix of cofactors.

Do any of these ring a bell?

Using the determinant and cofactors is certainly one way to find an inverse matrix and, in fact, that was the first method I learned. But I think it is easier to use "row-reduction".

Write the given matrix and identity matrix next to each other:


Now use row reduction to reduce your matrix to the identity matrix while applying those same row operations all the way across both matrices. The same row operations that change your matrix to the identity matrix will change the identity matrix to the inverse of the original matrix.

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy

Using the determinant and cofactors is certainly one way to find an inverse matrix and, in fact, that was the first method I learned. But I think it is easier to use "row-reduction".

Write the given matrix and identity matrix next to each other:


Now use row reduction to reduce your matrix to the identity matrix while applying those same row operations all the way across both matrices. The same row operations that change your matrix to the identity matrix will change the identity matrix to the inverse of the original matrix.

Just to make it clear to me, eunse and anyone else reading this, how would you use row reduction to find the inverse?

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy

Write the given matrix and identity matrix next to each other:


Now use row reduction to reduce your matrix to the identity matrix while applying those same row operations all the way across both matrices. The same row operations that change your matrix to the identity matrix will change the identity matrix to the inverse of the original matrix.

Just been reading through some info on the Web, what ever you have to add or subtract to/from the first matrix to get the identity, do you place this value in the corresponding position in the resulting inverse matrix?

For example, would the inverse be:



Edit - This does not make sense at all, ignore

Hello, eunse16!

Find

We have: .


. .








. . .





Therefore: .

Aww, I wanted to do that!