# Help solving a couple of questions with Linear Algebra

• January 2nd 2013, 10:33 AM
Help solving a couple of questions with Linear Algebra
Hi there guys,
I have tried and tried and tried. I can't seem to get anywhere with these questions, Just wondering if anybody here could help me out!Attachment 26451
Any help would be great! Please and thank you!
• January 2nd 2013, 10:34 AM
Re: Help solving a couple of questions with Linear Algebra
The matrix A, Being the general one
[a,b
c,d]

Where Tr(A) = a+d and Det(A) is ad-bc
• January 2nd 2013, 06:10 PM
johng
Re: Help solving a couple of questions with Linear Algebra
I think you neglected to mention that A is a 2 by 2 matrix! For any larger matrix, your result is generally false.

For a 2 by 2 matrix, the characteristic equation is:
$t^2-tr(A)t+det(A)=0$, and so Cayley Hamilton says $A^2-tr(A)A+det(A)I=0$
So $I={tr(A)A-A^2\over tr(A)}$ or $I=AB$ with $B={tr(A)I-A\over tr(A)}$
Don't you know then that this implies $B=A^{-1}$?

The remaining questions should be easy using this form for A inverse.