Chapter 2
Systems of Linear Equations
and Matrices
Section 2.4
Multiplication of Matrices
Writing Systems of Equations in
Abbreviated Form
Consider the following system of equations
with three unknowns.
2x + y z = 2
x + 3y + 2z = 1
x+ y+ z = 2
This system can be written in an abbreviated
form as
What is a Matrix?
A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers
enclosed by brackets.
Each number in the array is an element or
entry.
An augmented matrix separates the
constants in the last column of the matrix
from the coefficients of the variables with
a vertical line.
Classifications of Matrices
Often named with capital letters.
Classified by size (the number of
rows and columns they contain).
A matrix with m rows and n columns
is an m x n matrix. The number of
rows is always given first.
Special Types of Matrices
A matrix with the same number of
rows as columns is called a square
matrix.
A matrix containing only one row is
called a row matrix or a row vector.
A matrix of only one column is a
column matrix or a column vector.
Scalar Multiplication
When determining the product of a real
number and a matrix, the real number is
called a scalar.
Example
Find the product of each of the following.
5 7
A
4 2
1.) -5A
4 2 2
B 6 3 8
1 5 12
2.)
2B
Matrix Multiplication
Example
Solution
Answer
Notice that when you multiply a 2 X 3
matrix with a 3 X 1 matrix, the product is
a 2 X 1 matrix.
Another Example
Solution
Answer
CAUTION!!!
Sometimes the product of two
matrices does not exist!
The product AB of two matrices A
and B can be found only if the
number of columns of A is the same
as the number of rows of B.
The final product will have as many
rows as A and as many columns of B.
Examples for Us!
Use the matrices defined above to find the following
products, if they exist.
1.) AF
2.) AC
3.) DE
4.) ED
5.) BD
6.) EA