Stuck finding a specific value of an inverse of a complex matrix

Razberryz
Messages
22
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Consider the following matrix.

A =

2 + 4i...1 + 5i

2 − 3i...2 + 3i

Let B = A-1. Find b12 (i.e., find the entry in row 1, column 2 of A−1)

Homework Equations



A-1 = 1/(ad - cb)*
[ d -b ]
[ -c a ]
<--imagine as 2x2 matrix with first row (d,-b) and second row (-c,a)

The Attempt at a Solution



1/(ad - cb) =

1/((2+4i)(2+3i) - (2-3i)(1+5i))

1/((4+14i-12) - (2+7i+15))

1/(4+14i-12-2-7i-15)

1/(-25+7i)

[(d,-b)(-c,a)] =

[ d -b ]
[ -c a ] =

2 + 3i...-1 - 5i

-2 + 3i...2 + 4i

So for first row, second column, we should be multiplying 1/(-25+7i) by -1 - 5i. I'm getting -10/576 + 12i/576, but my answer is wrong. Where is my mistake?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Razberryz said:

Homework Statement


Consider the following matrix.

A =

2 + 4i...1 + 5i

2 − 3i...2 + 3i

Let B = A-1. Find b12 (i.e., find the entry in row 1, column 2 of A−1)

Homework Equations



A-1 = 1/(ad - cb)*
[ d -b ]
[ -c a ]
<--imagine as 2x2 matrix with first row (d,-b) and second row (-c,a)

The Attempt at a Solution



1/(ad - cb) =

1/((2+4i)(2+3i) - (2-3i)(1+5i))

1/((4+14i-12) - (2+7i+15))

1/(4+14i-12-2-7i-15)

1/(-25+7i)

[(d,-b)(-c,a)] =

[ d -b ]
[ -c a ] =

2 + 3i...-1 - 5i

-2 + 3i...2 + 4i

So for first row, second column, we should be multiplying 1/(-25+7i) by -1 - 5i. I'm getting -10/576 + 12i/576, but my answer is wrong. Where is my mistake?

I just realized my mistake, it was arithmetic.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top