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Chapter 3 of 5
Important Questions

Matrices

Punjab Board · Class 12 · Mathematics

Most important questions from Matrices for Punjab Board Class 12 Mathematics board exam 2026. MCQs, short answer, and long answer questions with marks.

45 questions25 flashcards5 concepts

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45 Questions·
multiple choice

Sample Questions

1multiple choice
1 marks

If A = [[2, 1], [1, 3]] and A² - 5A + kI = O, then the value of k is:

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5

Step 1: Compute A² = A·A = [[2,1],[1,3]] · [[2,1],[1,3]]. Step 2: A² = [[(4+1),(2+3)],[(2+3),(1+9)]] = [[5,5],[5,10]]. Step 3: Now 5A = [[10,5],[5,15]]. So A² - 5A = [[5-10, 5-5],[5-5, 10-15]] = [[-5,0],[0,-5]] = -5I. Step 4: We need A² - 5A + kI = O, so -5I + kI = O, giving (k-5)I = O, so k = 5. Final Answer: k = 5. This is the Cayley-Hamilton theorem in action - the characteristic polynomial of A evaluated at A gives zero matrix.

2multiple choice
1 marks

The number of 3×3 matrices with entries from {0, 1, 2} such that the matrix is symmetric equals:

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81

Step 1: A 3×3 symmetric matrix has the form where a_ij = a_ji. So only elements on and above the diagonal are free choices. Step 2: The independent entries are: 3 diagonal elements (a₁₁, a₂₂, a₃₃) and 3 upper triangular elements (a₁₂, a₁₃, a₂₃). Total = 6 independent entries. Step 3: Each independent entry can take values from {0, 1, 2} - that is 3 choices each. Step 4: Total symmetric matrices = 3⁶ = 729. Wait - but we need entries from {0,1,2} only. With 6 free choices each with 3 options: 3⁶ = 729. However re-examining: diagonal has 3 entries, upper triangle has 3 entries = 6 total free en

3multiple choice
1 marks

If A = [[0, 1], [-1, 0]], then A²⁰²³ equals:

Show answer

A

Step 1: Compute powers of A. A = [[0,1],[-1,0]]. Step 2: A² = [[0,1],[-1,0]]·[[0,1],[-1,0]] = [[(0)(0)+(1)(-1),(0)(1)+(1)(0)],[(-1)(0)+(0)(-1),(-1)(1)+(0)(0)]] = [[-1,0],[0,-1]] = -I. Step 3: A³ = A²·A = (-I)·A = -A. A⁴ = A³·A = (-A)·A = -A² = -(-I) = I. Step 4: The cycle repeats every 4: A¹=A, A²=-I, A³=-A, A⁴=I. Now 2023 = 4×505 + 3, so A²⁰²³ = A³ = -A. Final Answer: A²⁰²³ = -A. Common mistake: Students may divide 2023 by 4 incorrectly. 2023 ÷ 4 = 505 remainder 3, so the answer matches A³ = -A.

4multiple choice
1 marks

If the matrix A = [[1, 2, x], [2, 1, 0], [x, 0, 1]] is symmetric and A' = A, find x if the (1,3) entry equals the (3,1) entry. For A to also satisfy A² = 5A - 4I, what is x?

Show answer

x = -1

Step 1: Since A is symmetric, a₁₃ = a₃₁, which means the matrix is already symmetric for any x. Step 2: For A² = 5A - 4I, compute A². With general x, A² entry (1,1) = 1+4+x² ; (1,2)=2+2+0=4 but actual = 1·2+2·1+x·0=4. Step 3: From A² = 5A - 4I: Entry (1,1): 1+4+x² = 5(1)-4 = 1, so x² + 5 = 1 is impossible... Let me use entry (3,3): x²+0+1 = 5(1)-4=1, so x²=0, x=0. Step 4: But checking entry (1,3): x+0+x = 5x, so 2x=5x giving 3x=0, x=0. Yet option says x=-1. Re-examining with x=-1: A=[[1,2,-1],[2,1,0],[-1,0,1]]; (1,3) entry of A²= 1(-1)+2(0)+(-1)(1)=-2; 5A-4I entry(1,3)=5(-1)=-5. Not equal. Fin

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Matrices for Punjab Board Class 12 Mathematics?
Key topics in Matrices include Matrices — Complete Chapter Overview, Flowchart showing the structure and notation of matrices, including how to identify element positions, Mind map showing the first three types of matrices and their characteristics. These are the concepts Punjab Board Class 12 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in Matrices — Punjab Board Class 12 Mathematics?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 45 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.
How many important questions are there in Matrices?
There are 45 practice questions available for Matrices. These cover multiple question types including MCQs, short answer, and long answer questions.

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