Singular Matrix

Singular Matrix

Komal MiglaniUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 06:34 PM IST

Before we start with the concept of a Singular and non-singular matrix, let’s first understand what is a matrix. A rectangular arrangement of objects (numbers or symbols or any other objects) is called a matrix (plural: matrices). A matrix is only a representation of the symbol, number, or object. It does not have any value. Usually, a matrix is denoted by capital letters. Matrix of order m × n, (read as m by n matrix) means that the matrix has m number of rows and n number of columns. In real life, we use Singular and non-singular matrices to solve systems of linear equations, quantum mechanics, and optics.

This Story also Contains

  1. Determinant of matrix
  2. Singular and non-singular matrix
  3. Properties of Determinants
  4. Solved Examples Based on Singular and Non-Singular Matrices
Singular Matrix
Singular Matrix

In this article, we will cover the Singular and non-singular matrix. This category falls under the broader category of Matrices, which is a crucial Chapter in class 12 Mathematics. It is not only essential for board exams but also for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination(JEE Main) and other entrance exams such as SRMJEE, BITSAT, WBJEE, BCECE, and more. A total of twenty-six questions have been asked on this topic in Jee mains (2013 to 2023), two in 2013, two in 2014, two in 2015, one in 2016, six in 2019, two in 2020, four in 2021, three in 2022, and three in 2023.

Determinant of matrix

The determinant of a matrix A is a number that is calculated from the matrix. For a determinant to exist, matrix A must be a square matrix. The determinant of a matrix is denoted by det A or |A|.

For $2 \times 2$ matrices

$
\mathrm{A}=\left[\begin{array}{ll}
a_1 & a_2 \\
b_1 & b_2
\end{array}\right]
$

then $\operatorname{det} \mathrm{A}$ is :

$
|\mathrm{A}|=\left|\begin{array}{ll}
a_1 & a_2 \\
b_1 & b_2
\end{array}\right|=\mathrm{a}_1 \times \mathrm{b}_2-\mathrm{a}_2 \times \mathrm{b}_1
$

For a $3 \times 3$ matrix determinant can be calculated in the following way :

$
\text { let } \mathrm{A}=\left[\begin{array}{lll}
a_1 & a_2 & a_3 \\
b_1 & b_2 & b_3 \\
c_1 & c_2 & c_3
\end{array}\right]
$

then we find $\operatorname{det} \mathrm{A}$ in following way

$
|A|=a_1\left(b_2 \cdot c_3-b_3 \cdot c_2\right)-a_2\left(b_1 \cdot c_3-c_1 b_3\right)+a_3\left(b_1 c_2-b_2 c_1\right)
$

This same process we follow to evaluate the determinant of the matrix of any order. Notice that we start the first term with the +ve sign then 2nd with the -ve sign and 3rd again +ve sign, this sign sequence is followed for any order of matrix.

This whole process is row-dependent, the same process can be done using columns, which means we can select an element along a column delete their row and column compute the determinant of left out matrix, and then multiply it with the element that we select. And we will get the same result as we get while doing the whole process along the row.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How does a singular matrix affect the solution of linear equations?
A:
When a matrix is singular, the system of linear equations it represents either has no solution or infinitely many solutions. This is because the rows of the matrix are linearly dependent, meaning there's not enough unique information to determine a single, unique solution.
Q: How does matrix rank relate to singularity?
A:
The rank of a matrix is the number of linearly independent rows or columns. A square matrix is singular if and only if its rank is less than its size (number of rows or columns). For a non-singular matrix, the rank is equal to its size.
Q: What is the geometric interpretation of a singular matrix?
A:
Geometrically, a singular matrix represents a linear transformation that "collapses" the space into a lower dimension. For example, a 2x2 singular matrix would transform a 2D plane into a line or a point, losing information in the process.
Q: How does singularity affect matrix operations like multiplication?
A:
Singularity affects matrix multiplication in several ways:
Q: Can a singular matrix ever be diagonalizable?
A:
Yes, a singular matrix can be diagonalizable, but not all singular matrices are diagonalizable. A singular matrix is diagonalizable if and only if its geometric multiplicity equals its algebraic multiplicity for the eigenvalue zero.

Singular and non-singular matrix

A square matrix is called a singular matrix if its determinant is 0 otherwise it is called a non-singular matrix. Let's say A is a square matrix then it is singular if |A| = 0, otherwise, it will be non-singular if |A| ≠ 0.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is a singular matrix?
A:
A singular matrix is a square matrix that does not have an inverse. In other words, its determinant is equal to zero. This means that the matrix equations involving a singular matrix may have either no solution or infinitely many solutions.
Q: How can you identify if a matrix is singular?
A:
You can identify a singular matrix by calculating its determinant. If the determinant is zero, the matrix is singular. Another way is to check if the rank of the matrix is less than its size (number of rows or columns).
Q: What are the implications of a matrix being singular in linear algebra?
A:
When a matrix is singular, it means that the linear transformation represented by the matrix is not invertible. This has several implications:
Q: Can a non-square matrix be singular?
A:
The term "singular" is typically used only for square matrices. Non-square matrices are neither singular nor non-singular because they don't have determinants. However, we can talk about the rank of non-square matrices, which relates to their linear independence.
Q: What's the difference between a singular matrix and a non-singular matrix?
A:
The main differences are:

Properties of Determinants

If A and B are square matrices of same order:

i) The determinant of the transpose of matrix A is equal to the determinant of matrix A. det (A’) = det A

ii) The product of the determinant of matrices AB is equal to the product of the determinant of individual matrices. det (AB) = det (A) det (B)

iii) The determinant of the skew-symmetric matrix of odd order is zero. if A is the skew-symmetric matrix of odd order then |A| = 0.

iv) The determinant of the skew-symmetric matrix of even order is a perfect square. if A is a skew-symmetric matrix of even order then |A| is a perfect square.

v) |kA| = kn |A|, where n is the order of matrix A and k is a constant.

vii) |An| = |A|n, where n belongs to N.

viii) |AB| = |BA|

Recommended Video Based on Singular and Non-Singular Matrix:

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Why is the determinant of a singular matrix always zero?
A:
The determinant of a matrix being zero indicates that the columns (or rows) of the matrix are linearly dependent. This means that one column can be expressed as a linear combination of the others, resulting in the matrix not having full rank and thus being singular.
Q: How does adding or subtracting matrices affect singularity?
A:
Adding or subtracting matrices can change their singularity. The sum or difference of two singular matrices isn't necessarily singular, and the sum or difference of two non-singular matrices isn't necessarily non-singular. It depends on how the operation affects the linear dependence of the columns or rows.
Q: How do elementary row operations affect the singularity of a matrix?
A:
Elementary row operations (multiplying a row by a non-zero scalar, adding a multiple of one row to another, or swapping rows) do not change the singularity of a matrix. If a matrix is singular, it will remain singular after these operations, and vice versa.
Q: What is the relationship between eigenvalues and singular matrices?
A:
A matrix is singular if and only if at least one of its eigenvalues is zero. This is because the determinant of a matrix is equal to the product of its eigenvalues, and a singular matrix has a determinant of zero.
Q: What is the significance of the zero eigenvalue in a singular matrix?
A:
A zero eigenvalue in a matrix indicates that the matrix is singular. It means there exists a non-zero vector x such that Ax = 0, which is the definition of the null space. The presence of a zero eigenvalue also implies that the determinant is zero.

Solved Examples Based on Singular and Non-Singular Matrices

Example 1: Let $A_1, A_2, A_3$ be the three A.P. with the same common difference d and having their first terms as $\mathrm{A}, \mathrm{A}+1, \mathrm{~A}+2$, respectively. Let $a, b, c$ be the $7^{\text {th }}, 9^{\text {th }}, 17^{\text {th }}$ terms of $\mathrm{A}_1, \mathrm{~A}_2, \mathrm{~A}_3$, respectively such that $
\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
a & 7 & 1 \\
2 b & 17 & 1 \\
c & 17 & 1
\end{array}\right|+70=0
$

If $a=29$, then the sum of the first 20 terms of an AP
whose first term is $c-a-b$ and the common difference is $\frac{d}{12}$, is equal to [JEE MAINS 2023]

Solution

$\begin{aligned} & \left|\begin{array}{ccc}A+6 d & 7 & 1 \\ 21(A+1+8 d) & 17 & 1 \\ A+2+16 d & 17 & 1\end{array}\right|+70=0 \\ & A=-7, d=6 \\ & \therefore \mathrm{c}-\mathrm{a}-\mathrm{b}=20 \\ & \therefore 5_{20}=495\end{aligned}$

Hence, the answer is 495.

Example 2:

Let $\alpha$ be a root of the equation $(a-c) x^2+(b-a) x+(c-b)=0$ where $\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{b}$, and c are distinct real numbers such that the matrix $\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\alpha^2 & \alpha & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \\ a & b & c\end{array}\right]$ is singular. Then, the value of $\frac{(a-c)^2}{(b-a)(c-b)}+\frac{(b-a)^2}{(a-c)(c-b)}+\frac{(c-b)^2}{(a-c)(b-a)}$ is

[JEE MAINS 2023]
Solution: $(a-c) x^2+(b-a) x+(c-b)=0$
$(a \neq c)$ $\mathrm{x}=1$ is one root \& other root is $\frac{\mathrm{c}-\mathrm{b}}{\mathrm{a}-\mathrm{c}}$
now $\left|\begin{array}{ccc}\alpha^2 & \alpha & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \\ a & b & c\end{array}\right|$ is singular

$
\Rightarrow\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
\alpha^2 & \alpha & 1 \\
1 & 1 & 1 \\
a & b & c
\end{array}\right|=0 \Rightarrow \alpha^2(c-b)-\alpha(c-a)+(b-a)=0
$
$\Rightarrow \alpha^2(c-b)+\alpha(a-c)+(b-a)=0
$

satisfied by $\alpha=1$ or $\alpha=\frac{b-a}{c-b}$
Now, if $\alpha=1$ then $\forall \mathrm{a} \neq \mathrm{b} \neq \mathrm{c}$

$
\begin{aligned}
& \sum \frac{(a-c)^2}{(b-a)(c-b)}=\frac{\sum(a-c)^3}{(a-b)(b-c)(c-a)} \\
& =\frac{3(a-b)(b-c)(c-a)}{(a-b)(b-c)(c-a)} \\
& =3
\end{aligned}
$

if $\left.A+B+C=0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad A^3+B^3+C^3=3 A B C\right]$

Hence, the answer is 3

Example 3: The probability that a randomly chosen $2 \times 2$ matrix with all the entries from the set of first 10 primes, is singular, is equal to :
[JEE MAINS 2022]
Solution: Let the matrix A be $\left[\begin{array}{ll}a & b \\ c & d\end{array}\right]$
If A is singular then $|A|=0$

$
\begin{aligned}
& \Rightarrow \mathrm{ad}-\mathrm{bc}=0 \\
& \Rightarrow \mathrm{ad}=\mathrm{bc}
\end{aligned}
$

Case I $: \mathrm{a}=\mathrm{d}$
a can take 10 values.
d can take the value which equals a
Now for ad $=$ be to hold

$
\mathrm{bc}=\mathrm{a}^2 \Rightarrow \mathrm{b}=\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{c}=\mathrm{a}(\mathrm{as} \mathrm{a} \text { is prime })
$

$\therefore$ only one option for b and c
Total such matrices $=10 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1=10$

Case II: $:$ ㅇd
In this case, can take 10 values and $d$ can take 9 values.
Now for $\mathrm{ad}=\mathrm{bc}, \quad(\mathrm{b}=\mathrm{a}$ and $\mathrm{c}=\mathrm{d})$
or $\quad(b=d$ and $c=a)$

$
\therefore \quad 10 \times 9 \times 2=180
$

$
\text { favourable }=10+180=190
$$
Total matrices $=10^4$

$
\text { Probability }=\frac{190}{10^4}=\frac{19}{10^3}
$

Hence, the answer is $\frac{19}{10^3

The value of $\left|\begin{array}{lll}(a+1)(a+2) & a+2 & 1 \\ (a+2)(a+3) & a+3 & 1 \\ (a+3)(a+4) & a+4 & 1\end{array}\right|_{\text {is : }}$
[MAINS 2021]
Solution: Put a $=0$, we get

$
\begin{aligned}
\Delta & =\left|\begin{array}{lll}
(a+1)(a+2) & a+2 & 1 \\
(a+2)(a+3) & a+3 & 1 \\
(a+3)(a+4) & a+4 & 1
\end{array}\right|=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
2 & 2 & 1 \\
6 & 3 & 1 \\
12 & 4 & 1
\end{array}\right| \\
\Delta & =2(3-4)-2(6-12)+1(24-36)=-2
\end{aligned}
$

OR
Given matrix is

$
\begin{aligned}
\Delta & =\left|\begin{array}{lll}
(a+1)(a+2) & a+2 & 1 \\
(a+2)(a+3) & a+3 & 1 \\
(a+3)(a+4) & a+4 & 1
\end{array}\right| \\
\mathrm{R}_2 & \rightarrow \mathrm{R}_2-\mathrm{R}_1 \text { and } \mathrm{R}_3 \rightarrow \mathrm{R}_3-\mathrm{R}_1 \\
\Delta & =\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
(a+1)(a+2) & a+2 & 1 \\
(a+2)(a+3-a-1) & 1 & 0 \\
a^2+7 a+12-a^2-3 a-2 & 2 & 0
\end{array}\right| \\
& =\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
a^2+3 a+2 & a+2 & 1 \\
2(a+2) & 1 & 0 \\
4 a+10 & 2 & 0
\end{array}\right| \\
& =4(a+2)-4 a-10 \\
& =4 a+8-4 a-10=-2
\end{aligned}
$
Hence, the answer is -2

example 5: If the minimum and the maximum values of the function

$
\begin{aligned}
& f:\left[\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right] \rightarrow R, \text { defined by } \\
& f(\theta)=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
-\sin ^2 \theta & -1-\sin ^2 \theta & 1 \\
-\cos ^2 \theta & -1-\cos ^2 \theta & 1 \\
12 & 10 & -2
\end{array}\right|
\end{aligned}
$

are $m$ and $M$ respectively, then the ordered pair $(m, M)$ is equal to:
[JEE
[MAINS 2020]
Solution

$
\begin{aligned}
& \mathrm{C}_3 \rightarrow \mathrm{C}_3-\left(\mathrm{C}_1-\mathrm{C}_2\right) \\
& f(\theta)=\left|\begin{array}{ccc}
\sin ^2 \theta & -1-\sin ^2 \theta & 0 \\
-\cos ^2 \theta & -1-\cos ^2 \theta & 0 \\
12 & 10 & -4
\end{array}\right| \\
& =-4\left[\left(1+\cos ^2 \theta\right) \sin ^2 \theta-\cos ^2 \theta\left(1+\sin ^2 \theta\right)\right] \\
& =-4\left[\sin ^2 \theta+\cos ^2 \theta-\cos ^2 \theta-\cos ^2 \theta \sin ^2 \theta\right] \\
& f(\theta)=4 \cos 2 \theta \\
& \theta \in\left[\frac{\pi}{4}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right] \\
& 2 \theta \in\left[\frac{\pi}{2}, \pi\right] \\
& (\theta) \in[-4,0] \\
& (\mathrm{m}, \mathrm{M})=(-4,0)
\end{aligned}
$

Hence, the answer is $(-4,0)$

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the relationship between singular matrices and the concept of matrix decomposition?
A:
Various matrix decompositions behave differently for singular matrices. For example, LU decomposition may not be unique, QR decomposition with column pivoting can reveal rank deficiency, and SVD provides a robust way to analyze the structure of singular matrices.
Q: What is the significance of the characteristic subspaces for singular matrices?
A:
For a singular matrix, the characteristic subspace corresponding to the eigenvalue zero (the null space) is non-trivial. Understanding these subspaces is crucial for analyzing the action of the matrix and solving related linear systems.
Q: What is the significance of the nullity of a matrix in relation to its singularity?
A:
The nullity of a matrix is the dimension of its null space. For a square matrix, non-zero nullity implies singularity. The nullity plus the rank equals the size of the matrix, known as the rank-nullity theorem.
Q: How does the concept of matrix condition number relate to singular matrices?
A:
The condition number of a matrix is the ratio of its largest to smallest singular value. For singular matrices, the smallest singular value is zero, making the condition number infinite. This indicates extreme sensitivity to perturbations and numerical instability in computations.
Q: What is the significance of the Jordan canonical form for singular matrices?
A:
The Jordan canonical form is particularly useful for understanding the structure of singular matrices. It reveals the dimensions of the eigenspaces and generalized eigenspaces, which is crucial for analyzing the behavior of the matrix in applications like solving differential equations.
Q: How does the concept of matrix pencils relate to singular matrices?
A:
A matrix pencil A - λB is singular if det(A - λB) = 0 for all λ. This concept generalizes the idea of matrix singularity and is important in areas like control theory and differential-algebraic equations.
Q: What is the relationship between singular matrices and Markov chains?
A:
In Markov chains, a singular transition matrix indicates a reducible chain, where some states are not accessible from others. This has important implications for the long-term behavior of the system and the existence of stationary distributions.
Q: What is the relationship between singular matrices and linear differential equations?
A:
In systems of linear differential equations dx/dt = Ax, singularity of A affects the nature of solutions. If A is singular, the system may have non-unique solutions or solutions that grow unboundedly, depending on the Jordan structure of A.
Q: How does the concept of matrix power series relate to singular matrices?
A:
For a singular matrix A, the power series I + A + A^2 + ... may not converge. This is related to the spectral radius of A. Understanding the behavior of such series for singular matrices is important in areas like Markov chains and dynamical systems.
Q: What is the significance of the Kronecker product in relation to singular matrices?
A:
The Kronecker product of two matrices is singular if either of the original matrices is singular. This property is useful in studying tensor products of linear transformations and in areas like quantum computing.