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I am trying to find the inverse of the following matrix using Cramer's rule:$\begin{bmatrix}2&0&0&0\\ 1&-2&1&-1\\ 0&2&2&3 \\1&0&1&1 \end{bmatrix}$. If this was a $3\times3$, I would know the process but I am completely stuck since this is a $4 \times 4$. My question is, how do you even begin to calculate $C_{1,1}, ...., C_{m,n}$? I tried searching for a tutorial with no luck and my book does not mention 4x4. My idea was to compute:$\begin{bmatrix} -2&1&-1\\ 2&2&3 \\0&1&1\end{bmatrix}$ for $C_{1,1}$ and take this long process all the way up to $C_{m,n}$. But if this is correct, do I solve the determinant of the 3x3 matrix now and that is my co factor or....? Any help would be appreciated. Also since this is a very long process, I was wondering if there is any algorithm for paper-pencil process or any easier way to compute it?

Git Gud
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Jlhglkj Glkjhg
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  • Are you referring to the adjugate matrix method? – Git Gud Jul 20 '13 at 18:42
  • I am referring to Cramer's Rule http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramer%27s_rule but I think that might be another name for adjugate matrix. – Jlhglkj Glkjhg Jul 20 '13 at 18:46
  • My answer is an example of the method above. Beware that it's over finite field. The method is the same, but the arithmetic is a bit different. – Git Gud Jul 20 '13 at 18:47
  • Cramer's Rule is to solve systems. Even though finding the inverse matrix can be done by solving a system, it's not the same thing as what I mentioned above. – Git Gud Jul 20 '13 at 18:48
  • Do you how to use the same method for a $4x4$? You can determine the inverse of a matrix using cofactor by finding each $C_{m,n}$ and dividing by the determinant. I guess that was my question: how do we find the cofactor for each spot when it is a 4x4 system? – Jlhglkj Glkjhg Jul 20 '13 at 18:53
  • For a 4x4 system, your minors would be 3x3. So for every term, (after eliminating the corresponding row and column), you would have to evaluate the determinant of a 3x3 matrix. Do that 16 times and you have the cof(A). Take the transpose and divide by determinant to get the inverse. – AAP Jul 20 '13 at 19:08
  • @AAP Right, that's what I was thinking of as well. So for a 3x3 matrix, the determinant would be my cofactor (minors), right? – Jlhglkj Glkjhg Jul 20 '13 at 19:22
  • the determinant of? – AAP Jul 20 '13 at 19:54

1 Answers1

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$$AB=I_4$$

$$A\begin{bmatrix}\vec{b}_1 & \vec{b}_2 & \vec{b}_3 & \vec{b}_4\end{bmatrix}=\begin{bmatrix}\hat{e}_1 & \hat{e}_2 & \hat{e}_3 & \hat{e}_4\end{bmatrix}$$

$$\begin{align}A\vec{b}_1&=\hat{e}_1 \\ A\vec{b}_2&=\hat{e}_2 \\ A\vec{b}_3&=\hat{e}_3 \\ A\vec{b}_4&=\hat{e}_4\end{align}$$

The first element of the first column can be found using Cramer's rule as follows:

$$b_{11}=\frac{\begin{vmatrix}1&0 & 0 &0\\0 & -2 & 1 & -1\\0 & 2 & 2 & 3 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 &1 \end{vmatrix}}{\begin{vmatrix}2&0&0&0\\ 1&-2&1&-1\\ 0&2&2&3 \\1&0&1&1 \end{vmatrix}}$$

The others can be found in the same way.

rurouniwallace
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