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Exercise 1631Linear algebra › DeterminantsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Computing the inverse with cofactors

#cofactor#comatrix#inverse

Statement

Compute the inverse of
A=(123014560)A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 0 & 1 & 4 \\ 5 & 6 & 0 \end{pmatrix}
using the cofactor formula.

Hint

Compute all 3×33\times3 cofactors, transpose, and divide by the determinant.

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Solution

Determinant. det⁡A=1(0−24)−2(0−20)+3(0−5)=−24+40−15=1\det A = 1(0-24) - 2(0-20) + 3(0-5) = -24 + 40 - 15 = 1.

Cofactors.
- C11=+(1⋅0−4⋅6)=−24C_{11}=+(1\cdot0 - 4\cdot6) = -24.
- C12=−(0⋅0−4⋅5)=20C_{12}=-(0\cdot0-4\cdot5)=20.
- C13=+(0⋅6−1⋅5)=−5C_{13}=+(0\cdot6-1\cdot5)=-5.
- C21=−(2⋅0−3⋅6)=18C_{21}=-(2\cdot0-3\cdot6)=18.
- C22=+(1⋅0−3⋅5)=−15C_{22}=+(1\cdot0-3\cdot5)=-15.
- C23=−(1⋅6−2⋅5)=4C_{23}=-(1\cdot6-2\cdot5)=4.
- C31=+(2⋅4−3⋅1)=5C_{31}=+(2\cdot4-3\cdot1)=5.
- C32=−(1⋅4−3⋅0)=−4C_{32}=-(1\cdot4-3\cdot0)=-4.
- C33=+(1⋅1−2⋅0)=1C_{33}=+(1\cdot1-2\cdot0)=1.

Cofactor matrix and transpose.
C=(−2420−518−1545−41),com⁡(A)=CT=(−2418520−15−4−541).C = \begin{pmatrix} -24 & 20 & -5 \\ 18 & -15 & 4 \\ 5 & -4 & 1 \end{pmatrix}, \qquad \operatorname{com}(A) = C^T = \begin{pmatrix} -24 & 18 & 5 \\ 20 & -15 & -4 \\ -5 & 4 & 1 \end{pmatrix}.

Inverse. Since det⁡A=1\det A = 1,
A−1=(−2418520−15−4−541).A^{-1} = \begin{pmatrix} -24 & 18 & 5 \\ 20 & -15 & -4 \\ -5 & 4 & 1 \end{pmatrix}.

Verification. A⋅A−1=IA\cdot A^{-1} = I (can be checked directly).