If A and B are invertible matrices of order 3, |A| = 2 and $\left|(A B)^{-1}\right|=-\frac{1}{6}$, then the value of |B| is :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
$|A|=2$
$\left|(A B)^{-1}\right|=-\frac{1}{6}$
so $\left|(A B)^{-1}\right|=-\frac{1}{6}$
$=\left|B^{-1} A^{-1}\right|=\frac{-1}{6}$ (as (AB)-1 = B-1 A-1)
We know that
$A A^{-1}=I$
so $\left|A A^{-1}\right|=|I|$
so $|A|=\frac{1}{|A^{-1}|}$
or $|A^{-1}|=\frac{1}{|A|}$
$\Rightarrow \left|B^{-1}\right||A-1|=-\frac{1}{6}$
$\Rightarrow \frac{1}{|A||B|}=-\frac{1}{6}$
So $\frac{1}{2|B|}=-\frac{1}{6}$
So |B| = -3