Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

-- Mathematics - Section A

Chapter

Determinants

Question:

Which of the following matrix is not skew symmetric matrix?

Options:

$\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0\end{array}\right]$

$\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & -3 \\ 3 & 1\end{array}\right]$

$\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & -2 \\ 2 & 0\end{array}\right]$

$\left[\begin{array}{ccc}0 & 1 & -2 \\ -1 & 0 & -3 \\ 2 & 3 & 0\end{array}\right]$

Correct Answer:

$\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & -3 \\ 3 & 1\end{array}\right]$

Explanation:

a skew matrix is one which follows following property symmetric 

A = -AT

Transpose of a matrix A

Let A = [aij]m×n

→ A is a matrix of order m×n

aij → represents its ith, jth element

AT = [aji]n×m

for skew symmetric matrix

A = -AT → every aij = -aji

so for diagonal elements

aii = -aii → both indices are represented by i, i since its a diagonal element 

⇒ 2aii = 0 

⇒ aii = 0 → for skew symmetric matrices its diagonal entries are always zero → necessary condition for skew symmetric matrices

So we need to check only these matrices whose diagonal entries are not zero first

In this case we will check

for option 2

$A=\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & -3 \\ 3 & 1\end{array}\right]$ → non zero diagonal entries

$A^T=\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & 3 \\ -3 & 1\end{array}\right]$

$-A^T=\left[\begin{array}{cc}0 & -3 \\ 3 & -1\end{array}\right]$

⇒ A ≠ - AT

option 2 → not skew symmetric matrix