Addition of Matrices


Updated: 11 Mar 2023

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In this blog post, you will find how to add and subtract matrices step by step with examples and MCQs to help you to understand the concept. Whether you are new to matrices or need a refresher, this post is perfect.
After covering this, you will be able to learn about the basic concepts related to Addition, Subtraction of matrices and other related ideas related to Addition of Matrices.

Addition of Matrices – Definition and Concept

Addition of Matrices

To understand matrix addition, it’s essential to know the concept of matrices. A matrix is defined by its order, represented by the number of rows and columns.

When two matrices have the same order, the addition of matrices is possible. Two matrices have the same order means “the same number of Rows and Columns.”

If the order of the matrix is different, addition cannot be possible.

Subtraction of Matrices – Concept

Subtraction of Matrices

When two matrices have the same order, the subtraction of matrices is possible.

Addition of matrices explained

Addition of matrices explained
Which of the following matrix operation are defined for the given matrices?
A=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3 & 8 \\4 & 6\end{array}\right], B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}4 & 0 \\1 & -9\end{array}\right] \\
C=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & 4 & -5 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array}\right]

D=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & -4 & 5 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \end{array}\right] \\
1. A+B
As the order of A is 2-by-2
And the order of B is 2-by-2
Hence orders are same
So A+B is possible.
2. B+D
As the order of B is 2-by-2
And the order of D is 2-by-3
So B+D is not possible.
3. A-C
As the order of A is 2-by-2
And the order of C is 2-by-3
So A-C is not possible.
4. C-D
As the order of C is 2-by-3
And the order of D is 2-by-3
So C-D is possible.

Addition of matrices

Addition of matrices with example
Example:
A=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3 & 8 \\4 & 6\end{array}\right], B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}4 & 0 \\1 & -9\end{array}\right] \\
step : 1 Ensure that both matrices have the same dimensions.
Both matrices A and B have same dimensions 2 \times 2.
step : 2 Write down the matrices.
A+B=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3 & 8 \\4 & 6\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cc}4 & 0 \\1 & -9\end{array}\right] \\
step : 3 Add the corresponding elements of the matrices and simplify.
A+B=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3+4 & 8+0 \\4+1 & 6-9\end{array}\right] \\
A+B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}7 & 8 \\5 & -3\end{array}\right] \\

Subtraction of matrices

Subtraction of matrices with example.
Subtraction can be obtained by subtracting the corresponding elements of the matrices.
Example:
A=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3 & 8 \\4 & 6\end{array}\right], B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}4 & 0 \\1 & -9\end{array}\right] \\
A-B
=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3 & 8 \\4 & 6\end{array}\right]-\left[\begin{array}{cc}4 & 0 \\1 & -9\end{array}\right] \\
A-B=\left[\begin{array}{ll}3-4 & 8-0 \\4-1 & 6+9\end{array}\right] \\
A-B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}-1 & 8 \\3 & 15\end{array}\right] \\

Commutative Property of matrix w.r.t Addition

Commutative Property of matrix w.r.t Addition
If two matrices of same order then A+B=B+A is called the Commutative law under addition.
C=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & 4 & -5 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array}\right]

D=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & -4 & 5 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \end{array}\right] \\
{C}+{D}={D}+ {C} \\
LHS:
C+D
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & 4 & -5 \\ 2 & 3 & 1 \end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3 & -4 & 5 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \end{array}\right] \\
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -3-3 & 4-4 & -5+5 \\ 2+1 & 3+2 & 1+3 \end{array}\right] \\
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc} -6 & 0 & 0 \\ 3 & 5 & 4 \end{array}\right]
RHS
D+C
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}-3 & -4 & 5 \\ 1 & 2 & 3\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{ccc}-3 & 4 & -5 \\ 2 & 3 & 1\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}-3-3 & -4+4 & 5-5 \\ 1+2 & 2+3 & 3+1\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}-6 & 0 & 0 \\ 3 & 5 & 4\end{array}\right]

Associative Property of Matrix w.r.t Addition

Associative Property of Matrix w.r.t Addition
If three matrices of same order, then
A+(B+C)=(A+B)+C is called the Associative law under addition.
Verify
{A}+({B}+{C})=({A}+{B})+{C}
for the following matrices.
A=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -3 \\ 4 & 1\end{array}\right],
B=\left[\begin{array}{cc}5 & -2 \\ 3 & 6\end{array}\right],
C=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 7 \\ -6 & -3\end{array}\right]
Solution:
{A}+({B}+{C})=({A}+{B})+{C}
LHS: A+(B+C)
B+C
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}5 & -2 \\ 3 & 6\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 7 \\ -6 & -3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}5+1 & -2+7 \\ 3-6 & 6-3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}6 & 5 \\ -3 & 3\end{array}\right]
A+(B+C)
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -3 \\ 4 & 1\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cc}6 & 5 \\ -3 & 3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2+6 & -3+5 \\ 4-3 & 1+3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{ll}8 & 2 \\ 1 & 4\end{array}\right]
RHS: (A+B)+C
A+B
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2 & -3 \\ 4 & 1\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cc}5 & -2 \\ 3 & 6\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}2+5 & -3-2 \\ 4+3 & 1+6\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}7 & -5 \\ 7 & 7\end{array}\right]
(A+B)+C
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}7 & -5 \\ 7 & 7\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cc}1 & 7 \\ -6 & -3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{cc}7+1 & -5+7 \\ 7-6 & 7-3\end{array}\right]
=\left[\begin{array}{ll}8 & 2 \\ 1 & 4\end{array}\right]
Hence
A+(B+C)=(A+B)+C
Proved

MCQs on matrix addition

To test your knowledge of matrix addition, here are a few multiple-choice questions:

1. Two matrices are conformable for addition/subtraction, if they are of the ________ order.
O Row
O Column
O Same
O Different
Show Answer

Same
Explanation:
When the number of rows and columns of both the matrices are same, then both the matrices can be added/subtracted.


2. Addition of two matrices is obtained by adding the ________ elements of the matrices.
O Row
O Column
O Corresponding
O Different
Show Answer

Corresponding
Explanation:
For Addition of matrices, it must be noted to add the corresponding elements.


3. The addition of A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & -2 & 3\end{array}\right] \ and \ B=\left[\begin{array}{lll}a & b & c\end{array}\right] is ________.
O Possible
O Not possible
O Identity matrix
O None of these
Show Answer

Possible
Explanation:
The addition of Matrix A and B is possible, because the order of both the matrices are same, that is:
1-by-3


4. The addition of A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & 2 \end{array}\right] \ and \ B=\left[\begin{array}{lll}a & b & c\end{array}\right] is ________
O Possible
O Not possible
O Identity matrix
O None of these
Show Answer

Not possible
Explanation:
The addition of Matrix A and B is not possible, because the order of both the matrices are not same.


5. The real number is multiplying to ________ elements of the matrix.
O Each
O Row
O Column
O All of these
Show Answer


Explanation:
The real number is multiplied to each elements of the matrix. Example is in MCQs No. 6


6. If A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & -2 & 3\end{array}\right] \ then \ -3A= ________
O \left[\begin{array}{lll}-3 & -2 & -9\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{lll}-1 & 2 & 3\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{lll}-3 & 6 & -9\end{array}\right]
O None of the above
Show Answer

\left[\begin{array}{lll}-3 & 6 & -9\end{array}\right]
Explanation:
A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & -2 & 3\end{array}\right]
-3A=-3\left[\begin{array}{lll}1 & -2 & 3\end{array}\right]
-3A=\left[\begin{array}{lll}-3 & 6 & -9\end{array}\right]


7. A+B=B+A is ________ property under addition.
O Commutative
O Associative
O Distributive
O None of these
Show Answer

Commutative


8. A+(B+C)=(A+B)+C is ________ law under addition.
O Commutative
O Associative
O Distributive
O None of these
Show Answer

Associative


9. A+0 \ or \ 0+A = ________
O B
O A
O 0
O All of these
Show Answer

A
Explanation:
When zero (0) is added to any number, the answer should be that mumber.
0+3=3


10. \left[\begin{array}{lll}0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0\end{array}\right] is ________ matrix.
O Additive identity
O Zero
O Null
O All of these
Show Answer

All of these


11. The ________ matrix is the additive identity for addition.
O Identity
O Scalar
O Null
O None of these
Show Answer

Null
Explanation:
When a null matrix is added to any matrix, the result is that matrix which shows the additive identity.


12. The null matrix is the additive ________ for addition.
O Identity
O Scalar
O Null
O None of these
Show Answer

Identity
Explanation:
When a null matrix is added to any matrix, the result is that matrix which shows the additive identity.


13. The additive identity of \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right] is ________
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}-1 & -3 \\ -2 & -4\end{array}\right]

Show Answer

\left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right]
Explanation:
Zero is the additive identity.


14. The additive identity of \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right] is ________
O {\left[\begin{array}{ll}0 \end{array}\right] }
O {\left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right] }
O {\left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right] }
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}-1 & -3 \\ -2 & -4\end{array}\right]
Show Answer

{\left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right] }
Explanation:
The order of null matrix is same of that matrix.


15. In additive inverse, the sum of two matrices are ________
O Identity
O Zero
O a & b
O None of these
Show Answer

Zero


16. If A+B=0 then B is the _______ inverse of A
O Multiplicative
O Additive
O Zero
O None of these
Show Answer

Additive
Explanation:
When the sum of two numbers is zero, then they are the additive inverse of each other.


17. If P+Q=0 , then P \ and \ Q are the ________ inverse of each other.
O Additive
O Multiplicative
O Identity
O All of these
Show Answer

Additive
Explanation:
When the sum of two numbers is zero, then they are the additive inverse of each other.


18. The additive inverse of \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & -3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right] is ________
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4\end{array}\right]
O \left[\begin{array}{ll}-1 & 3 \\ -2 & -4\end{array}\right]
Show Answer

\left[\begin{array}{ll}-1 & 3 \\ -2 & -4\end{array}\right]
Explanation:
when the sum of two matrices is zero OR the matrices of opposite signs.
\left[\begin{array}{ll}1 & -3 \\ 2 & 4\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{ll}-1 & 3 \\ -2 & -4\end{array}\right] =\left[\begin{array}{ll}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{array}\right]


jawad khalil

jawad khalil

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