Find $x$ so that $\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & c \\ 0 & a & -b \\ -\frac{1}{a} & x & x^2 \end{pmatrix}$ is invertible
Answer
Let
\[A=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & c \\ 0 & a & -b \\ -\frac{1}{a} & x & x^2 \end{pmatrix}.\]
Then $\frac{1}{a}R_1+R_3 \rightarrow R_3$ gives
\[\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & c \\ 0 & a & -b \\ 0 & x & x^2+\frac{c}{a} \end{pmatrix},\]
and $-\frac{x}{a}R_2+R_3 \rightarrow R_3$ gives
\[\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & c \\ 0 & a & -b \\ 0 & 0 & \frac{b}{a}x+x^2+\frac{c}{a} \end{pmatrix}.\]
Hence
\[\text{det}(A)=a(\frac{b}{a}x+x^2+\frac{c}{a})=0\]
\[\Rightarrow ax^2+b x+c=0\]
\[\Rightarrow x=\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}.\]
Hence the matrix $A$ is invertible if and only if
\[x\neq\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}.\]

574
The answer is accepted.
Join Matchmaticians Affiliate Marketing
Program to earn up to a 50% commission on every question that your affiliated users ask or answer.
- answered
- 2895 views
- $7.00
Related Questions
- Algebra solving P
- Prove that language L = {a^p ; p is prime} isn't regular using Myhill-Nerode theorem.
- Find where this discrete 3D spiral converges in explict terms
- Find the eigenvalues of $\begin{pmatrix} -1 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 & 1 \\ 0 & 3 & -1 \end{pmatrix} $
- [Linear Algebra] Diagonalizable operator and Spectrum
- Let $f(x,y,z)=(x^2\cos (yz), \sin (x^2y)-x, e^{y \sin z})$. Compute the derivative matrix $Df$.
- Questions about using matrices for finding best straight line by linear regression
- Matrix Calculus (Matrix-vector derivatives)