Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Ex 3.3 – Transpose, Symmetric, Skew Symmetric & Invertible Matrices | Boundless Maths
Ex 3.3 Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions · Chapter 3 Matrices

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Ex 3.3 – Transpose, Symmetric, Skew Symmetric & Invertible Matrices

This page covers all 12 questions of Exercise 3.3, solved step-by-step — finding the transpose of a matrix, verifying transpose properties like (AB)'=B'A', identifying symmetric and skew symmetric matrices, and splitting any square matrix into a symmetric and a skew symmetric part. Since Exercise 3.4 has only one question, it is included right here as question 13, exactly the way CBSE Matrices answers are marked.

12+1Questions
Easy–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Ex 3.3 — All 13 Questions (12 + Ex 3.4)

Exercise 3.4 has just one question in the NCERT textbook, so it's added below as question 13 rather than on a separate page.

1

Find the transpose of each of the following matrices:
(i) \begin{bmatrix} 5 \\ \tfrac{1}{2} \\ -1 \end{bmatrix}  
(ii) \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 \\ 2 & 3 \end{bmatrix}  
(iii) \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 5 & 6 \\ \sqrt{3} & 5 & 6 \\ 2 & 3 & -1 \end{bmatrix}

Easy +
Solution

The transpose of a matrix is obtained by interchanging its rows and columns.

(i) A column matrix transposes to a row matrix:

\begin{bmatrix} 5 & \tfrac{1}{2} & -1 \end{bmatrix}

(ii)

\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ -1 & 3 \end{bmatrix}

(iii)

\begin{bmatrix} -1 & \sqrt{3} & 2 \\ 5 & 5 & 3 \\ 6 & 6 & -1 \end{bmatrix}
2

If A = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 2 & 3 \\ 5 & 7 & 9 \\ -2 & 1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} and B = \begin{bmatrix} -4 & 1 & -5 \\ 1 & 2 & 0 \\ 1 & 3 & 1 \end{bmatrix}, then verify that
(i) (A+B)' = A'+B'  
(ii) (A-B)' = A'-B'

Medium +
Solution

(i) A+B = \begin{bmatrix} -5 & 3 & -2 \\ 6 & 9 & 9 \\ -1 & 4 & 2 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (A+B)' = \begin{bmatrix} -5 & 6 & -1 \\ 3 & 9 & 4 \\ -2 & 9 & 2 \end{bmatrix}

A' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 5 & -2 \\ 2 & 7 & 1 \\ 3 & 9 & 1 \end{bmatrix},\quad B' = \begin{bmatrix} -4 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \\ -5 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow A'+B' = \begin{bmatrix} -5 & 6 & -1 \\ 3 & 9 & 4 \\ -2 & 9 & 2 \end{bmatrix}

Since both sides match, (A+B)' = A'+B' is verified.

(ii) A-B = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 1 & 8 \\ 4 & 5 & 9 \\ -3 & -2 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (A-B)' = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 4 & -3 \\ 1 & 5 & -2 \\ 8 & 9 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

A'-B' = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 4 & -3 \\ 1 & 5 & -2 \\ 8 & 9 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Since both sides match, (A-B)' = A'-B' is verified.
3

If A' = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 4 \\ -1 & 2 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} and B = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \end{bmatrix}, then verify that
(i) (A+B)' = A'+B'  
(ii) (A-B)' = A'-B'

Medium +
Solution

Taking the transpose of A' gives A = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & -1 & 0 \\ 4 & 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}, and B' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 1 \\ 2 & 2 \\ 1 & 3 \end{bmatrix}.

(i) A+B = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 1 & 1 \\ 5 & 4 & 4 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (A+B)' = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 5 \\ 1 & 4 \\ 1 & 4 \end{bmatrix}

A'+B' = \begin{bmatrix} 3-1 & 4+1 \\ -1+2 & 2+2 \\ 0+1 & 1+3 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 5 \\ 1 & 4 \\ 1 & 4 \end{bmatrix}

Since both sides match, (A+B)' = A'+B' is verified.

(ii) A-B = \begin{bmatrix} 4 & -3 & -1 \\ 3 & 0 & -2 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (A-B)' = \begin{bmatrix} 4 & 3 \\ -3 & 0 \\ -1 & -2 \end{bmatrix}

A'-B' = \begin{bmatrix} 3+1 & 4-1 \\ -1-2 & 2-2 \\ 0-1 & 1-3 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 4 & 3 \\ -3 & 0 \\ -1 & -2 \end{bmatrix}

Since both sides match, (A-B)' = A'-B' is verified.
4

If A' = \begin{bmatrix} -2 & 3 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} and B = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 0 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}, then find (A+2B)'

Easy +
Solution

Using (A+2B)' = A'+2B', where B' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 1 \\ 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}:

A'+2B' = \begin{bmatrix} -2 & 3 \\ 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} -2 & 2 \\ 0 & 4 \end{bmatrix}

Answer: (A+2B)' = \begin{bmatrix} -4 & 5 \\ 1 & 6 \end{bmatrix}
5

For the matrices A and B, verify that (AB)' = B'A', where
(i) A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -4 \\ 3 \end{bmatrix},\ B = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}  
(ii) A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix},\ B = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 5 & 7 \end{bmatrix}

Medium +
Solution

(i) AB = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -4 \\ 3 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} -1 & 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 2 & 1 \\ 4 & -8 & -4 \\ -3 & 6 & 3 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (AB)' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 4 & -3 \\ 2 & -8 & 6 \\ 1 & -4 & 3 \end{bmatrix}

A' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -4 & 3 \end{bmatrix},\ B' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 2 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow B'A' = \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 2 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & -4 & 3 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} -1 & 4 & -3 \\ 2 & -8 & 6 \\ 1 & -4 & 3 \end{bmatrix}

Since (AB)' = B'A', the identity is verified.

(ii) AB = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 5 & 7 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 5 & 7 \\ 2 & 10 & 14 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow (AB)' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 2 \\ 0 & 5 & 10 \\ 0 & 7 & 14 \end{bmatrix}

A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix},\ B' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 5 \\ 7 \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow B'A' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 5 \\ 7 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 2 \\ 0 & 5 & 10 \\ 0 & 7 & 14 \end{bmatrix}

Since (AB)' = B'A', the identity is verified.
6

If
(i) A = \begin{bmatrix} \cos\alpha & \sin\alpha \\ -\sin\alpha & \cos\alpha \end{bmatrix}, then verify that A'A = I  
(ii) If A = \begin{bmatrix} \sin\alpha & \cos\alpha \\ -\cos\alpha & \sin\alpha \end{bmatrix}, then verify that A'A = I

Medium +
Solution

(i) A' = \begin{bmatrix} \cos\alpha & -\sin\alpha \\ \sin\alpha & \cos\alpha \end{bmatrix}. Multiplying:

A'A = \begin{bmatrix} \cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha & \cos\alpha\sin\alpha-\sin\alpha\cos\alpha \\ \sin\alpha\cos\alpha-\cos\alpha\sin\alpha & \sin^2\alpha+\cos^2\alpha \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} = I

Verified: A'A = I.

(ii) A' = \begin{bmatrix} \sin\alpha & -\cos\alpha \\ \cos\alpha & \sin\alpha \end{bmatrix}. Multiplying:

A'A = \begin{bmatrix} \sin^2\alpha+\cos^2\alpha & \sin\alpha\cos\alpha-\cos\alpha\sin\alpha \\ \cos\alpha\sin\alpha-\sin\alpha\cos\alpha & \cos^2\alpha+\sin^2\alpha \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} = I

Verified: A'A = I.
7

(i) Show that the matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 & 5 \\ -1 & 2 & 1 \\ 5 & 1 & 3 \end{bmatrix} is a symmetric matrix.  
(ii) Show that the matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & -1 \\ -1 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & -1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} is a skew symmetric matrix.

Easy +
Solution

(i) Taking the transpose: A' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 & 5 \\ -1 & 2 & 1 \\ 5 & 1 & 3 \end{bmatrix} = A.

Since A' = A, the matrix A is symmetric.

(ii) Taking the transpose: A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & -1 \\ -1 & 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} = -A.

Since A' = -A, the matrix A is skew symmetric.
8

For the matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 5 \\ 6 & 7 \end{bmatrix}, verify that
(i) (A+A') is a symmetric matrix
(ii) (A-A') is a skew symmetric matrix

Medium +
Solution

A' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 6 \\ 5 & 7 \end{bmatrix}

(i) A+A' = \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 11 \\ 11 & 14 \end{bmatrix}. Its transpose is \begin{bmatrix} 2 & 11 \\ 11 & 14 \end{bmatrix}, which equals A+A' itself.

Since (A+A')' = (A+A'), the matrix A+A' is symmetric.

(ii) A-A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}. Its transpose is \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} = -(A-A').

Since (A-A')' = -(A-A'), the matrix A-A' is skew symmetric.
9

Find \dfrac{1}{2}(A+A') and \dfrac{1}{2}(A-A'), when A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Medium +
Solution

Here A is already skew symmetric, so A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -a & -b \\ a & 0 & -c \\ b & c & 0 \end{bmatrix} = -A.

A+A' = O \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{2}(A+A') = O

A-A' = 2A \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{2}(A-A') = A

Answer: \dfrac{1}{2}(A+A') = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix},   \dfrac{1}{2}(A-A') = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & a & b \\ -a & 0 & c \\ -b & -c & 0 \end{bmatrix} = A
10

Express the following matrices as the sum of a symmetric and a skew symmetric matrix:
(i) \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 5 \\ 1 & -1 \end{bmatrix}  
(ii) \begin{bmatrix} 6 & -2 & 2 \\ -2 & 3 & -1 \\ 2 & -1 & 3 \end{bmatrix}  
(iii) \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3 & -1 \\ -2 & -2 & 1 \\ -4 & -5 & 2 \end{bmatrix}  
(iv) \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 5 \\ -1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}

Hard +
Solution

Every square matrix A can be written as A = P+Q, where P = \dfrac{1}{2}(A+A') is symmetric and Q = \dfrac{1}{2}(A-A') is skew symmetric.

(i) A' = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 1 \\ 5 & -1 \end{bmatrix}. So P = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 6 & 6 \\ 6 & -2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3 \\ 3 & -1 \end{bmatrix} and Q = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 4 \\ -4 & 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 2 \\ -2 & 0 \end{bmatrix}.

\begin{bmatrix} 3 & 5 \\ 1 & -1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3 \\ 3 & -1 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 2 \\ -2 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

(ii) Here A' = A already (A is already symmetric), so P = A and Q = O.

\begin{bmatrix} 6 & -2 & 2 \\ -2 & 3 & -1 \\ 2 & -1 & 3 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 6 & -2 & 2 \\ -2 & 3 & -1 \\ 2 & -1 & 3 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

(iii) A' = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & -2 & -4 \\ 3 & -2 & -5 \\ -1 & 1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}. So P = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 6 & 1 & -5 \\ 1 & -4 & -4 \\ -5 & -4 & 4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & \tfrac{1}{2} & -\tfrac{5}{2} \\ \tfrac{1}{2} & -2 & -2 \\ -\tfrac{5}{2} & -2 & 2 \end{bmatrix}

and Q = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 5 & 3 \\ -5 & 0 & 6 \\ -3 & -6 & 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & \tfrac{5}{2} & \tfrac{3}{2} \\ -\tfrac{5}{2} & 0 & 3 \\ -\tfrac{3}{2} & -3 & 0 \end{bmatrix}.

\begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3 & -1 \\ -2 & -2 & 1 \\ -4 & -5 & 2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & \tfrac{1}{2} & -\tfrac{5}{2} \\ \tfrac{1}{2} & -2 & -2 \\ -\tfrac{5}{2} & -2 & 2 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 0 & \tfrac{5}{2} & \tfrac{3}{2} \\ -\tfrac{5}{2} & 0 & 3 \\ -\tfrac{3}{2} & -3 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

(iv) A' = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 \\ 5 & 2 \end{bmatrix}. So P = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 2 & 4 \\ 4 & 4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 2 & 2 \end{bmatrix} and Q = \dfrac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 6 \\ -6 & 0 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 3 \\ -3 & 0 \end{bmatrix}.

\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 5 \\ -1 & 2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 2 & 2 \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 3 \\ -3 & 0 \end{bmatrix}
11

MCQ. If A, B are symmetric matrices of same order, then AB-BA is a:   (A) Skew symmetric matrix   (B) Symmetric matrix   (C) Zero matrix   (D) Identity matrix

Medium +
Solution

Since A and B are symmetric, A' = A and B' = B. Taking the transpose of AB-BA:

(AB-BA)' = (AB)'-(BA)' = B'A'-A'B' = BA-AB = -(AB-BA)

Since (AB-BA)' = -(AB-BA), the matrix AB-BA is skew symmetric. Answer: (A) Skew symmetric matrix
12

MCQ. If A = \begin{bmatrix} \cos\alpha & -\sin\alpha \\ \sin\alpha & \cos\alpha \end{bmatrix}, and A+A' = I, then the value of \alpha is:   (A) \tfrac{\pi}{6}   (B) \tfrac{\pi}{3}   (C) \pi   (D) \tfrac{3\pi}{2}

Easy +
Solution

A' = \begin{bmatrix} \cos\alpha & \sin\alpha \\ -\sin\alpha & \cos\alpha \end{bmatrix} \Rightarrow A+A' = \begin{bmatrix} 2\cos\alpha & 0 \\ 0 & 2\cos\alpha \end{bmatrix}

Setting this equal to I = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix}: 2\cos\alpha = 1 \Rightarrow \cos\alpha = \dfrac{1}{2} \Rightarrow \alpha = \dfrac{\pi}{3}.

Answer: (B) \dfrac{\pi}{3}
Exercise 3.4 · Invertible Matrices
13

MCQ (Ex 3.4, Q1). Matrices A and B will be inverse of each other only if:   (A) AB = BA   (B) AB = BA = 0   (C) AB = 0,\ BA = I   (D) AB = BA = I

Easy +
Solution

By definition, if A is a square matrix of order m and there exists another square matrix B of the same order such that AB = BA = I, then B is called the inverse of A (and A is the inverse of B).

It is not enough for just one of the two products to equal I or for the products to be equal to each other or to the zero matrix — both AB and BA must equal the identity matrix I.

Answer: (D) AB = BA = I

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Common Questions

FAQs — Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Ex 3.3 & 3.4

How many questions are there in Exercise 3.3?

Exercise 3.3 itself has 12 questions (10 short-answer/proof questions plus 2 MCQs), covering the transpose of a matrix and the properties of symmetric and skew symmetric matrices. This page also includes the single question of Exercise 3.4, on invertible matrices, as question 13.

Why is Exercise 3.4 included on this page instead of a separate page?

Exercise 3.4 in the NCERT Class 12 Maths textbook has only one question — a single MCQ on the condition for two matrices to be inverses of each other. Since it's too short to need its own page, it's covered here as question 13, right after the Exercise 3.3 questions.

What concept does Exercise 3.3 test?

It tests finding the transpose of a matrix, verifying transpose properties such as (A+B)' = A'+B' and (AB)' = B'A', identifying symmetric (A' = A) and skew symmetric (A' = -A) matrices, and expressing any square matrix as the sum of a symmetric matrix and a skew symmetric matrix using P = (A+A')/2 and Q = (A-A')/2. The added Exercise 3.4 question tests the definition of an invertible matrix and its inverse.

Where can I find the official NCERT textbook for this exercise?

Exercises 3.3 and 3.4 are from Chapter 3, Matrices, in the NCERT Class 12 Mathematics textbook (Part I), published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prescribed by CBSE. You can download the official textbook PDF directly from ncert.nic.in, NCERT's official website — the solutions on this page follow the questions exactly as they appear there.

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