Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise – Matrices | Boundless Maths
Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise Solutions

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise – Matrices

This Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise page covers all 11 questions, solved step-by-step — proofs involving symmetric and skew symmetric matrices, solving matrix equations with A'A=I, verifying polynomial identities like A^2-5A+7I=O, and real-world revenue/profit problems using matrix multiplication, exactly the way CBSE Matrices answers are marked.

11Questions
Medium–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise — All 11 Questions

1

If A and B are symmetric matrices, prove that AB-BA is a skew symmetric 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. Proved.
2

Show that the matrix B'AB is symmetric or skew symmetric according as A is symmetric or skew symmetric.

Medium +
Solution

Case 1: A is symmetric (A' = A). Then

(B'AB)' = B'A'(B')' = B'A'B = B'AB

Since (B'AB)' = B'AB, the matrix B'AB is symmetric.

Case 2: A is skew symmetric (A' = -A). Then

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

Since (B'AB)' = -B'AB, the matrix B'AB is skew symmetric.
3

Find the values of x, y, z if the matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 2y & z \\ x & y & -z \\ x & -y & z \end{bmatrix} satisfies the equation A'A = I.

Hard +
Solution

A' = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & x & x \\ 2y & y & -y \\ z & -z & z \end{bmatrix}

Multiplying row by column, every off-diagonal entry of A'A cancels out (for example, entry (1,2) = 0(2y)+x(y)+x(-y) = 0), while the diagonal entries are:

(A'A)_{11} = 0^2+x^2+x^2 = 2x^2,\quad (A'A)_{22} = (2y)^2+y^2+(-y)^2 = 6y^2,\quad (A'A)_{33} = z^2+(-z)^2+z^2 = 3z^2

So A'A = \begin{bmatrix} 2x^2 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 6y^2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 3z^2 \end{bmatrix}. Setting this equal to I:

2x^2=1 \Rightarrow x=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\qquad 6y^2=1 \Rightarrow y=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{6}},\qquad 3z^2=1 \Rightarrow z=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}

Answer: x=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\ y=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{6}},\ z=\pm\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}
4

For what values of x: \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 0 \\ 2 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 2 \\ x \end{bmatrix} = O?

Medium +
Solution

First multiply the matrix by the column vector: \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 0 \\ 2 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 2 \\ x \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0+4+0 \\ 0+0+x \\ 0+0+2x \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 4 \\ x \\ 2x \end{bmatrix}

Now multiply by the row vector: \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 1 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 4 \\ x \\ 2x \end{bmatrix} = 4+2x+2x = 4+4x

Setting this equal to 0: 4+4x=0 \Rightarrow x=-1

Answer: x = -1
5

If A = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 1 \\ -1 & 2 \end{bmatrix}, show that A^2-5A+7I = O

Medium +
Solution

A^2 = A\cdot A = \begin{bmatrix} 9-1 & 3+2 \\ -3-2 & -1+4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 8 & 5 \\ -5 & 3 \end{bmatrix}

5A = \begin{bmatrix} 15 & 5 \\ -5 & 10 \end{bmatrix},\qquad 7I = \begin{bmatrix} 7 & 0 \\ 0 & 7 \end{bmatrix}

A^2-5A+7I = \begin{bmatrix} 8-15+7 & 5-5+0 \\ -5+5+0 & 3-10+7 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Since every entry reduces to 0, A^2-5A+7I = O is proved.
6

Find x, if \begin{bmatrix} x & -5 & -1 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 2 \\ 0 & 2 & 1 \\ 2 & 0 & 3 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} x \\ 4 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} = O

Hard +
Solution

First multiply the matrix by the column vector: \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & 2 \\ 0 & 2 & 1 \\ 2 & 0 & 3 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} x \\ 4 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} x+2 \\ 9 \\ 2x+3 \end{bmatrix}

Now multiply by the row vector: \begin{bmatrix} x & -5 & -1 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} x+2 \\ 9 \\ 2x+3 \end{bmatrix} = x(x+2)-5(9)-1(2x+3) = x^2+2x-45-2x-3 = x^2-48

Setting this equal to 0: x^2-48=0 \Rightarrow x^2=48 \Rightarrow x=\pm4\sqrt{3}

Answer: x = 4\sqrt{3} or x = -4\sqrt{3}
7

A manufacturer produces three products x, y, z which he sells in two markets. Annual sales are: Market I — 10,000, 2,000, 18,000; Market II — 6,000, 20,000, 8,000.
(a) If unit sale prices of x, y and z are ₹2.50, ₹1.50 and ₹1.00 respectively, find the total revenue in each market with the help of matrix algebra.
(b) If the unit costs of the above three commodities are ₹2.00, ₹1.00 and 50 paise respectively, find the gross profit.

Medium +
Solution

(a) Revenue. Writing the sales as a matrix and prices as a column matrix and multiplying:

\begin{bmatrix} 10000 & 2000 & 18000 \\ 6000 & 20000 & 8000 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 2.50 \\ 1.50 \\ 1.00 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 25000+3000+18000 \\ 15000+30000+8000 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 46000 \\ 53000 \end{bmatrix}

Revenue in Market I = ₹46{,}000; Revenue in Market II = ₹53{,}000.

(b) Gross profit. Total cost in each market, using the same sales matrix with the cost column instead:

\begin{bmatrix} 10000 & 2000 & 18000 \\ 6000 & 20000 & 8000 \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 2.00 \\ 1.00 \\ 0.50 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 20000+2000+9000 \\ 12000+20000+4000 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 31000 \\ 36000 \end{bmatrix}

Gross profit = Revenue - Cost:

Market I: 46000-31000=15000; Market II: 53000-36000=17000

Gross profit in Market I = ₹15{,}000; Gross profit in Market II = ₹17{,}000.
8

Find the matrix X so that X\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} -7 & -8 & -9 \\ 2 & 4 & 6 \end{bmatrix}

Medium +
Solution

Since the given matrix is 2\times3 and the product is 2\times3, X must be a 2\times2 matrix. Let X = \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}. Then

X\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a+4b & 2a+5b & 3a+6b \\ c+4d & 2c+5d & 3c+6d \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} -7 & -8 & -9 \\ 2 & 4 & 6 \end{bmatrix}

From the first row: a+4b=-7 and a+2b=-3 (dividing the third entry by 3). Subtracting gives 2b=-4 \Rightarrow b=-2, so a=-3-2(-2)=1.

From the second row: c+4d=2 and c+2d=2 (dividing the third entry by 3). Subtracting gives 2d=0 \Rightarrow d=0, so c=2.

Answer: X = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -2 \\ 2 & 0 \end{bmatrix}
9

MCQ. If A = \begin{bmatrix} \alpha & \beta \\ \gamma & -\alpha \end{bmatrix} is such that A^2 = I, then:   (A) 1+\alpha^2+\beta\gamma=0   (B) 1-\alpha^2+\beta\gamma=0   (C) 1-\alpha^2-\beta\gamma=0   (D) 1+\alpha^2-\beta\gamma=0

Medium +
Solution

A^2 = \begin{bmatrix} \alpha & \beta \\ \gamma & -\alpha \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} \alpha & \beta \\ \gamma & -\alpha \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} \alpha^2+\beta\gamma & \alpha\beta-\alpha\beta \\ \gamma\alpha-\alpha\gamma & \gamma\beta+\alpha^2 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} \alpha^2+\beta\gamma & 0 \\ 0 & \alpha^2+\beta\gamma \end{bmatrix}

Setting A^2 = I: \alpha^2+\beta\gamma=1 \Rightarrow 1-\alpha^2-\beta\gamma=0

Answer: (C) 1-\alpha^2-\beta\gamma=0
10

MCQ. If the matrix A is both symmetric and skew symmetric, then:   (A) A is a diagonal matrix   (B) A is a zero matrix   (C) A is a square matrix   (D) None of these

Easy +
Solution

If A is symmetric, A' = A. If A is also skew symmetric, A' = -A. Combining these: A = -A \Rightarrow 2A = O \Rightarrow A = O.

Answer: (B) A is a zero matrix
11

MCQ. If A is a square matrix such that A^2 = A, then (I+A)^3-7A is equal to:   (A) A   (B) I-A   (C) I   (D) 3A

Hard +
Solution

Expanding (I+A)^3 using the binomial expansion (valid since I commutes with every matrix):

(I+A)^3 = I+3A+3A^2+A^3

Since A^2=A, it follows that A^3 = A^2\cdot A = A\cdot A = A^2 = A. Substituting:

(I+A)^3 = I+3A+3A+A = I+7A

So (I+A)^3-7A = I+7A-7A = I

Answer: (C) I

🎉 Chapter 3 Complete!

You've worked through every exercise in Matrices — order and construction, operations, transpose and symmetric matrices, invertible matrices, and this Miscellaneous Exercise. Ready for the next chapter?

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Common Questions

FAQs — Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 3 Miscellaneous Exercise

How many questions are there in the Miscellaneous Exercise?

The Miscellaneous Exercise of Chapter 3 has 11 questions (8 short-answer/proof questions plus 3 MCQs), pulling together every idea from the chapter — symmetric and skew symmetric matrices, matrix multiplication, and real-world applications.

What concept does the Miscellaneous Exercise test?

It revisits proofs involving symmetric and skew symmetric matrices, solving for unknowns using A'A = I, evaluating triple matrix products that reduce to a zero matrix, verifying polynomial identities in a matrix such as A² − 5A + 7I = O, and applying matrix multiplication to revenue, cost and profit calculations.

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

The Miscellaneous Exercise is 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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