Let $M$ and $N$ be two $3 \times 3$ non-singular skew-symmetric matrices such that $M N=N M$. If $P^T$…

Let $M$ and $N$ be two $3 \times 3$ non-singular skew-symmetric matrices such that $M N=N M$. If $P^T$ denotes the transpose of $P$, then $M^2 N^2\left(M^T N\right)^{-1}\left(M N^{-1}\right)^T$ is equal to
  1. $M^2$
  2. $-N^2$
  3. $-M^2$
  4. $M N$

Solution

Given, $M^T=-M, N^T=-N$ and $\quad M N=N M$ $ \begin{aligned} \therefore & M^2 N^2\left(M^T N\right)^{-1}\left(M N^{-1}\right)^T \\ & =M^2 N^2 N^{-1}\left(M^T\right)^{-1}\left(N^{-1}\right)^T \cdot M^T \\ & =M^2 N\left(N N^{-1}\right)(-M)^{-1}\left(N^T\right)^{-1}(-M) \\ & =M^2 N\left(-M^{-1}\right)(-N)^{-1}(-M) \\ & =-M^2 N M^{-1} N^{-1} M \\ & =-M \cdot(M N) M^{-1} N^{-1} M \\ & =-M(N M) M^{-1} N^{-1} M \\ & =-M N\left(N M^{-1}\right) N^{-1} M \\ & =-M\left(N N^{-1}\right) M=-M^2 \end{aligned} $ Note Here, non-singular word should not be used, since there is no non-singular $3 \times 3$ skew-symmetric matrix

Asked in: JEE Advanced 2011 (Paper 1)

Practice more Matrices questions on Aicharya