Consider the following two statements :
A is a square matrix satisfying .
B is either a null matrix or an identity matrix.
Choose the correct option
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Before Beginning we notice that the null matrix and the identity matrix(Also hinted at by part B) satisfy the definition in part A.
A = [ a c b d ]
then A 2 = [ a 2 + b c c ( a + d ) b ( a + d ) d 2 + b c ]
Since A 2 = A
[ a 2 + b c c ( a + d ) b ( a + d ) d 2 + b c ] = [ a c b d ]
⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ a 2 + b c = a b ( a + d ) = b c ( a + d ) = c d 2 + b c = d
Note that if b or c is 0 we have the null matrix.
Hence all we have to do is look for solutions when a + d = 1
adding the 1 st and 4 th equation we have
a 2 + d 2 + 2 b c = a + d
( a + d ) 2 − 2 d a + 2 b c = ( a + d )
a d = b c
Hence we have the two conditions which will make A 2 = A , a + d = 1 and a d = b c
Note that if d = c = b = a = 2 1 we have A 2 = A , through the above condition. Hence B cannot be defined solely by condition A .