Transpose of a matrix – Matrices | Class 12 Maths

The knowledge of matrices is necessary for various branches of mathematics. Matrices are one of the most powerful tools in mathematics. Now see one of the features of the matrix in this article.

Transpose of a matrix

This one of the main properties of the matrix. The meaning of transpose is to exchange places of two or more things. In the case of the matrix, transpose meaning changes the index of the elements. In this case, we swap the row-element with the column-element or vise versa.

Let, A is a matrix of size m × n and A^t is the transpose of matrix A, 
where [a(ij)] of A = [a(ji)] of A^t, here 1 ≤ i ≤ m and 1 ≤ j ≤ n 

Example:

Let, the size of matrix A is 2 × 3,

Therefore,

Transpose of A or  

After transpose it becomes 3 × 2

Properties of Transpose

Transpose of Product of Matrices

This property says that, (AB)^t = B^tA^t

Proof

Here A and B are two matrices of size m × n and n × p respectively

and At and Bt are their transpose form of size n × m and p × n respectively (from the product rule of matrices).

It implies, if A = [a(ij)], and At = [c(ji)]

Then, [c(ji)] = [a(ij)]

and,

If B = [b(jk)], and Bt = [d(kj)]

Then, [d(kj)] = [b(jk)]

Now, from the product rule of matrices we can write,

AB is m × p matrix and (AB)t is p × m matrix.

Also, Bt is a p × n matrix and At is a n × m matrix.

This implies that,

(Bt)(At) is a p × m matrix.

Therefore,

(AB)t and (Bt)(At) are both p × m matrices.

Now we can write,

(k, i)th element of (AB)t = (i, k)th element of AB 

(k, i)th element of (B^t)(A^t)

Therefore, 

the elements of (AB)^t and (B^t)(A^t) are equal.

Therefore,

(AB)^t = (B^t)(A^t)

Example:

Let, 

and 

So prove that for these matrices, (AB)^t = (B^t)(A^t)

Solution:

Here A and B are 2 × 3 and 3 × 2 matrices respectively. So, by product rule of a matrix, we can find their product
and the final matrices would be of 2 × 2 matrix.

Find L.H.S –

Now, 

So, Transpose of AB or 

Find R.H.S –

and

So,

Therefore,

(AB)^t = B^t.A^t

Transpose of Addition of Matrices

This property says that (A + B)^t = A^t + B^t

Prove:

Here A and B are two matrices of size m × n

Let, A = [a(ij)] and B = [b(ij)] of size m × n.

So, (A + B) is also an m × n matrix

Also, A^t and B^t are n × m matrices.

So that, the Transpose of (A + B) or (A + B)^t is an n × m matrix.

Now we can say, A^t + B^t is also an n × m matrix.

Now, from the transpose rule,

(j, i)th element of (A + B)^t = (i, j)th element of (A + B)

= (i, j)th element of A + (i, j)th element of B

= (j, i)th element of A^t + (j, i)th element of B^t

= (j, i)th element of(A^t + B^t)

Therefore,

(A + B)^t = A^t + B^t

Example:

Let, 

and 

Prove that for these matrices, (A + B)^t = A^t + B^t

Solution:

Find L.H.S,

So, 

Find R.H.S

 and, 

Now, 

Therefore, 

(A + B)^t = A^t + B^t