Skip to content
Part BCSIR NET December 2023invertibility-over-rings

Invertibility over rings

Let InI_{n} denote the n × n identity matrix. Which one of the following statements is true?

  1. A.If A is a real 3×2 matrix and B a real 2×3 matrix with BA =I2= I_{2}, then AB =I3= I_{3}.
  2. B.Let A = [[3, 3], [1, 2]]. Then there is a matrix B with integer entries such that AB =I2= I_{2}.
  3. C.Let A = [[3, 1], [1, 2]] with entries in Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z}. Then there is a matrix B with entries in Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z} such that AB =I2= I_{2}.✓ Correct
  4. D.If A is a real non-zero 3×3 diagonal matrix, then there is a real matrix B such that AB =I3= I_{3}.

You have the answer. Trap Analysis is why the other three were written.

Not a worked solution repeated four times — the specific reasoning error each wrong option was built to reward, and why this one tests finite-dimensional intuition.

See pricing

50 are analysed free — try those first.

The trap it tests

Finite-dimensional intuition

Something true in ℝⁿ, or in a nice space, assumed in general.

Drill statements like this

Related counterexample: Equivalent matrices are similar

More on this topic

The chapter behind this: Linear transformations, matrices and similarity — free to read

From Vector Spaces and Linear Maps › Linear transformations, matrix representation, change of basis

Last revised . Found a mistake? Tell us — corrections are the fastest thing we act on.

ShareWhatsAppTelegram