Matrix Multiplication Flashcards: Dimensions, Entries & Order

Practise 40 original matrix multiplication prompts: check dimensions, calculate row-by-column entries, compare AB and BA, and repair common errors.

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Check the dimensions before doing the arithmetic. These 40 matrix multiplication flashcards give English-reading learners original short problems on compatible shapes, row-by-column entries, small complete products, and the order of the factors.

You’ll decide whether a stated product exists and find its shape; calculate individual entries and short products with signed integers and zeros; and compare AB with BA. Selected reverse problems recover one missing dimension or entry from enough information to determine it uniquely. Local repairs target elementwise multiplication, a wrong row, a missed term, output dimensions, reversed factors, and a sign error. Every front supplies its own matrices or dimensions for mixed review.

The sequence begins with shape notation, compatibility, and the entry rule. It then introduces short calculations before order comparisons, constrained reverse problems, and error repair. Later cards revisit these decisions with rectangular matrices, cancellation, a zero column, a zero product from nonzero factors, and particular pairs that commute, including an identity matrix. Related calculation variants are separated by at least three other cards. All cards use the 'matrix-multiplication' tag; the review scheduler handles long-term spacing.

Know rows, columns, signed arithmetic, and simple equations before starting. Matrix indices start at 1, dimensions are positive integers, and a 1 × 1 product stays in brackets. This evergreen Mathematics deck has no exam or curriculum alignment. It excludes determinants, matrix inverses, elimination, eigenvalues, proofs, transformation composition, programming, and long 3 × 3 product drills. It does not mechanically reverse every calculation: arbitrary output matrices do not uniquely determine their inputs.

The compatibility and row-by-column rules were checked against Georgia Tech’s Interactive Linear Algebra. Only common mathematical facts are used. Every numerical example, prompt, answer, and arrangement is independently authored; no source exercises, textbook wording, competitor cards, or diagrams were copied or adapted.

AI tools assisted with drafting and the original decorative cover. Every final front and back was read in author review, and numerical answers were independently checked with exact integer arithmetic or substitution. This does not claim learner testing or guaranteed results. The CC0 dedication covers original wording, invented examples, organization, metadata, and generated cover to the extent applicable rights exist. Mathematical facts and cited materials retain their own status. This is independent study practice, with no affiliation to or endorsement by the cited organizations.

Tarjetas de este mazo

  1. Tarjeta 1

    Pregunta

    What are the dimensions (rows × columns) of this matrix?

    [ 6  -1   0 ]
    [ 2   3   5 ]
    

    Respuesta

    2 × 3. There are two rows and three columns.

  2. Tarjeta 2

    Pregunta

    A is m × n and B is n × p. What are the dimensions of AB?

    Respuesta

    m × p. The shared inner dimension n makes the product defined; the outer dimensions give its shape. All dimensions here are positive integers.

  3. Tarjeta 3

    Pregunta

    For a defined matrix product C = AB, which parts of A and B determine entry C(i, j)? Indices start at 1.

    Respuesta

    Row i of A and column j of B. Multiply corresponding entries, then add every pairwise product.

  4. Tarjeta 4

    Pregunta

    A is 4 × 2 and B is 2 × 3. Is AB defined, and what is its shape?

    Respuesta

    Yes: 4 × 3. The inner dimensions are both 2.

  5. Tarjeta 5

    Pregunta

    Find entry (2, 1) of AB. Indices start at 1.

    A = [ -1   4 ]
        [  3   2 ]
    
    B = [ 5  -2 ]
        [ 1   6 ]
    

    Respuesta

    17. Use row 2 of A and column 1 of B: 3 × 5 + 2 × 1 = 17.

  6. Tarjeta 6

    Pregunta

    A is 2 × 3 and B is 2 × 4. Is AB defined?

    Respuesta

    No. A has 3 columns, but B has 2 rows. The inner dimensions must match.

  7. Tarjeta 7

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB, keeping the result in matrix brackets.

    A = [ 2  -1   3 ]
    
    B = [  4 ]
        [  5 ]
        [ -2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [ -3 ]
    

    The 1 × 1 entry is 2 × 4 + (−1) × 5 + 3 × (−2) = −3.

  8. Tarjeta 8

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB. Is the product undefined or a valid matrix?

    A = [ 0   2 ]
    
    B = [ 3 ]
        [ 0 ]
    

    Respuesta

    A valid 1 × 1 matrix:

    [ 0 ]
    

    The dimensions match, and 0 × 3 + 2 × 0 = 0.

  9. Tarjeta 9

    Pregunta

    Find entry (1, 2) of AB. Indices start at 1.

    A = [ 1  -2   4 ]
        [ 3   0  -1 ]
    
    B = [  2   5 ]
        [ -1   3 ]
        [  4  -2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    −9. Row 1 meets column 2: 1 × 5 + (−2) × 3 + 4 × (−2) = 5 − 6 − 8 = −9.

  10. Tarjeta 10

    Pregunta

    A is 3 × k and B is 5 × 2. AB is defined. What is k?

    Respuesta

    k = 5. A must have as many columns as B has rows. AB then has shape 3 × 2.

  11. Tarjeta 11

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB.

    A = [  3 ]
        [ -2 ]
    
    B = [ 1   4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [  3   12 ]
    [ -2   -8 ]
    

    A 2 × 1 matrix times a 1 × 2 matrix gives a 2 × 2 matrix. Each entry has one pairwise product.

  12. Tarjeta 12

    Pregunta

    A learner multiplies matching positions and reports entry (1, 1) of AB as 8. What should that entry be?

    A = [ 2   1 ]
        [ 0   3 ]
    
    B = [ 4  -1 ]
        [ 5   2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    13. Ordinary matrix multiplication uses row 1 against column 1: 2 × 4 + 1 × 5 = 13. Multiplying matching positions omits the second term.

  13. Tarjeta 13

    Pregunta

    A is 2 × 3 and B is 3 × 2. Give the shape of AB and the shape of BA, or say undefined.

    Respuesta

    AB: 2 × 2. BA: 3 × 3. Both inner-dimension checks pass, but reversing the order changes the output shape.

  14. Tarjeta 14

    Pregunta

    For AB below, a learner stops at 8 − 6 = 2. What term is missing, and what is the correct 1 × 1 result?

    A = [ 2  -3   1 ]
    
    B = [  4 ]
        [  2 ]
        [ -5 ]
    

    Respuesta

    The missing term is 1 × (−5) = −5; the result is [−3]. All three pairs contribute: 8 − 6 − 5 = −3.

  15. Tarjeta 15

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB.

    A = [  1   0   2 ]
        [ -1   3   1 ]
    
    B = [ 2  -1 ]
        [ 0   4 ]
        [ 3   2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [ 8    3 ]
    [ 1   15 ]
    

    The entries are 2 + 0 + 6, −1 + 0 + 4, −2 + 0 + 3, and 1 + 12 + 2.

  16. Tarjeta 16

    Pregunta

    For these matrices, compare entry (1, 2) of AB with entry (1, 2) of BA. Are the products equal?

    A = [ 1   1 ]
        [ 0   1 ]
    
    B = [ 2   0 ]
        [ 0   3 ]
    

    Respuesta

    AB has entry 3; BA has entry 2. The products are unequal. AB uses 1 × 0 + 1 × 3; BA uses 2 × 1 + 0 × 1. Both products are 2 × 2, so equal shapes do not imply equal matrices.

  17. Tarjeta 17

    Pregunta

    AB = [13]. Find x.

    A = [ x   2 ]
    
    B = [  3 ]
        [ -1 ]
    

    Respuesta

    x = 5. The entry equation is 3x − 2 = 13. Substitution gives 3 × 5 − 2 = 13.

  18. Tarjeta 18

    Pregunta

    A learner uses row 1 of A and gets 4 for entry (2, 1) of AB. Correct the entry.

    A = [ 2  -1 ]
        [ 4   3 ]
    
    B = [  1   5 ]
        [ -2   0 ]
    

    Respuesta

    −2. Entry (2, 1) needs row 2 of A: 4 × 1 + 3 × (−2) = −2.

  19. Tarjeta 19

    Pregunta

    A is 2 × 3 and B is 4 × 2. Give the shape of AB and BA, or say undefined.

    Respuesta

    AB: undefined. BA: 4 × 3. For AB, 3 ≠ 4. For BA, the inner dimensions are both 2.

  20. Tarjeta 20

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB.

    A = [ -2   1 ]
        [  3   0 ]
    
    B = [ 4  -1 ]
        [ 2   5 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [ -6    7 ]
    [ 12   -3 ]
    

    Row 1 gives −8 + 2 and 2 + 5; row 2 gives 12 + 0 and −3 + 0.

  21. Tarjeta 21

    Pregunta

    A is m × 3, B is 3 × 4, and AB is 2 × 4. What is m?

    Respuesta

    m = 2. AB keeps the number of rows of the left matrix A.

  22. Tarjeta 22

    Pregunta

    Do AB and BA agree for this particular pair?

    A = [ 2   0 ]
        [ 0  -1 ]
    
    B = [ 3   0 ]
        [ 0   4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    Yes. Both products are:

    [ 6    0 ]
    [ 0   -4 ]
    

    Some matrix pairs commute. Matrix multiplication is not commutative in general.

  23. Tarjeta 23

    Pregunta

    Find entry (3, 2) of AB. Indices start at 1.

    A = [  1   2 ]
        [  0  -3 ]
        [ -2   4 ]
    
    B = [ 3   1  -1 ]
        [ 2  -2   5 ]
    

    Respuesta

    −10. Use row 3 and column 2: (−2) × 1 + 4 × (−2) = −10.

  24. Tarjeta 24

    Pregunta

    A is 2 × 3 and B is 4 × 5. Is either AB or BA defined?

    Respuesta

    Neither is defined. AB fails because 3 ≠ 4; BA fails because 5 ≠ 2.

  25. Tarjeta 25

    Pregunta

    Entry (2, 1) of AB is 22. Find x.

    A = [ 2  -1 ]
        [ 1   3 ]
    
    B = [ x   4 ]
        [ 5  -2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    x = 7. Entry (2, 1) gives x + 3 × 5 = 22. Substitution gives 7 + 15 = 22.

  26. Tarjeta 26

    Pregunta

    Calculate both AB and BA.

    A = [ 1  -2 ]
    
    B = [ 3 ]
        [ 4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    AB:

    [ -5 ]
    

    BA:

    [ 3   -6 ]
    [ 4   -8 ]
    

    AB sums 3 − 8. BA is a 2 × 2 outer product.

  27. Tarjeta 27

    Pregunta

    Does AB equal the zero matrix for this pair, even though neither factor is the zero matrix?

    A = [ 1  -1 ]
        [ 2  -2 ]
    
    B = [ 3   0 ]
        [ 3   0 ]
    

    Respuesta

    Yes.

    AB = [ 0   0 ]
         [ 0   0 ]
    

    The first column gives 3 − 3 and 6 − 6; the second gives zeros. A zero product does not force either factor to be the zero matrix.

  28. Tarjeta 28

    Pregunta

    A is 3 × 2 and B is 2 × 5. A learner calls AB a 2 × 2 matrix because the inner dimensions are 2. Correct the shape.

    Respuesta

    3 × 5. The matching inner dimensions allow multiplication; the outer dimensions determine the result.

  29. Tarjeta 29

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB.

    A = [ 2   0  -1 ]
    
    B = [  3   1 ]
        [  4  -2 ]
        [ -2   5 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [ 8   -3 ]
    

    The entries are 6 + 0 + 2 = 8 and 2 + 0 − 5 = −3. The result has shape 1 × 2.

  30. Tarjeta 30

    Pregunta

    A is 2 × 4 and B is 4 × 3. How many pairwise products must be added to calculate entry (2, 3) of AB?

    Respuesta

    Four. Row 2 of A and column 3 of B each contain four entries, so every output entry sums four pairwise products.

  31. Tarjeta 31

    Pregunta

    AB = [10]. Find x.

    A = [ 2   x  -1 ]
    
    B = [  3 ]
        [ -2 ]
        [  4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    x = −4. The equation is 6 − 2x − 4 = 10, so −2x = 8. Substitution gives 6 + 8 − 4 = 10.

  32. Tarjeta 32

    Pregunta

    What is column 2 of AB?

    A = [ 1  -2   4 ]
        [ 0   3   5 ]
    
    B = [  2   0 ]
        [ -1   0 ]
        [  6   0 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [ 0 ]
    [ 0 ]
    

    Each entry in column 2 uses the all-zero column 2 of B, so every term is zero.

  33. Tarjeta 33

    Pregunta

    A learner computes BA while asked for AB and reports entry (1, 1) as 3. What is entry (1, 1) of AB?

    A = [ 1   2 ]
        [ 0  -1 ]
    
    B = [ 3   0 ]
        [ 4   2 ]
    

    Respuesta

    11. AB uses row 1 of A and column 1 of B: 1 × 3 + 2 × 4 = 11. The value 3 comes from reversing the factors.

  34. Tarjeta 34

    Pregunta

    A and B are both 2 × 3. Does having the same shape make AB defined?

    Respuesta

    No. The inner dimensions are 3 and 2, so AB is undefined. Equal shapes alone do not ensure compatibility.

  35. Tarjeta 35

    Pregunta

    Find entry (1, 2) of AB. Indices start at 1.

    A = [  2   1 ]
        [ -1   3 ]
    
    B = [ 4  -2 ]
        [ 2   4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    0. The entry is 2 × (−2) + 1 × 4 = −4 + 4 = 0. Cancellation is a valid result.

  36. Tarjeta 36

    Pregunta

    A is 4 × 2 and B is k × 3. AB is defined and has shape 4 × 3. What is k?

    Respuesta

    k = 2. B must have two rows to match A’s two columns.

  37. Tarjeta 37

    Pregunta

    For AB below, a learner writes −2 + 12 = 10. Correct the sign error and give the 1 × 1 result.

    A = [ 1  -3 ]
    
    B = [ -2 ]
        [  4 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [−14]. The second term is (−3) × 4 = −12, so the entry is −2 − 12 = −14.

  38. Tarjeta 38

    Pregunta

    Calculate AI and IA for these matrices.

    A = [ 2  -1 ]
        [ 4   3 ]
    
    I = [ 1   0 ]
        [ 0   1 ]
    

    Respuesta

    Both equal A:

    [ 2  -1 ]
    [ 4   3 ]
    

    Multiplication by this 2 × 2 identity matrix preserves A in either order.

  39. Tarjeta 39

    Pregunta

    Find entry (3, 1) of AB. Indices start at 1.

    A = [  2   0 ]
        [ -1   4 ]
        [  5  -2 ]
    
    B = [ 3 ]
        [ 7 ]
    

    Respuesta

    1. Row 3 of A meets column 1 of B: 5 × 3 + (−2) × 7 = 15 − 14 = 1.

  40. Tarjeta 40

    Pregunta

    Calculate AB.

    A = [ 3  -1 ]
        [ 2   4 ]
    
    B = [  2 ]
        [ -3 ]
    

    Respuesta

    [  9 ]
    [ -8 ]
    

    The rows give 6 + 3 = 9 and 4 − 12 = −8. The result has shape 2 × 1.

Two bracketed tile matrices, with a coral row on the left and a teal column on the right.

40 tarjetas

Matrix Multiplication Flashcards: Dimensions, Entries & Order

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