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JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

If A=12[1331]A = \frac{1}{2} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & \sqrt{3} \\ -\sqrt{3} & 1 \end{bmatrix}, then:

  • A

    A30A25=2IA^{30} - A^{25} = 2I

  • B

    A30+A25+A=IA^{30} + A^{25} + A = I

  • C

    A30+A25A=IA^{30} + A^{25} - A = I

  • D

    A30=A25A^{30} = A^{25}

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A=12[1331]A = \frac{1}{2} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & \sqrt{3} \\ -\sqrt{3} & 1 \end{bmatrix}

Find: Which given relation is true.

Express AA in trigonometric form:

A=[cos60sin60sin60cos60]A = \begin{bmatrix} \cos 60^\circ & \sin 60^\circ \\ -\sin 60^\circ & \cos 60^\circ \end{bmatrix}

Here, α=π3\alpha = \frac{\pi}{3}.

For a rotation matrix,

An=[cosnαsinnαsinnαcosnα]A^n = \begin{bmatrix} \cos n\alpha & \sin n\alpha \\ -\sin n\alpha & \cos n\alpha \end{bmatrix}

Now,

A30=[cos30αsin30αsin30αcos30α]A^{30} = \begin{bmatrix} \cos 30\alpha & \sin 30\alpha \\ -\sin 30\alpha & \cos 30\alpha \end{bmatrix}

Since 30α=10π30\alpha = 10\pi, we get cos30α=1\cos 30\alpha = 1 and sin30α=0\sin 30\alpha = 0. Therefore,

A30=[1001]=IA^{30} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} = I

Similarly,

A25=[cos25αsin25αsin25αcos25α]A^{25} = \begin{bmatrix} \cos 25\alpha & \sin 25\alpha \\ -\sin 25\alpha & \cos 25\alpha \end{bmatrix}

Using periodicity, 25α=25π3=8π+π325\alpha = \frac{25\pi}{3} = 8\pi + \frac{\pi}{3}, hence A25=AA^{25} = A.

Now check the relation:

A30+A25A=I+AA=IA^{30} + A^{25} - A = I + A - A = I

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Treating AA as an arbitrary matrix and trying long multiplication for high powers is inefficient. This matrix is a rotation matrix, so use its trigonometric form and periodicity instead.

  • Using the wrong sign pattern for a rotation matrix is incorrect. The form here is [cosθsinθsinθcosθ]\begin{bmatrix} \cos \theta & \sin \theta \\ -\sin \theta & \cos \theta \end{bmatrix}, so identify the angle carefully before computing powers.

  • Reducing 25α25\alpha and 30α30\alpha incorrectly modulo 2π2\pi leads to wrong conclusions. Always write 25α=25π3=8π+π325\alpha = \frac{25\pi}{3} = 8\pi + \frac{\pi}{3} and 30α=10π30\alpha = 10\pi before evaluating sine and cosine.

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