Matrices & Determinants
Powers of Matrices
GRB_1000_SCQ
Grade Class 12
Question:
Let $M$ denote the matrix $\begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$, where $i^2 = -1$, and let $I$ denote the identity matrix $\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$. Then the matrix $I + M + M^2 + M^3 + M^4 + \ldots + M^{2010}$ is equal to:
$\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}$
$\begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$
$\begin{pmatrix} 1 & i \\ i & 1 \end{pmatrix}$
$\begin{pmatrix} -1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept: Matrix powers and periodicity
Step 1: Compute $M^2$ by matrix multiplication.
We calculate:
$$M^2 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$
Multiplying the matrices:
- Top-left: $0 \cdot 0 + i \cdot i = i^2 = -1$
- Top-right: $0 \cdot i + i \cdot 0 = 0$
- Bottom-left: $i \cdot 0 + 0 \cdot i = 0$
- Bottom-right: $i \cdot i + 0 \cdot 0 = i^2 = -1$
Therefore:
$$M^2 = \begin{pmatrix} -1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix} = -I$$
Step 2: Compute $M^3$ using the result from Step 1.
Since $M^3 = M^2 \cdot M = (-I) \cdot M$:
$$M^3 = -M = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & -i \\ -i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$
Step 3: Compute $M^4$ to identify the periodicity.
Since $M^4 = M^2 \cdot M^2 = (-I)(-I) = I$:
$$M^4 = I$$
Step 4: Recognize the periodic pattern of powers of $M$.
The powers of $M$ repeat with period 4:
$$M^0 = I, \quad M^1 = M, \quad M^2 = -I, \quad M^3 = -M, \quad M^4 = I, \quad \ldots$$
Step 5: Calculate the sum of one complete period.
One complete cycle of four consecutive powers sums to:
$$M^0 + M^1 + M^2 + M^3 = I + M + (-I) + (-M) = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$
Step 6: Determine how many complete periods fit in the sum from $M^0$ to $M^{2010}$.
The total number of terms is $2010 - 0 + 1 = 2011$ terms.
Dividing by the period: $2011 = 4 \times 502 + 3$
This means we have 502 complete periods (each summing to zero) plus 3 remaining terms.
Step 7: Calculate the sum of the remaining terms.
The remaining terms are $M^0, M^1, M^2$:
$$S = 502 \times 0 + (M^0 + M^1 + M^2) = I + M + (-I) = M$$
Step 8: State the final answer.
$$S = M = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$$
The answer is **Option 2**: $\begin{pmatrix} 0 & i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix}$
Correct Answer: 4