Find a_32 in [1, 4; -2, 6; 9, 0]

Step by step

The question

Question: in A, find a₃⁣₂.

A matrix is numbers in rows and columns, inside big brackets.

Each number in a matrix is called an entry.

a₃⁣₂ names one entry.

The small numbers say where it is: first the row, 3.

Then the column, 2.

1 Find row 3

Rows go across.

We count down to row 3.

Row 3 is 9, 0.

2 Find column 2

Columns go down.

We count across to column 2.

Column 2 is 4, 6, 0.

Row 3 and column 2 meet at 0.

So a₃⁣₂ = 0.

Careful!

The first small number is always the row, the second is the column.

3 Check

Let's check the other way.

We go down column 2, and stop at row 3.

We land on 0 again.

So it is right!

Let's look back.

First: find row 3.

Then: find column 2.

Last: check.