AS June 2025 Paper 1 Q3

EdexcelCurrent spec6 marksMatrices

3.

\[\mathbf{M} = \begin{pmatrix}a & b\\ -1 & -1\end{pmatrix}\]

where \(a\) and \(b\) are real constants and \(a \neq b\)

(a) Determine \(\mathbf{M}^{-1}\) in terms of \(a\) and \(b\) (3)

Given that \(\mathbf{M} + \mathbf{M}^{-1} = \mathbf{I}\), where \(\mathbf{I}\) is the \(2 \times 2\) identity matrix,

(b) determine the value of \(a\) and value of \(b\) (3)