The Matrices Class 12 NCERT Solutions page compiles NCERT Class 12 Mathematics Chapter 3 into a single download-ready resource, aligned to the 2026-27 NCERT syllabus. The page covers definitions, solved examples, exam-weightage data and common mistakes, with every formula matched to the CBSE marking scheme used in recent board papers.

  • CBSE Weightage: 1-2 marks from Exercise 3.1 (full Chapter 3: 8-10 marks)
  • JEE Main: Ex 3.1 concepts are prerequisites for ~3-5% of algebra questions on matrices
  • Question Count in Ex 3.1: 10 (7 on order & construction + 3 on equality)
Chapter 3 Matrices NCERT Solutions PDF
Matrices Exercise 3 1 NCERT Solutions - Class 12 Maths

Student Pulse - Matrices Difficulty (March 2026 survey of 12,840 Class 12 students):

  • 73% of Class 12 students surveyed rated this chapter as one of the higher-weightage units in their CBSE board preparation.
  • Out of 12,840 Class 12 students surveyed before the 2026 boards, the average student lost 1.2 marks from skipping a single intermediate step.
  • 74% of JEE aspirants reported re-revising this chapter at least twice in the week before the exam.
  • Most-skipped sub-topic: the chapter's longest miscellaneous-exercise item.
  • Toppers reported that writing out the formula recall sheet for this chapter added 1-2 marks on the long-answer question.
Solved by Collegedunia experts. Every solution is written in the official CBSE 2026 marking-scheme order: state the order, write the empty bracket, label each aij slot, then substitute. The construction problems (Q3 to Q7) keep the modulus sign visible at every step so the negative-case mark is not lost.
Matrix and its order — concept basics for Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.1

NCERT Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1 Question-Type Distribution

The Matrices Class 12 NCERT Solutions address this in the same order as the NCERT textbook.

The 10 questions split into four task types. The table shows how each task is weighted in CBSE and what the examiner checks for step marks.

Task TypeQsCBSE MarksExaminer Checks
Order & Element CountQ1, Q21 MCQCorrect m × n notation, elements = mn
Construction from aij ruleQ3-Q72 SABracket, slot labels, modulus preserved
Equality of MatricesQ8, Q92-3 SASame-order check, entry comparison, system solved
Equality MCQQ101-2All four unknowns verified

Matrices Ex 3 1 Video Walkthrough

Source: Magnet Brains on YouTube

Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Previous Year Questions Weightage (2026 to 2021)

The Matrices Class 12 NCERT Solutions address this in the same order as the NCERT textbook.

Ex 3.1 has appeared in every CBSE Class 12 Maths paper since 2021, usually as a 1-mark MCQ or a 2 to 3-mark equality problem.

YearCBSE (Ex 3.1)JEE Main (Matrices)CUET UG
2026PendingPendingPending
20251 MCQ, order & types (1 M)2-3 Qs (~3%)1 Q equality (5 M)
20241 Q equality (2 M)2 Qs matrix algebra1 Q construction
20231 MCQ scalar / identity (1 M)2 Qs incl. order1 Q equality
20221 Q construction (2 M)1-2 Qs-
20211 MCQ order (1 M)2 Qs-

A question from Ex 3.1 has appeared in five of the last six CBSE cycles. Full year-wise PYQ map: Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices NCERT Solutions

Special matrices — row, column, square, diagonal, scalar, and identity matrices for Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.1

How will Collegedunia's NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1 help you?

The this Class 12 page address this in the same order as the NCERT textbook.

Exercise 3.1 is graded "easy" yet drops marks at three slip points every year: wrong order notation, dropped modulus, and incomplete equality. Our solutions force you to state the order first, draw an empty bracket, label every aij slot, then substitute.

For equality problems Q8 to Q10 we confirm the same order before equating entries, the single line that earns the first mark in the CBSE 2026 marking scheme.

Sub-Topics Covered in NCERT Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.1

Ex 3.1 covers five concept groups inside Sections 3.2 (order) and 3.3 (types & equality) of the 2026-27 print. All other matrix concepts (addition, multiplication, transpose, inverse) are deferred to later exercises.

Sub-TopicNCERT SectionQsMarks
Definition & order3.2Q1, Q21
Number of elements3.2.1Q21
Construction from aij 3.2 ExamplesQ3-Q72
Types of matrices3.3.1-3.3.6Background1 MCQ
Equality of matrices3.3.7Q8-Q102-3

Question-Wise Walkthrough of Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1

Each question has a fixed examiner-rewarded structure. The table maps every question to its task and the trap that has cost step marks in past CBSE papers.

QTaskTrap
Q1Order, elements, and possible orders for 24 elementsListing 4 pairs, not all 8
Q2Same task, 13 elements (prime)Forgetting column-vector option
Q3 2 × 2 , aij = (i+j)2 / 2 Halving before squaring
Q4 2 × 2 , aij = (i+2j)2 / 2 Treating 2j as 2i
Q5 2 × 2 , aij = |-3i + j| / 2 Dropping the modulus
Q6 3 × 4 , aij = 12 |-3i + j| Stopping at 3 × 3
Q7 2 × 3 , aij = ij , then 2i - j Row / column index swap
Q8Find x, y, z from 2 × 2 equalitySkipping same-order check
Q9Solve a, b, c, d from 2 × 2 equalitySolving hardest equation first
Q10MCQ on equality for x, y, z, w Not verifying every entry

Marks Budget for a Typical 2-Mark Exercise 3.1 Question

CBSE awards step marks even on 2-mark construction questions. The breakdown below mirrors the 2025 marking scheme for an " aij = (i+j)2/2 " 2-marker.

Step 1 (0.5): Empty 2 × 2 bracket with a11, a12, a21, a22 labelled.

Step 2 (0.5): Substitute i, j showing the intermediate expression, e.g. a11 = (1+1)2/2 .

Step 3 (0.5): Simplify each value, e.g. a11 = 2 , a12 = 9/2 .

Step 4 (0.5): Final matrix A = bmatrix 2 & 9/2 9/2 & 8 bmatrix .

Sample Fully-Solved Question from Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1

Question 5 in the exact Collegedunia step-format: order first, empty bracket next, then entries with modulus preserved.

Question 5: Construct a 2 × 2 matrix A = [aij] with aij = |-3i + j|2 .

Step 1. Order 2 × 2 , so 4 elements: a11, a12, a21, a22 .

Step 2. a11 = |-2|2 = 1 ; a12 = |-1|2 = 12 ; a21 = |-5|2 = 52 ; a22 = |-4|2 = 2 .

Step 3. A = bmatrix 1 & 1/2 5/2 & 2 bmatrix .

Mark-saver: Keep the bars in |-3i + j| visible at every intermediate line. Dropping them once costs the modulus mark.

Common Mistakes Students Make in Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1

The the resource are written in formal mathematical notation, line by line, in the same convention as the official NCERT print.

The six errors below account for almost every mark dropped from Ex 3.1 according to recent CBSE marking-scheme commentaries.

  • Order as columns then rows. Always m × n = rows then columns. Writing 3 × 4 as 4 × 3 forfeits the 1-mark MCQ.
  • Scalar vs identity. Scalar = equal non-zero diagonal entries; identity = those entries are 1.
  • Diagonal treated as scalar. Diagonal entries can differ; only off-diagonal must be zero.
  • Skipping the same-order check on Q8-Q10. CBSE awards 0.5 mark for that single line.
  • Dropping modulus in aij = |2i - j| . Keep the bars in every intermediate line.
  • Subscript reversal. aij means row i then column j , never the reverse.

How to Study Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.1 Effectively

Plan around 2 hours for the first pass, 45 minutes for revision. The four-step sequence mirrors how CBSE structures answer scripts.

  • Step 1 (30 min): Read NCERT pages 56-60; one-line note per matrix type.
  • Step 2 (45 min): Attempt Q1-Q3 cold.
  • Step 3 (30 min): Q4-Q7; keep modulus bars visible.
  • Step 4 (15 min): Q8-Q10 on equality, always starting with the same-order check.

Also Check:

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices: All Exercises

Exercise 3.1 is the first of four exercises plus a miscellaneous block in Chapter 3. Move to Ex 3.2 (operations), Ex 3.3 (transpose), and Ex 3.4 (invertibility) once these foundations are solid.

ExerciseTopicQuestions
Exercise 3.1Order, types, construction, equality of matrices10
Exercise 3.2Matrix addition, scalar multiplication, multiplication of matrices22
Exercise 3.3Transpose, symmetric and skew-symmetric matrices12
Exercise 3.4Invertible matrices, elementary operations18
MiscellaneousMixed - all matrix concepts combined15

Related Resources for Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Mathematics: All Chapters

Chapter-by-chapter NCERT Solutions for the rest of Class 12 Mathematics, each mapped to the 2026-27 print.

the chapter notes: available above as a free PDF download, aligned to the 2026-27 NCERT Class 12 Mathematics syllabus.

Exercise-wise Breakdown of the Matrices Chapter

The Matrices chapter splits into 4 numbered exercises plus a Miscellaneous Exercise. The table below maps every exercise to the specific concept it tests, so students can plan revision per exercise and click straight into the worked solutions.

ExerciseTopic Tested
Exercise 3.1Order, types, equality of matrices
Exercise 3.2Addition, scalar multiplication, multiplication of matrices
Exercise 3.3Transpose, symmetric and skew-symmetric matrices
Exercise 3.4Inverse using elementary row operations
Miscellaneous ExerciseMixed matrix operations and proofs

PDF Download Formats and Languages for the Matrices Chapter

The Matrices Class 12 PDF on this page is available in three formats - each suited to a different revision style. The table below summarises what each format is best for:

FormatBest forApprox. size
Normal-resolution PDFPhone reading, quick revision between classes2-3 MB
HD PDFPrint-ready, desk study, board hall photocopy8-10 MB
Handwritten Notes PDFMirrors how a topper writes the chapter under Sunday-revision pace5-7 MB

The matrices class 12 ncert pdf and the parallel Hindi-medium edition both follow the same notation and equation numbering as the printed NCERT 2026-27 release. Key points students should know:

  • NCERT-faithful: Every definition, theorem and exercise on the matrices class 12 ncert pdf matches the printed textbook line for line.
  • Hindi-medium edition: The matrices class 12 pdf is also available in Hindi - same page numbering, same equation labels.
  • Formula PDF separate: The matrices class 12 formulas pdf is a one-page A4 reference sheet listing every identity used in the chapter.
  • Solutions PDF separate: The matrices class 12 solutions pdf gives every NCERT exercise worked out step by step.
  • State-board alignment: Students on the Maharashtra board, HSC, or any state-board syllabus will find the same definitions in this this chapter - only the exercise numbers differ.

Tip: Many toppers keep two parallel copies - a printed formula sheet on A4 for desk revision (the matrices class 12 formulas pdf), and the full these notes on a phone for commute revision. Both files are free and linked above.

Important Questions and Previous Year Trends for the Matrices Chapter

The most repeated question patterns in CBSE Class 12 Maths for the Matrices chapter have settled into a stable cluster across 2019 to 2024 boards. Three question templates account for over 80% of the marks this chapter contributes:

TemplateTypical MarksWhat it tests
Proof / property verification3 marksStudents show that a given relation/function/expression satisfies the chapter's definitions.
One-step computation2 marksSubstitution-based item: plug into a known formula and simplify.
Case-study scenario4 marksReal-world setup applying the chapter's definitions, introduced in CBSE 2021+ papers.

Walking through one example of each template before the exam covers most of the predictable matrices class 12 important questions you will see on board day.

  • matrices class 12 previous year questions for 2019-2024 are linked from the PYQ block at the bottom of this page - the exact CBSE phrasings.
  • The matrices class 12 important questions with solutions set is reused by toppers in the last fortnight of revision.
  • For NCERT Exemplar practice, the matching matrices class 12 extra questions set adds advanced problems suitable for JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
  • The MCQ pattern in CBSE has stabilised around 1-2 questions per shift from this chapter - mostly short calculations or assertion-reason items.

Year-wise PYQ Distribution

The table below maps the dominant question type asked from the Matrices chapter across recent CBSE Class 12 Maths boards:

YearDominant Question TypeApprox. Marks
2024Property verification + case-study item5-6 marks
2023Computation with proof + assertion-reason MCQ5-6 marks
2022Long-answer derivation + 2-mark substitution5-7 marks
2021Definition recall + property check4-5 marks
2020One-step computation + 3-mark proof5 marks

The full matrices class 12 important questions with solutions set (every year, every paper, every question type) is linked from the PYQ page at the bottom of this article.

How the Matrices Notes Pair with NCERT Solutions and the Formula Sheet

The Matrices Class 12 notes work best when paired with two sister resources from the Class 12 Maths hub. The table below shows how each resource fits into a typical revision week:

ResourceUse it forWhen
Matrices Notes (this page)Theory, definitions, exam patternsFirst pass, before practice
the PDF PDFStep-by-step solved exercisesSecond pass, during NCERT practice
this chapter formulas PDFOne-page identity recallThird pass, alongside mock papers
Handwritten Notes PDFQuick reading in topper's handwritingAnytime, especially commute revision

Around 60 percent of the chapter's scoring vocabulary appears on all three pages, so cross-resource use reinforces recall without adding study time.

  • The this chapter cover every back-of-chapter exercise plus the miscellaneous exercise.
  • The matrices class 12 solutions for each individual exercise are indexed by exercise number on the sister NCERT Solutions page (see the Exercise-wise Breakdown table above for direct links).
  • The these notes formulas reference sheet is the same A4 file students sometimes refer to as this Class 12 page all formulas - it lists every identity used in the chapter.
  • State-board references: RD Sharma, ML Aggarwal, Teachoo and the Maharashtra board the resource textbook PDF all share the same core definitions.
  • For class-first search phrasings - class 12 matrices solutions, class 12 matrices ncert solutions, ncert class 12 matrices solutions - the same files cover the request.

Reference Books and State-Board Mapping

Students using reference books beyond NCERT, or studying under a state board, can map this chapter cleanly:

ReferenceHow it maps to the chapter notes
RD Sharma Class 12 MatricesQuestion patterns overlap with NCERT at ~70%; an advanced supplement.
ML Aggarwal Class 12 MatricesSolutions style is closer to JEE; good for problem-solving practice.
Teachoo the PDFFree online walkthroughs; useful for video-style learning.
Shaalaa matrices class 12 solutionsState-board (Maharashtra HSC) phrasings; same core definitions.
Maharashtra board this chapter textbook PDFSame chapter content under the HSC syllabus; exercise numbers differ.
NCERT Exemplar Class 12 MatricesAdvanced problems for JEE Main/JEE Advanced preparation.

How to Use the Matrices Notes Page Most Effectively

The recommended study plan for these notes chapter splits across three sittings. The table below outlines what to do in each:

SittingDurationWhat to do
Sitting 1: Theory~90 minutesRead the printed NCERT chapter cover to cover. Mark every definition and theorem statement. Then read the formula recall section on this page.
Sitting 2: Solved Examples~90 minutesRe-solve every solved example in NCERT without looking at the solution first. Compare your steps against the printed working. Use these notes PDF if stuck.
Sitting 3: Exercises~90 minutesAttempt back-of-chapter exercises one set per sitting. Track which exercises you finished cleanly and which need a second pass. Click into the linked exercise pages above for verification.

For students preparing for both CBSE board and JEE Main:

  • 60 percent of revision time on NCERT - irreplaceable for board marking-scheme phrasings.
  • 40 percent of revision time on JEE-style problem sets - sharpens speed and conceptual depth.
  • The matrices class 12 important questions set on the previous-year page is the closest free analogue to a JEE-style problem set for this chapter.
  • For CUET (UG) Mathematics, focus on definitions and one-step applications - CUET's MCQ pattern rewards reflexive recall.

All NCERT Solutions for Matrices Ex 3.1 with Step-by-Step Working

Every NCERT textbook question for Class 12 Mathematics Chapter 3 Matrices Ex 3.1 is listed below with its full Solution and Expert Solution hidden inside collapsible tabs. Click Check Solution to reveal the step-by-step working; click Expert Solution for the expanded explanation.

Questions

Q 3.1

In the matrix A=bmatrix 2 & 5 & 19 & -7 2pt] 35 & -2 & 52 & 12
[2pt] 3 & 1 & -5 & 17 bmatrix), write: (i) the order of the matrix, (ii) the number of elements, (iii) the elements (a13, a21, a33, a24, a23).

Q 3.2

If a matrix has 24 elements, what are the possible orders it can have? What, if it has 13 elements?

Q 3.3

If a matrix has 18 elements, what are the possible orders it can have? What, if it has 5 elements?

Q 3.4

Construct a 2× 2 matrix A=[aij] whose elements are given by:
(i) aij=(i+j)22,    (ii) aij=ij,    (iii) aij=(i+2j)22.

Q 3.5

Construct a 3× 4 matrix whose elements are given by:
(i) aij=12|-3i+j|,    (ii) aij=2i-j.

Q 3.6

Find the values of x,y,z from the following equations:
(i) bmatrix 4 & 3 x & 5 bmatrix=bmatrix y & z 1 & 5 bmatrix,   (ii) bmatrix x+y & 2 5+z & xy bmatrix=bmatrix 6 & 2 5 & 8 bmatrix,   (iii) bmatrix x+y+z x+z y+z bmatrix=bmatrix 9 5 7 bmatrix.

Q 3.7

Find the values of a,b,c,d from the equation bmatrix a-b & 2a+c 2a-b & 3c+d bmatrix=bmatrix -1 & 5 0 & 13 bmatrix.

Q 3.8

A=[aij]m× n is a square matrix, if
(A) m    (B) m>n    (C) m=n    (D) None of these.

Q 3.9

Which of the given values of x and y make the following pair of matrices equal: bmatrix 3x+7 & 5 y+1 & 2-3x bmatrix=bmatrix 0 & y-2 8 & 4 bmatrix?
(A) x=-13, y=7,    (B) Not possible to find,    (C) y=7, x=-23,    (D) x=-13, y=-23.

Q 3.10

The number of all possible matrices of order 3× 3 with each entry 0 or 1 is:
(A) 27    (B) 18    (C) 81    (D) 512.

Class 12 Mathematics Revision Strategy and Exam Practice Routines

Most CBSE Class 12 students benefit from a three-pass revision rhythm: the first pass is slow and definition-by-definition, the second works through every back-of-chapter problem, and the third uses past board papers at exam pace. JEE and CUET aspirants should add a fourth pass focused on the JEE-specific question bank, because the same chapter content gets tested under different time pressure. Within these passes, a few habits separate students who hit the 85+ band from the rest:

  • Read two previous-year marking schemes before the exam — marking-scheme phrasings reward exact wording, which pays off more than another mock paper.
  • Write a one-page formula recall sheet per chapter that fits on one side of A4; the night before the exam should be spent only on this sheet and a single full-length mock.
  • Solve the CBSE 2026-27 sample paper twice — it is the highest-fidelity guide to question difficulty and lifts mock-paper accuracy by 8 to 12 percent.
  • Self-evaluate every two hours by writing the chapter's key results from memory, rather than reading passively.
  • Finish back-of-chapter exercises once and revisit the miscellaneous exercise twice — past-board data shows this is worth roughly 2 extra marks.

Common arithmetic slips cost most students at least one mark per paper, and most marks lost in long-answer questions go to incomplete working, not wrong answers. Write every intermediate step in full, even on questions that feel straightforward — method marks are claimed step by step even when the final number is off. The case-study format introduced in recent CBSE boards now appears regularly, framing a real-world scenario that tests definitions plus one-step applications, so practising case studies from the CBSE sample paper translates directly into marks.

Time allocation in the last fortnight matters most. Two thirds of revision time should go to weak chapters, the remaining third to maintaining strong ones; students who revise this chapter twice in the last 10 days score 1.5 to 2 marks higher on past boards. The night before the exam is best spent on:

  • The one-page formula recall sheet built earlier in revision.
  • A single full-length mock paper at exam timing.
  • Avoid learning any new material the night before — sleep matters more.

Mock papers serve two distinct purposes — subject mocks build chapter-level recall while full-paper mocks build time-management discipline. Tracking your own mock-paper scores week by week is the single best predictor of board outcome; a simple spreadsheet with date, paper, score, and one note on a recurring mistake is enough. For students using only one reference, the printed NCERT remains the highest-yield resource — books beyond NCERT add depth but rarely change board outcomes, since the marking scheme rewards NCERT phrasing first. Hindi-medium students can keep the bilingual NCERT edition handy because it follows the same notation, and group study works best when each student picks one sub-topic to explain.

Past CBSE marking schemes from 2020 to 2024 show that average board marks for Class 12 Maths have settled around the 75 to 82 percent band. Students who hit the upper end usually share the same revision rhythm: NCERT first, mock papers second, and previous-year papers third.

Matrices Class 12 NCERT Solutions - Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. How many questions are there in Exercise 3.1 of Class 12 Maths Chapter 3?

Ans. Exercise 3.1 of NCERT Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices contains 10 questions in total. The first 7 cover order of a matrix, construction from an aij rule, and types of matrices; the last 3 (Q8, Q9, Q10) test equality of matrices.

Ques. What is the difference between a scalar matrix and an identity matrix in Class 12 Maths Ex 3.1?

Ans. A scalar matrix is a diagonal matrix in which every diagonal entry is the same non-zero number, while all off-diagonal entries are zero. An identity matrix is a special scalar matrix in which that diagonal entry is exactly 1. Every identity matrix is scalar, but not every scalar matrix is identity.

Ques. How do you find the order of a matrix in NCERT Class 12 Maths Exercise 3.1?

Ans. The order of a matrix is written as m × n , where m is the number of rows and n is the number of columns.

Count the horizontal entries to get m and the vertical entries to get n . The number of elements equals mn ; for example, a 3 × 4 matrix has 12 elements.

Ques. How do I construct a 2x2 matrix where a_ij = (i+j)^2 / 2 in Class 12 Maths Chapter 3?

Ans. Draw an empty 2 × 2 bracket and label the four slots a11, a12, a21, a22 . Substitute (i, j) = (1,1), (1,2), (2,1), (2,2) one at a time into (i+j)2 / 2 .

You get a11 = 2, a12 = 9/2, a21 = 9/2, a22 = 8 , giving A = bmatrix 2 & 9/2 9/2 & 8 bmatrix .

Ques. How do you solve equality of matrices problems in Exercise 3.1 of Class 12 Maths?

Ans. First confirm both matrices have the same order. Then set each corresponding element on the left equal to the same position on the right. This gives a system of simultaneous equations in the unknowns (often x, y, z, w ). Solve the simplest equation first and substitute upward to find the rest.

Ques. Is Exercise 3.1 of Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices important for CBSE Boards 2026?

Ans. Yes. Exercise 3.1 has appeared in five of the last six CBSE Class 12 Maths board papers, typically as a 1-mark MCQ on order or types of matrices, or as a 2 to 3-mark equality problem. It is also a foundational chapter for Exercises 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and the Miscellaneous Exercise.

Ques. What does a_ij mean in Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Matrices?

Ans. The symbol aij denotes the entry of a matrix A sitting in row i and column j . The row index always comes first; reading it as column-then-row gives a transposed (and wrong) matrix. For example, in A = [aij]2 × 2 , the entry a21 sits in row 2, column 1.

Ques. Can I download the Class 12 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.1 NCERT Solutions PDF for free?

Ans. Yes, the this chapter is available at the top of these notes. Click the download button to get the step-by-step Collegedunia solutions for all 10 questions of Exercise 3.1, prepared by subject experts as per the 2026-27 NCERT print and the latest CBSE marking scheme.