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How Do You Add and Subtract Matrices with Fractions and Decimals?
Given matrices A and B, find A+B and A-B. A=[8 10.6 B=[-12 1.75 1/8 3/2] 2/6 9]
Summary
- Pair each element in one matrix with the element in the same position in the other matrix
- To add the matrices, we need to add each pairing
- 9 is the same as 9 divided by 1, so you can add the last two as fractions
- After you've set up the subtraction matrix, all that's left is to perform the subtraction

Notes
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- In order to add or subtract matrices, they MUST be the same size
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- In order for us to add or subtract A and B, B will also have to be a 2x2 matrix
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- This means that we can add or subtract B from A!
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- A and B are both 2x2 matrices
- Which means that they both have 2 rows and 2 columns
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- To add two matrices, you have to add each element from one matrix with its pair in the second matrix
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- To add two matrices, you have to add each element from one matrix with its pair in the second matrix
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- We've created pairs between the two matrices
- All that's left is to add each pairing!
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- 8 and -12 are being added in the upper left element because they are the upper left pairing
- 10.6 and 1.75 are being added in the upper right element because they are the upper right pairing
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- One eighth and two sixths are being added in the lower left element because they are the lower left pair
- Three halves and 9 are being added in the lower right element because they are the lower right pair
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- Complete the addition for each individual element
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- Since we're just simplifying addition, -4 takes the place of 8+(-12) in the first element
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- Since we're just simplifying addition, 12.35 takes the place of 10.6+1.75 in the second element
- And 11 over 24 takes the place of the next element
- 21 over 2 is the last element
- Adding a fraction and a whole number is like adding two fractions with different denominators
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- We've already done this step in when we added the matrix
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- We've already done this step in when we added the matrix, so let's just use the pairs we already know
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- The pairs we already know are:
- 8 and -12
- 10.6 and 1.75
- 1/8 and 2/6
- 3/2 and 9
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- Remember, each pairing of elements will take the same position in our answer matrix
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- The matrices HAVE to be the same size
- Each element in the first matrix must be paired with an element in the SAME position from the second matrix