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JEE Main 2020
Matrices & Determinants
Matrices and Determinants
Medium

Question

Let A = \left[ {\matrix{ 1 & 0 & 0 \cr 1 & 1 & 0 \cr 1 & 1 & 1 \cr } } \right] and B = A 20 . Then the sum of the elements of the first column of B is :

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Solution

This problem requires us to find a high power of a given matrix. For such problems, directly computing the power is usually not feasible. Instead, the key strategy is to compute the first few powers of the matrix, observe a pattern, generalize it, and then apply the generalization to the required power.


Key Concept: Pattern Recognition in Matrix Powers

For certain types of matrices, especially triangular matrices or those with specific structures, repeatedly multiplying the matrix by itself often reveals a predictable pattern in its elements. Identifying this pattern allows us to derive a general formula for AnA^n, which can then be used to find A20A^{20} (or any AkA^k) efficiently. This method is particularly effective for matrices where elements follow arithmetic progressions, geometric progressions, or combinatorial sequences like

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