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ACT Strategy for Multiplying a Matrix by a Real Number

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2016-03-26 15:47:57
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ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies: Book + 4 PracticeTests & 100+ Flashcards Online
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ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies: Book + 4 PracticeTests & 100+ Flashcards Online
ACT Prep 2026/2027 For Dummies book coverExplore Book
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You may encounter ACT Math questions that ask you to multiply an entire matrix by a real number. Fortunately, this is a straightforward operation: Simply multiply the integer by every element in the matrix. Doing so is similar to using the distributive property to multiply a number by each term inside a set of parentheses. Yeah, it’s that easy.

Example

Which of the following is the result when you multiply the matrix

image0.png

by 3?

image1.png

To find the answer, you simply multiply each element of the matrix by 3. Place these three answers into a new matrix of the same dimensions:

image2.png

Therefore, the correct answer is Choice (D).

About This Article

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About the book author:

Mark Zegarelli is a math tutor and author of several books, including Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies.