JEE Challenger
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Find Floor Value of k from Adjoint Determinants Equation

Let kk be a positive real number and let

A=[2k−12k2k2k1−2k−2k2k−1] and B=[02k−1k1−2k02k−k−2k0].A=\begin{bmatrix} 2k-1 & 2\sqrt{k} & 2\sqrt{k} \\ 2\sqrt{k} & 1 & -2k \\ -2\sqrt{k} & 2k & -1 \end{bmatrix} \text{ and } B=\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 2k-1 & \sqrt{k} \\ 1-2k & 0 & 2\sqrt{k} \\ -\sqrt{k} & -2\sqrt{k} & 0 \end{bmatrix}.

If det⁡(adj A)+det⁡(adj B)=106\det(\text{adj } A) + \det(\text{adj } B) = 10^6, then [k][k] is equal to

[Note : adj M\text{adj } M denotes the adjoint of a square matrix MM and [k][k] denotes the largest integer less than or equal to kk].

Official Numerical Answer4

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the value of [k][k], we first determine the determinants of matrices AA and BB.

For any n×nn \times n matrix MM, the determinant of its adjoint is given by:
det⁡(adj M)=(det⁡M)n−1\det(\text{adj } M) = (\det M)^{n-1}

For 3×33 \times 3 matrices AA and BB, this becomes:
det⁡(adj A)=(det⁡A)2anddet⁡(adj B)=(det⁡B)2\det(\text{adj } A) = (\det A)^2 \quad \text{and} \quad \det(\text{adj } B) = (\det B)^2

Step 1: Evaluation of det⁡(B)\det(B)

Consider the matrix BB:

B=[02k−1k1−2k02k−k−2k0]B = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 2k-1 & \sqrt{k} \\ 1-2k & 0 & 2\sqrt{k} \\ -\sqrt{k} & -2\sqrt{k} & 0 \end{bmatrix}

Taking the transpose of BB:

BT=[01−2k−k2k−10−2kk2k0]=−BB^T = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1-2k & -\sqrt{k} \\ 2k-1 & 0 & -2\sqrt{k} \\ \sqrt{k} & 2\sqrt{k} & 0 \end{bmatrix} = -B

Since BT=−BB^T = -B, BB is a skew-symmetric matrix of order 33 (odd order). Using the determinant properties:
det⁡(B)=det⁡(BT)=det⁡(−B)=(−1)3det⁡(B)=−det⁡(B)\det(B) = \det(B^T) = \det(-B) = (-1)^3 \det(B) = -\det(B)
  ⟹  2det⁡(B)=0  ⟹  det⁡(B)=0\implies 2\det(B) = 0 \implies \det(B) = 0

Therefore:
det⁡(adj B)=(det⁡B)2=0\det(\text{adj } B) = (\det B)^2 = 0


Step 2: Evaluation of det⁡(A)\det(A)

Consider the matrix AA:

A=[2k−12k2k2k1−2k−2k2k−1]A = \begin{bmatrix} 2k-1 & 2\sqrt{k} & 2\sqrt{k} \\ 2\sqrt{k} & 1 & -2k \\ -2\sqrt{k} & 2k & -1 \end{bmatrix}

Expanding det⁡(A)\det(A) along the first row:
det⁡(A)=(2k−1)[1(−1)−(−2k)(2k)]−2k[2k(−1)−(−2k)(−2k)]+2k[2k(2k)−1(−2k)]\det(A) = (2k-1)\left[1(-1) - (-2k)(2k)\right] - 2\sqrt{k}\left[2\sqrt{k}(-1) - (-2k)(-2\sqrt{k})\right] + 2\sqrt{k}\left[2\sqrt{k}(2k) - 1(-2\sqrt{k})\right]

Simplifying each term:

  1. (2k−1)(−1+4k2)=(2k−1)(4k2−1)=(2k−1)2(2k+1)(2k-1)(-1 + 4k^2) = (2k-1)(4k^2-1) = (2k-1)^2(2k+1)
  2. −2k[−2k−4kk]=4k(1+2k)=4k(2k+1)-2\sqrt{k}\left[-2\sqrt{k} - 4k\sqrt{k}\right] = 4k(1+2k) = 4k(2k+1)
  3. 2k[4kk+2k]=4k(2k+1)2\sqrt{k}\left[4k\sqrt{k} + 2\sqrt{k}\right] = 4k(2k+1)

Adding all three terms together:
det⁡(A)=(2k−1)2(2k+1)+4k(2k+1)+4k(2k+1)\det(A) = (2k-1)^2(2k+1) + 4k(2k+1) + 4k(2k+1)
det⁡(A)=(2k+1)[(2k−1)2+8k]\det(A) = (2k+1) \left[ (2k-1)^2 + 8k \right]
det⁡(A)=(2k+1)[4k2−4k+1+8k]\det(A) = (2k+1) \left[ 4k^2 - 4k + 1 + 8k \right]
det⁡(A)=(2k+1)[4k2+4k+1]\det(A) = (2k+1) \left[ 4k^2 + 4k + 1 \right]
det⁡(A)=(2k+1)(2k+1)2=(2k+1)3\det(A) = (2k+1)(2k+1)^2 = (2k+1)^3


Step 3: Solving for kk

We are given:
det⁡(adj A)+det⁡(adj B)=106\det(\text{adj } A) + \det(\text{adj } B) = 10^6

Substituting det⁡(adj A)=(det⁡A)2\det(\text{adj } A) = (\det A)^2 and det⁡(adj B)=0\det(\text{adj } B) = 0:
((2k+1)3)2+0=106\left((2k+1)^3\right)^2 + 0 = 10^6
(2k+1)6=106(2k+1)^6 = 10^6

Since k>0k > 0, we have 2k+1>02k+1 > 0. Taking the 6th6^{\text{th}} root on both sides:
2k+1=102k+1 = 10
2k=9  ⟹  k=4.52k = 9 \implies k = 4.5


Step 4: Finding [k][k]

The floor function [k][k] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to kk:
[k]=[4.5]=4[k] = [4.5] = 4