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If $f(x) = \frac{1+x}{1-x}$ and $A$ is a matrix such that $A^3 = 0$, then $f(A) =$

This question was previously asked in
WBJEE 2026 Physics and Chemistry Question Paper (24-May-2026)
The correct answer is
$1 + 2A + 2A^2$

We are asked to find the expression for $f(A)$ where $f(x) = \frac{1+x}{1-x}$ and $A$ is a matrix satisfying $A^3 = 0$.

$f(A)$ Expression Derivation

We can express $f(x)$ using its Taylor series expansion around $x=0$. The geometric series is $\frac{1}{1-x} = 1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + \dots$ for $|x|<1$. Using this, we can write $f(x)$ as:

$f(x) = (1+x) \times \frac{1}{1-x}$

Substituting the geometric series:

$f(x) = (1+x) (1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + \dots)$

Expanding this product:

$f(x) = (1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + \dots) + (x + x^2 + x^3 + x^4 + \dots)$

Combine like terms:

$f(x) = 1 + 2x + 2x^2 + 2x^3 + \dots$

Alternatively, we can write $f(x) = \frac{-(1-x) + 2}{1-x} = -1 + \frac{2}{1-x}$. $f(x) = -1 + 2(1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + \dots)$ $f(x) = -1 + 2 + 2x + 2x^2 + 2x^3 + \dots$ $f(x) = 1 + 2x + 2x^2 + 2x^3 + \dots$

Applying Nilpotent Property $A^3=0$

Now, we apply this series expansion to the matrix $A$. We replace $x$ with $A$ and $1$ with the identity matrix $I$:

$f(A) = I + 2A + 2A^2 + 2A^3 + \dots$

We are given that $A^3 = 0$. This property implies that all higher powers of $A$ are also the zero matrix:

  • $A^4 = A \cdot A^3 = A \cdot 0 = 0$
  • $A^5 = A \cdot A^4 = A \cdot 0 = 0$
  • And so on for all $A^n$ where $n \ge 3$.

Substituting $A^3 = 0$ and higher powers into the series for $f(A)$:

$f(A) = I + 2A + 2A^2 + 2(0) + 2(0) + \dots$

This simplifies the expression to:

$f(A) = I + 2A + 2A^2$

Final Result for $f(A)$

Comparing this result with the given options, we find that $I + 2A + 2A^2$ corresponds to option 1 ($1 + 2A + 2A^2$, where '1' represents the identity matrix $I$).

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Important Questions from Algebra

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  5. The number of numbers greater than 5000, less than 9000 and divisible by 3, that can be formed using the digits 0, 1, 2, 5, 9, if the repetition of the digits is allowed, is ______
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