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Inverse of a matrix to the nth power Is the nth Power of the Inverse of the Matrix: Proof
by Sankofakanian

n n -1 -1 n
If A is invertible, then A is invertible and ( A ) = (A ) for n = 0,1,2,...
proof:

-1 1 1 1 -1
• Let P(1): (AA ) = I = A A . P(1) is true.
-1 k k -k
• Let k be any natural number. If P(k): (AA ) = A A is true then we must prove that
-1 k+1 k+1 -k-1
P(k+1): (AA ) = A A is also true. That would mean that
-1 k+1 k -k -1
(AA ) = A A (AA ).

-1
To ease our work, lets put a subscript i from {1,..,n} on each A and A depending on the
-1 -1 k -1 k+1
position of AA in the product (AA ) . Following this we can write (AA ) as

-1 k -1 -1 -1
(AA ) = (A1A1 )(A2A2 )...(AkAk ) and
-1 k+1 -1 -1 -1 -1
(AA ) = (A1A1 )(A2A2 )...(AkAk )(AA )
-1 -1 -1 -1 -1
= A1(A1 A2A2 ... A k-1AkAk )(AA )
k-1 -1 -1
= (A1I Ak )(AA )
-1 k+1 -1 k-2 -1 -1
(AA ) = (A1(A2 A1 )I A k)(AA )

Now, Since A1 = A2 = A, we have

-1 k+1 2 -1 k-2 -1 -1
(AA ) = (A A 1 I Ak )(AA )

-1 k-2 k-2 -1
Moreover, because A1 I = I A1 we have
-1 k+1 2 k-2 -1 -1 -1 2 k-2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
(AA ) = (A I A 1 Ak )(AA ) = (A I A )(AA ) since Ak = A 1 = A

Now
2 k-2 -2 -1 2 k-2 -2 2 k-2 -2 -2 -2
(A I A )(AA ) = A I A I = A I I A since A I = I A
2 k-2 -1 -2 2 k-2 -1 -2 k-2 k-2
= A I AA A = A A I A A since I A = A I
2 k-2 -2 -1 3 k-2 -3
(A I A )(AA ) = A I A
Now we will pursue the same process of rewriting by induction.
-1 j e j-e -e
To do so Let Q(j): (AA ) = A I A be true for any 0 =< e =< j . We want to prove

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that
e j+1-e -e
Q(j+1): A I A is true for any 0 =< e =< j+1 and
-1 k+1 e k+1-e -e
(AA ) = A I A is true for any 0 =< e =< k+1.
Hence for e = k+1 we have
-1 k+1 k+1 0 -k-1 k+1 -k-1
(AA ) = A I A = A A
which proves that P(k+1) is true.
Therefore by mathematical induction, P(n) is true for any natural number n and
-1 n n -n
(AA ) = A A
n -n -n n n
Now since A A = I = A A , A is invertible and by Laws of Exponent (Appendix :Th 1.4.7)
-n n -1 -1 n
and A = (A ) = (A )

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Appendix
1
Theorem 1.4.7

2
Theorem 1.4.8

1 H. Anton, C. Rorres . Elementary Linear Algebra, Ninth Edition

2 H. Anton, C. Rorres . Elementary Linear Algebra, Ninth Edition

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