Let $A, B$ be $n\times n$ with $n\ge 2$ nonsingular matrices with real entries such that $A^{-1} + B^{-1} =(A+B)^{-1}$

linear algebramatricesmatrix equations

Let $A, B$ be $n\times n$ with $n\ge 2$ nonsingular matrices with real entries such that $$A^{-1} + B^{-1} =(A+B)^{-1}$$
then prove that $\operatorname{det}(A)=\operatorname{det}(B)$.
Also show that this result is not valid for complex matrices.

I'm not getting any way out to solve this. Can anybody solve the problem?
Thanks for assistance in advance.

Best Answer

By multiplying both sides in $A$ we obtain $$I+AB^{-1}=A(A+B)^{-1}=(I+BA^{-1})^{-1}$$by defining $U=AB^{-1}$ we have $$I+U=(I+U^{-1})^{-1}$$therefore $$(I+U)(I+U^{-1})=I$$which leads to $$I+U+U^{-1}=0$$by multiplying both sides in $U(U-I)$ we obtain $$(I+U+U^{-1})U(U-I)=(U^2+U+I)(U-I)=U^3-I=0$$therefore $$U^3=I$$ which means that $$\det(U)=1$$or equivalently$$\det(A)=\det(B)$$


Counter example on $\Bbb C$

Let $A=I_2$ and $b=kI_2$ with $k={-1+i\sqrt 3\over 2}$. Then we have $$A^{-1}+B^{-1}=I+{1\over k}I\\(A+B)^{-1}={1\over 1+k}I$$since $$k^2+k+1=0$$ we have $$A^{-1}+B^{-1}=(A+B)^{-1}$$but $$\det(B)=k^2=-1-k={-1-i\sqrt 3\over 2}\ne 1=\det(A)$$


Comment

Even on $\Bbb C$, from $U^3=I$ we can conclude that$$\left|\det(A)\right|=\left|\det(B)\right|$$

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