Given that \(P = \begin{pmatrix} 3 & 4 \\ 2 & x \end{pmatrix}; Q = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 3 \\ -2 & 4 \end{pmatrix}; R = \begin{pmatrix} -5 & 25 \\ -8 & 26 \en...

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To find x such that PQ = R, we need to find the matrix product of P and Q, and then compare it to R. The matrix product of P and Q is given by: $$ PQ = \begin{pmatrix} 3 & 4 \\ 2 & x \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 3 \\ -2 & 4 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} (3\times 1) + (4\times -2) & (3\times 3) + (4\times 4) \\ (2\times 1) + (x\times -2) & (2\times 3) + (x\times 4) \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -5 & 25 \\ 2-2x & 22+4x \end{pmatrix} $$ We are given that PQ = R, which means we can equate the corresponding entries of the two matrices. In particular, the entry in the first row and first column of PQ must be equal to the entry in the first row and first column of R, i.e. -5. This gives us the equation: $$ -5 = -5 $$ Next, we can equate the corresponding entries in the second row and first column of PQ and R, i.e. 2-2x = -8. Solving for x, we get: $$ 2-2x = -8 \Rightarrow x = 5 $$ Therefore, the value of x that satisfies the equation PQ = R is 5.