TheAlgorithms/Python · error · ValueError

This matrix has no inverse.

Error message

This matrix has no inverse.

What it means

Error "This matrix has no inverse." thrown in TheAlgorithms/Python.

Source

Thrown at matrix/inverse_of_matrix.py:74

    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: This matrix has no inverse.

    >>> inverse_of_matrix([[1, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1]])
    [[1.0, 0.0, 0.0], [0.0, 1.0, 0.0], [0.0, 0.0, 1.0]]
    """

    d = Decimal

    # Check if the provided matrix has 2 rows and 2 columns
    # since this implementation only works for 2x2 matrices
    if len(matrix) == 2 and len(matrix[0]) == 2 and len(matrix[1]) == 2:
        # Calculate the determinant of the matrix
        determinant = float(
            d(matrix[0][0]) * d(matrix[1][1]) - d(matrix[1][0]) * d(matrix[0][1])
        )
        if determinant == 0:
            raise ValueError("This matrix has no inverse.")

        # Creates a copy of the matrix with swapped positions of the elements
        swapped_matrix = [[0.0, 0.0], [0.0, 0.0]]
        swapped_matrix[0][0], swapped_matrix[1][1] = matrix[1][1], matrix[0][0]
        swapped_matrix[1][0], swapped_matrix[0][1] = -matrix[1][0], -matrix[0][1]

        # Calculate the inverse of the matrix
        return [
            [(float(d(n)) / determinant) or 0.0 for n in row] for row in swapped_matrix
        ]
    elif (
        len(matrix) == 3
        and len(matrix[0]) == 3
        and len(matrix[1]) == 3
        and len(matrix[2]) == 3
    ):
        # Calculate the determinant of the matrix using Sarrus rule
        determinant = float(

View on GitHub (pinned to f5988cc097)

Solutions

1. The matrix is singular (determinant 0); provide an invertible matrix.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at matrix/inverse_of_matrix.py:74 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of TheAlgorithms/Python@f5988cc097 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/988ca5be6e0d90aa. Report an issue: GitHub.