Concept:
• A matrix \(M\) is symmetric if \(M' = M\).
• A matrix \(M\) is skew-symmetric if \(M' = -M\).
• Transpose properties to use: \((A+B)' = A' + B'\), \((AB)' = B'A'\), and \((A')' = A\).
Step 1: Apply the skew-symmetric definitions
Since \(A\) and \(B\) are skew-symmetric matrices:
\[ A' = -A \]
\[ B' = -B \]
Step 2: Analyze the target matrix by taking its transpose
Let \(X = AB' + BA'\). To find the nature of \(X\), we compute \(X'\):
\[ X' = (AB' + BA')' \]
Using the addition rule for transposes:
\[ X' = (AB')' + (BA')' \]
Step 3: Apply the product rule for transposes
Using the rule \((MN)' = N'M'\):
\[ X' = (B')'A' + (A')'B' \]
Since the double transpose of a matrix is the matrix itself (\((M')' = M\)):
\[ X' = BA' + AB' \]
Step 4: Compare with the original expression
Matrix addition is commutative (\(P + Q = Q + P\)):
\[ X' = AB' + BA' \]
We observe that \(X' = X\). By definition, this means the matrix is symmetric.