Step 1:

Observe the table:

Let the coloumn 1 represent womens department, column 2 represents the mens department and column 3 represents the childrens depart ment.

Let the row 1 represents the average price of T-shirts in different departments, row 2 represent the average price of Jeans in

different departments and row 3 represents the average price of Sweater in different departments. \ \ The average prices of some items available for sale in different departments at a retail store are .

Multiply the matrix by .

.

(b)

From 1(a): The resulting matrix is .

The matrix  represents three-fourth of the average prices of some items available for sale in different departments at a retail store.