TITLE: Inverse of transformation matrix
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I am preparing for a computer 3D graphics test and have a sample question which I am unable to solve.
The question is as follows:
For the following 3D transfromation matrix M, find its inverse. Note that M is a composite matrix built from fundamental geometric affine transformations only. Show the initial transformation sequence of M, invert it, and write down the final inverted matrix of M.
$M =\begin{pmatrix}0&0&1&5\\0&3&0&3\\-1&0&0&2\\0&0&0&1\end{pmatrix} $
I only know basic linear algebra and I don't think it is the purpose to just invert the matrix but to use the information in the question to solve this. 
Can anyone help?
Thanks

REPLY [2 votes]: I know this is old, but the inverse of a transformation matrix is just the inverse of the matrix. For a transformation matrix $M$ which transforms some vector $\mathbf a$ to position $\mathbf v$, then to get a matrix which transforms some vector $\mathbf v$ to $\mathbf a$ we just multiply by $M^{-1}$
$M\cdot \mathbf a = \mathbf v \\
M^{-1} \cdot M \cdot \mathbf a = M^{-1} \cdot \mathbf v \\
\mathbf a = M^{-1} \cdot \mathbf v$