Let P = $$\left[ {\matrix{ 3 & { - 1} & { - 2} \cr 2 & 0 & \alpha \cr 3 & { - 5} & 0 \cr } } \right]$$, where $$\alpha $$ $$ \in $$ R. Suppose Q = [ q_ij] is a matrix satisfying PQ = kl₃ for some non-zero k $$ \in $$ R.
If q₂₃ = $$ - {k \over 8}$$ and |Q| = $${{{k^2}} \over 2}$$, then a² + k² is equal to ______.

Let M be any 3 $$ \times $$ 3 matrix with entries from the set {0, 1, 2}. The maximum number of such matrices, for which the sum of diagonal elements of M^TM is seven, is ________.

The sum of distinct values of $$\lambda $$ for which the system of equations

$$\left( {\lambda - 1} \right)x + \left( {3\lambda + 1} \right)y + 2\lambda z = 0$$
$$\left( {\lambda - 1} \right)x + \left( {4\lambda - 2} \right)y + \left( {\lambda + 3} \right)z = 0$$
$$2x + \left( {3\lambda + 1} \right)y + 3\left( {\lambda - 1} \right)z = 0$$

has non-zero solutions, is ________ .

If the system of equations
x - 2y + 3z = 9
2x + y + z = b
x - 7y + az = 24,
has infinitely many solutions, then a - b is equal to.........