diff --git a/cachematrix.R b/cachematrix.R
index a50be65aa4..742a52f292 100644
--- a/cachematrix.R
+++ b/cachematrix.R
@@ -3,13 +3,32 @@
 
 ## Write a short comment describing this function
 
-makeCacheMatrix <- function(x = matrix()) {
+makeCacheMatrix <- function(x = matrix()) { ## arg. definition with default mode of "matrix"
+    nu <- NULL                             ## set nu to NULL to hold value of matrix inverse
+    set <- function(y) {                    ## set function
+        x <<- y                             ## value of matrix in parent environment
+        nu <<- NULL                        ## if there is a new matrix, reset nu to NULL
+    }
+    get <- function() x                     ## get function returns value of the matrix argumen
+    
+    setinverse <- function(inverse) nu <<- inverse  ## assigns value of nu in parent environment
+    getinverse <- function() nu                     ## gets the value of nu where called
+    list(set = set, get = get, setinverse = setinverse, getinverse = getinverse)  }
 
-}
 
 
 ## Write a short comment describing this function
 
 cacheSolve <- function(x, ...) {
-        ## Return a matrix that is the inverse of 'x'
+    ## Return a matrix that is the inverse of 'x'
+    nu <- x$getinverse()
+    if(!is.null(nu)) {
+        message("getting cached data")
+        return(nu)
+    }
+    data <- x$get()
+    nu <- solve(data, ...)
+    x$setinverse(nu)
+    nu
 }
+