diff --git a/cachematrix.R b/cachematrix.R
index a50be65aa44..425b4aacb74 100644
--- a/cachematrix.R
+++ b/cachematrix.R
@@ -1,15 +1,48 @@
-## Put comments here that give an overall description of what your
-## functions do
+## these functions allow for calculating the inverse of a matrix and stores the final output
+## this allows for data to be retrieved instead of recalculating when a matrix has already been previously calculated
 
-## Write a short comment describing this function
+## makeCacheMatrix() allows the user to create a matrix
 
 makeCacheMatrix <- function(x = matrix()) {
+  inv <- NULL
+  
+  # setter and getter for original matrix
+  
+  set <- function(y) {
+    x <<- y
+    inv <<- NULL
+  }
+  
+  get <- function() x
+  
+  # setter and getter for inverse 
 
+  set_inverse <- function(solve) inv <<- solve
+  get_inverse <- function() inv
+  list(set = set, get = get,
+       set_inverse = set_inverse,
+       get_inverse = get_inverse)
 }
 
 
-## Write a short comment describing this function
+## cacheSolve() finds the inverse of the matrix
+## it gives the cached result if previously available
 
 cacheSolve <- function(x, ...) {
-        ## Return a matrix that is the inverse of 'x'
+  
+  ## finds stored inverse and returns it if possible
+  
+  inv <- x$get_inverse()
+  if(!is.null(inv)) {
+    message("Getting cached inverse matrix...")
+    return(inv)
+  }
+  
+  ## calculates new matrix if unavailable
+  
+  data <- x$get()
+  inv <- solve(data, ...)
+  x$set_inverse(inv)
+  
+  inv
 }