I A S

MATHEMATICS
LINEAR ALGEBRA
Previous year Questions from 1992 To 2017
Syllabus
Vector spaces over R and C, linear dependence and independence, subspaces, bases,
dimension; Linear transformations, rank and nullity, matrix of a linear transforma-
tion. Algebra of Matrices; Row and column reduction, Echelon form, congruence’s
and similarity; Rank of a matrix; Inverse of a matrix; Solution of system of linear
equations; Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, characteristic polynomial, Cayley-Hamilton
theorem, Symmetric, skew-symmetric, Hermitian, skew-Hermitian, orthogonal and
unitary matrices and their eigenvalues.

** Note: Syllabus was revised in 1990’s and 2001 & 2008 **

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I N S T I T U T E
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 2017
 2 2
1. Let A=   . Find a non-singular matrix P such that P–1AP is a diagonal matrix .
1 3
[10 Marks]
2. Show that similar matrices have the same characteristic polynomial.[10 Marks]

1 2 3 1 
 
A   1 3 5 2 
3. Consider the matrix mapping A : R 4  R 3 , where . Find a basis
 3 8 13 3 
 
and dimension of the image of A and those of the kernel A. [15 Marks]
4. Prove that distinct non-zero eigenvectors of a matrix are linearly independent.
[10 Marks]
5. Consider the following system of equations in x,y,z:
x  2 y  2z  1
x  ay  3 z  3
x  11 y  az  b.
(i) For which values of a does the system have a unique solution?
(ii) For which pair of values (a,b) does the system have more than one solution?
[15 Marks]
6. For what values of the constants a,b and c the vector
V   x  y  az  i   bx  2 y  z  j    x  cy  2 z  kˆ is irrotational. Find the divergence in
cylindrical coordinates of this vector with these values . [10 Marks]
2016
1 2 1 
1 3 2 
1. (i) Using elementary row operations, find the inverse of A =   [6 Marks]
1 0 1 

 1 1 13 
5 2 6
(ii) If A =   then find A14+3A–2I. [4 Marks]
 2 1 3

2. (i) Using elemenatry row operation find the condition that the linear equations
have a solution
x–2y+z=a
2x+7y–3z=b
3x+5y–2z=c [7 Marks]

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(ii) If
w1   x, y , z  x  y  z  0 , w2   x, y, z  3 x  y  2 z  0 , w3   x, y , z  x  7 y  3 z  0

then find dim  w1  w2  w3  and dim(w1+w2). [3 Marks]

3. (i) If M2(R) is space of real matrices of order 22 and P2(x) is the space of real
polynomials of degree at most 2, then find the matrix representation of
 a b  
T:M2(R)P2(x) such that T   c d    a  b  c   a  d  x   b  c  x , with
2

 
respect to the standard bases of M2(R) and P2(x) further find null space of T
[10 Marks]
x

(ii) If T: P2(x)  P3(x) is such that T  f  x    f  x   5 f  t  dt , then choosing

0

1,1  x,1  x  and 1, x, x , x  as bases of P (x) and P (x) respectively find the
2 2 3
2 3

matrix of T. [6 Marks]

1 1 0 
1 1 0 
4. (i) if A =   , then find the Eigen values and Eigenvectors of A. [6 Marks]
0 0 1 
(ii) Prove that Eigen values of a Hermitian matrix are all real. [8 Marks]

 1 1 2 
 2 1 1
5. If A =   is the matrix representation of a linear transformation T: P2(x) 
 1 2 3 
P2(x) with respect to the bases {1–x,x(1–x),x(1+x)} and {1,1+x,1+x2} then find T.
[18 Marks]
2015
6. The vectors V1=(1,1,2,4), V2=(2,–1,–5,2), V3=(1,–1,–4,0) and V4=(2,1,1,6) are linearly
independent. Is it true? justify your answer. [10 Marks]
7. Reduce the following matrix to row echelon form and hence find its rank:

1 2 34
2 1 4 5 

1 5 5 7 [10 Marks]
 
8 1 14 17 

1 0 0 
1 0 1 
8. If matrix A=   then find A30 [12Marks]
0 1 0 

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 1 1 3
1 5 1
9. Find the Eigen values and Eigen vectors of the matrix   [12Marks]
3 1 1
10. Let V=R3 and TA(V), for all ai A(V), be defined by
T(a1,a2,a3)=(2a1+5a2+a3,–3a1+a2–a3,a1+2a2+3a3). What is the matrix T relative to the
basis V1=(1,0,1), V2=(–1,2,1), V3=(3,–1,1)? [12Marks]
11. Find the dimension of the subspace of R , spanned by the set
4

{(1,0,0,0),(0,1,0,0),(1,2,0,1),(0,0,0,1)}. Hence find its basis. [12Marks]

2014
12. Find one vector in R3 which generates the intersection of V and W, where V is the xy-
plane and W, is the space generated by the vectors (1,2,3) and (1,–1,1) [10Marks]
13. Using elementary row or column operations, find the rank of the matrix

0 1 3 1
0 0 1 1 

3 1 0 2 [10Marks]
 
1 1 2 0 
14. Let V and W be the following subspaces of R4: V = {(a,b,c,d) : b–2c+d=0)} and
W={(a,b,c,d):a=d, b=2c}. Find a basis and the dimension of (i) V (ii) W (iii) V  W.
[15Marks]
15. Investigate the values of  and  so that the equations x+y+z=6, x+2y+3z=10,
x+2y+z= have (i) no solution (ii) unique solution, (iii) an infinite number of
solutions. [10Marks]
1 4 
16. Verify Cayley -Hamilton theorem for the matrix A =   and hence find its inverse.
2 3
Also, find the matrix represented by A5–4A4–7A3+11A2–A–10I [10Marks]

 2 2 3 
 2 1 6 
17. Let A=   . Find the Eigen values of A and the corresponding Eigen
 1 2 0 
vectors. [8 Marks]
18. Prove that Eigen values of a unitary matrix have absolute value 1. [7 Marks]
2013
1 3 1 
 2 1 7 
19. Find the inverse of the matrix : A=   by using elementary row operations.
 3 2 1
Hence solve the system of linear equations x+3y+z=10 2x–y+7z=12 3x+2y–z=4
[10 Marks]

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20. Let A be a sqaure matrix and A * be its adjoint, show that the Eigen values of
matrices AA * and A * A are real. Further show that trace (AA *) = trace (A * A)
[10 Marks]
21. Let Pn denote the vector space of all real polynomials of degree at most n and

T : P2  P3 be linear transformation given by T  f  x     p  t  dt , p  x   P2 . Find the

x

matrix of T with respect to the bases 1, x, x  and 1, x,1  x ,1  x  of P2 and P3 respec
2 2 3

tively. Also find the null space of T [10 Marks]

22. Let V be and n -dimentional vector space and T : V V be an invertible linear
operator. If  = {X1,X2, .... Xn} is a basix of V, show that '={TX1,TX2,.... TXn} is also a
basis of V. [8 Marks]

1 1 1
1  2  
23. Let A =   where (1) is a cube root of unity. If 1,2,3 denote the Eigen
1   2 

values of A2, Show that  1   2   3  9 [8 Marks]

1 2 3 4 5 
 2 3 5 8 12 
 
 3 5 8 12 17 
24. Find the rank of the matrix A =   [8 Marks]
 3 5 8 17 23
8 12 17 23 30 

25. Let A be a Hermitian matrix having all distinct Eigen values 1,2,....n. If X1,X2,....Xn
are corresponding Eigen vectors then show that the nn matrix C whose kth column
consists of the vector Xn is non singular. [8 Marks]
26. Show that the vectors X1=(1,1+i,i), X2=(i,–i,1–i) and X3=(0,1–2i,2–i) in C3 are linearly
independent over the field of real numbers but are linearly dependent over the field
of complex numbers. [8 Marks]
2012
27. Prove or disprove the following statement: if B = {b1,b2,b3,b4,b5} is a basis for i5 and V
is a two dimensional subspace of i5, Then V has a basis made of two members of B.
[12 Marks]
28. Let T: i ® i be the linear transformation defined by
3 3

() = (+2–3. 2+5–4, +4+). Find a basis and the dimension of the
image of T and the kernel of T [12 Marks]
29. Let V be the vector space of all 22 matrices over the field of real numbers. Let W be
the set consisting of all matrices with zero determinant. Is W a subspace of V ?
Justify your answer? [8 Marks]
30. Find the dimension and a basis for the space W of all solutions of the following homo
geneous system using matrix notation:
x1+2x2+3x3–2x4+4x5=0
2x1+4x2+8x3+x4+9x5=0
3x1+6x2+13x3+4x4+14x5=0 [12 Marks]
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31. (i)Consider the linear mapping f: i 2 ® i 2 by f(x,y) = (3x+4y,2x–5y). Find the matrix A
relative to the basis {(1,0), (0,1)} and the matrix B relative to the basis {(1,2),(2,3)}
[12 Marks]
A
(ii) If  is a characteristic root of a non-singular matrix A, then prove that is a

characteristic root of Adj A [8 Marks]

 1 i 2i
 
i 2 1 i 
32. Let H =  be a Hermitian matrix. Find a non-singular matrix P such
 2  i 1 i 2 
 
that D  PT HP is diagonal. [20 Marks]

2011
33. Let A be a non-singular nn, square matrix. Show that A. (adjA)= A . In Hence show
 n 12
that adj  adjA   A [10 Marks]

 1 0 1   x  2
     
 3 4 5  y 6
34. Let A = , X= , B=   solve the system of equations given by AX=B
0 6 7  z 5
     
Using the above, also solve the system of equations ATX=B where AT denotes the
transpose of matrix A. [10 Marks]
35. Let 1,2,.....n be the Eigen values of a nn square matrix A with corresponding
Eigen vectors X1,X2.... Xn. If B is a matrix similar to show that the Eigen values of B
are same as that of A. Also find the relation between the Eigen vectors of B and
Eigen vectors of A.
36. Show that the subspaces of IR3 spanned by two sets of vectors {(1,1,–1), (1,0,1)} and
{(1,2,3), (5,2,1)} are identical. Also find the dimension of this subspace. [10 Marks]
37. Find he nullity and a basis of the null space of the linear transformation A : IR(4) IR(4)

0 1 3 1
1 0 1 1 

given by the matrix A =  3 1 0 2 . [10 Marks]
 
1 1 2 0 
38. i) Show that the vectors (1,1,1) (2,1,2) and (1,2,3) are linearly independent in
IR(3). Let IR(3) IR(3) be a linear transformation defined by
T(x,y,z)=(x+2y+3z,x+2y+5z,2x+4y+6z) Show that the images of above vectors under T
are linearly dependent. Give the reason for the same.

 2 2 2 
1 1 1 
(ii) Let A =   and C be a non-singular matrix of order 33. Find the
1 3 1
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 Eigen values of the matrix B3 where B=C–1AC. [10 Marks]
2010
 26 2 2 
 2 21 4 
39. If 1,2,3 are the Eigen values of the matrix A =   Show that
 44 2 28

1  2  3  1949
2 2 3
[12 Marks]

d
40. What is the null space of the differentiation transformation : P  Pn Where Pn is
dx n
the space of all polynomials of degree  n over the real numbers? What is the null
space of the second derivative as a transformation of Pn ? What is the null space of
the kth derivative? [12 Marks]
 4 2 1
41. Let. M=   Find the unique linear transformation T : IR3 IR3 So that M is the
 0 1 3
matrix of T with respect to the basis  = {v1=(1,0,0), v2=(1,1,0), v3=(1,1,1)} of IR3 and
' = {w1=(1,0), w2=(1,1)} of IR2. Also find T(x,y,z). [20 Marks]
42. Let A and B be nn matrices over real’s. Show that BA is invertible if I–AB is
invertible. Deduce that AB and BA have the same Eigen values. [20 Marks]
43. (i) In the space Rn determine whether or not the {e1–e2, e2–e3,.......,en-1–en, en–e1} set
is linearly independent.
(ii) Let T be a linear trnasformation from a vector V space over real’s into V such that
T–T2=I Show that is invertible. [20 Marks]
2009
44. Find A Hermitian and skew-Hermitian matrix each whose sum is the matrix.

 2i 3 1
 1 2  3i 2 
 [12 Marks]
 i  1 4 5i 
45. Prove that the set V of the vectors (x1,x2,x3,x4) in which IR4 satisfy the equation
x1+x2+2x3+x4=0 and 2x1+3x2–x3+x4=0, is a subspace of IR4 . What is dimension of this
subspace ? Find one of its bases. [12 Marks]
46. Let = {(1,1,0)(1,0,1)(0,1,1)} and '={(2,1,1),(1,2,1)(–1,1,1)} be the two ordered bases of
[Link] find a matrix representing the linear transformation T: R 3R3 which trans


forms  into '. Use this matrix represention to find T x , where x =(2,3,1).
[20 Marks]
47. Find a 22 real matrix A which is both orthogonal and skew-symmetric. Can there
exist a 33 real matrix which is both orthogonal and skew-symmetric? Justify your
answer. [20 Marks]
48. Let T : IR  IR be a linear transformation defined by L=(x1,x2,x3,x4))=(x3+x4–x1–x2,
4  3

x3–x2,x4–x1). Then find the rank and nullity of L. Also determine null space and range
space of L. [20 Marks]
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49. Prove that the set V of all 33 real symmetric matrices forms a linear subspace of
the space of all 33 real matrices. What is the dimension of this subspace? Find
atleast one of the bases for V. [20 Marks]
2008
50. Show that the matrix A is invertible if and only if the adj(A) is invertible. Hence find
adj  A  [12 Marks]
51. Let S be a non-empty set and let V denote the set of all functions from S into R.
Show that V is vector space with respect to the vector addition (f+g)(x)=f(x)+g(x) and
scalar multiplication (c.f)(x)=cf(x) [12 Marks]
52. Show that B={(1,0,0),(1,1,0),(1,1,1)} is a basis of. R Let T : R  R be a linear
3 3 3

transformation such that T (1,0,0)=(1,0,0) T(1,1,0)=(1,1,1) and T (1,1,1) = (1,1,0). Find T

(x,y,z) [15 Marks]
53. Let A be a non-singular matrix. Show that if I+A+A +.....+A =0 then A–1=An.
2 n

[15 Marks]
54. Find the dimension of the subspace of R spanned by the set
4

{(1,0,0,0)(0,1,0,0)(1,2,0,1),(0,0,0,1)}. Hence find a basis for the subspace. [15 Marks]

2007
55. Let S be the vector space of all polynomials, P(x) with real coefficients, of degree
less than or equal to two considered over the real field R such that p(0) and p(1)=0.
Determine a basis for S and hence its dimension. [12 Marks]
3 4
56. Let T be linear transformation from R to R define by
T(x1,x2,x3)=(2x1+x2+x3 , x1+x2 , x1+x3 ,3x1+x2+2x3) for each (x1,x2,x3)IR3 Determine a
basis for the Null space of T. What is the dimension of the Range space of T?
[12 Marks]
57. Let W be the set of all 33 symmetric matrices over IR does it from a subspace of
the vector space of the 33 matrices over IR ? In case it does, construct a basis for
this space and determine its dimension [15 Marks]
58. Consider the vector space X : = {p(x)} is a polynomial of degree less than or equal to
3 with real coefficients. Over the real field IR define the map D : X  X by (Dp) (x) : =
P1+2P2x+3P3 x2 where P(x) = P0+P1x+p2x2+p3x3 is D a linear transformation on X? if it
is then construct the matrix representation for D with respect to the order basis
{1,x,x2,x3} for X. [15 Marks]
59. Reduce the quadratic form q(x,y,z) : = x +2y –4xz+4yz–7z to canoncial form. Is q
2 2 2

positive definite? [15 Marks]

2006
60. Let V be the vector space of all 22 matrices over the field F. Prove that V has
dimension 4 by exhibiting a basis for V. [12 Marks]
1 3 
61. State Cayley-Hamilton theorem and using it, find the inverse of   .[12 Marks]
2 4
62. If T : R2  R2 is defined by T(x,y) = (2x–3y, x+y) compute the matrix of T relative to
the basis {(1,2),(2,3)} [15 Marks]

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 3 2 0 1
0 2 2 1 
 
63. Using elementary row operations, find the rank of the matrix 1 2 3 2  .
 
0 1 2 1 
[15 Marks]
64. Investigate for what values of and the equations x+y+z=6
x+2y+.3z=10
x+2y+z=m
Have
(i) no solution;
(ii) (ii) a unique solution:
(iii) (iii) infinitely many solutions [15 Marks]
 5 3
65. Find the quadratic form q(x,y) corresponding to the symmetric matrix a =   is
 3 8 
this quadratic from postive definite? Justify your answer. [15 Marks]
2005
66. Find the values of k for which the vectors (1,1,1,1), (1,3,–2,k), (2,2k–2,–k–2,3k–1) and
(3,k+2,–3,2k+1) are linearly independent in R4. [12 Marks]
67. Let V be the vector space of polynomials in x of degree  n over R. Prove that the
set {1,x,x2,.....xn} is a basis for the set of all polynomials in x. [12 Marks]
68. Let T be a linear transformation on R3 whose matrix relative to the standard basis of

 2 1 1
1 2 2 
R3 is   Find the matrix of T relative to the basis
 3 3 4 
 = {(1,1,1),(1,1,0),(0,1,1)}. [15 Marks]
69. Find the inverse of the matrix given below using elementary row operations only:

 2 0 1
5 1 0 
  [15 Marks]
 0 1 3 
70. If S is a skew-Hermitian matrix, then show that is a unitary matrix. Also show that
A=(I+S)(I–S)–1 every unitary matrix can be expressed in the above form provided –1
is not an Eigen value of A. [15 Marks]
71. Reduce the quadratic form 6x1 +3x2 +3x3 –4x1x2–2x2x3+4x3x1 to the sum of
2 2 2

squares. Also find the corresponding linear transformation, index and signature.
[15 Marks]
2004
72. Let S be space generated by the vectors {(0,2,6),(3,1,6),(4,–2,–2) what is the
dimension of the space S? Find a basis for S. [12 Marks]

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73. Show that f:R3IR is a linear transformation, where f(x,y,z) = 3x+y–z what is the
dimension of the Kernel? Find a basis for the Kernel. [12 Marks]
74. Show that the linear transformation form IR to IR which is represented by the matrix
3 4

1 3 0
0 1 2 

2 1 1  is one-to-one. Find a basis for its image. [12 Marks]
 
 1 1 2
75. Verify whether the following system of equation is consistent x+3z=5
–2x+5y–z=0
–x+4y+z=4 [15 Marks]
 1 1
76. Find the characteristic polynomial of the matrix A =   Hence find A–1 and A6
 1 3
[15 Marks]
77. Define a positive definite quadratic form. Reduce the quadratic form to canonical
form. Is this quadratic form positive definite? [15 Marks]
2003
78. let S be any non-empty subset of a vector pace V over the field F. Show that the set
{a11+a22+...+ann: a1,a2,......,an F,1,2,.....,nS, n N} is the subspace generated
by S. [12 Marks]

2 1 1 
0 1 0 
79. If =   then find the matrix represented by
1 1 2 
2A10–10A9+14A8–6A7–3A6+15A5–21A4+9A3+A–1. [12 Marks]
80. Prove that the Eigen vectors corresponding to distinct Eigen values of a square
matrix are lineraly independent. [15 Marks]
81. If H is a Hermitian matrix, then show that A = (H+iI) (H–iI) is a unitary matrix. Also so
–1

that every unitary matrix can be expressed in this form, provided 1 is not an Eigen
value of A.

 6 2 2 
 2 3 1
82. If A=   then find a diagonal matrix D and a matrix B such that A=BDB'
 2 1 3 
where B' denotes the transpose of B. [15 Marks]
83. Reduce the quadratic form given below to canonical form and find its rank and
signature x2+4y2+9z2+u2–12yz+6zx–4xy–2xu–6zu. [15 Marks]
2002
84. Show that the mapping T : R3 R3 where T (a,b,c) = (a–b,b–c,a+c) is linear and non
singular [12 Marks]
85. A square matrix A is non-singular if and only if the constant term in its characteristic
polynomial is different from zero. [12 Marks]
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86. Let T : R5 R5 be a linear mapping given by T(a,b,c,d,e) = (b–d,d+e,b,2d+c,b+e)
obtain bases for its null space and range space. [15 Marks]
87. Let A be a real 33 symmetric matrix with Eigen values 0, 0 and 5 if the
corresponding Eigen -vectors are (2,0,1), (2,1,1) and (1,0,–2) then find the matrix A.
[15 Marks]
x 1–2x2–3x3+4x4=–1
88. Show the following system of linear equations –x1+3x2+5x3–5x4–2x5=0
2x1+x2–2x3+3x4–4x=0 [15 Marks]

0 1 2
1 2 3 
89. Use Cayley-Hamilton theorem to find the inverse of the following matrix :  
3 1 1 
[15 Marks]
2001
90. Show that the vectors (1,0,–1), (0,–3,2) and (1,2,1) form a basis for the vector space
R3(R) [12 Marks]
A
91. If  is a characteristic root of a non-singular matrix A then prove that is a

characteristic root of Adj.A [15 Marks]

1 0 0 
1 0 1 
92. If A =   show that for every integer n3, An=An–2 + A2–I Hence determine A50.
0 1 0 
[15 Marks]
93. When is square matrix A said to be congruent to a square matrix B? Prove that every
matrix congruent to skew-symmetric matrix is skew symmetric. [15 Marks]
94. Determine an orthogonal matrix P such that is a diagonal matrix, where =

7 4 4
 
 4 8 1  [15 Marks]
 4 1 8 
 

95.  
Show that the real quadratic form   n x12  x22  ....  xn2   x1 x2  ...  xn  in n
2

variables is positive semi-definite. [15 Marks]

2000
96. Let V be a vector space over R and T   x, y  x, y , v Let. Define addition in
compo nent wise and scalar multiplication by complex number +i by (+i)(x,y) =
(x+y,y+y)  R show that T is a vector space over C. [12 Marks]
97. Show that if  is a characteristic root of a non-singular matrix A then –1 is a
characteristic root of A–1 [15 Marks]

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98. Prove that a real symmetric matrix A is positive definite if and only A=BB' if for some

1 2 3 
2 5 7 
non-singular matrix. B show also that A=   is positive definite and find the
 3 7 11
matrix B such that A=BB' Here B' stands for the transpose of B. [15 Marks]
99. Prove that a system AX=B if n non-homogeneous equations in n unknowns has a
unique solution provided the coefficient matrix is non-singular. [15 Marks]
100. Prove that two similar matrices have the same characteristic roots. Is its converse
true? Justify your claim. [15 Marks]
101. Reduce the equation x +y +z –2xy–2yz+2zx+x–y–2z+6=0 into canonical form and
2 2 2

sdetermine the nature of the quadratic. [15 Marks]

1999
102. Let V be the vector space of functions from R to R (the real numbers). Show that
f,g,h in V are linearly independent where f(t) = e 2t, g(t) = t2 and h(t)=t.
[20 Marks]
103. If the matrix of a linear transformation T on V2(R) with respect to the basis, then
1 1
what is the matrix of with respect to the ordered basis B = {(1,0),(0,1))} is   then
1 1
what is the matrix of T with respect to the ordered basis [20 Marks]

4 2 2
2 4 2
104. Diagonalize the matrix A=   [20 Marks]
 2 2 4 

1 0  0 i
105. Test for congruency of the matrices A =   and. B =   Prove that
0 1  i 0 
A2n=B2mI When and are positive integers. [20 Marks]
106. If A is a skew symmetric matrix of order n Prove that (I–A) (I+A) is orthogonal.
–1

[20 Marks]
107. Test for the positive definiteness of the quadratic form 2x2+y2+2z2–2zx. [20 Marks]
1998
108. Given two linearly independent vectors (1,0,1,0) and (0,–1,1,0) of R 4 find a basis of
which included these two vectors [20 Marks]
109. If V is a finite dimensional vector space over R and if f and g are two linear
trnasformations from V to R such that f(v)=0 implies g(v)=0 then prove that g=f for
some  in R. [20 Marks]
110. Let T: R3R3 be defined by T(x1,x2,x3) = (x2,x3,–cx1–bx2–ax3) where a,b,c are fixed real
numbers. Show that T is a linear transformation of R3 and that A3+aA2+ba+=cI=0
where A is the matrix of T with respect to standard basis of R 3 [20 Marks]
111. If A and B are two matrices of order 22 such that A is skew Hermitian and AB=B
then show that B=0 [20 Marks]
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112. If T is a complex matrix of order 22 such that trT=trT2=0 then show that T2=0
[20 Marks]
113. Prove that a necessary and sufficient condition for a nn real matrix to be similar to a
diagonal matrix A is that the set of characteristic vectors A of includes a set of
linearly independent vectors. [20 Marks]
114. Let A be a mn matrix. Then show that the sum of the rank and nullity of A is n.
[20 Marks]
115. Find all real 22 matrices A whose characteristic roots are real and which satisfy
AA'=1 [20 Marks]
116. Reduc to diagonal matrix by rational congruent transformation the symmetric matrix

 1 2 1
2 0 3
A=   [20 Marks]
 1 3 1 

1997
117. Let V be the vector space of polynomials over R. Find a basis and dimension of the
subspace W of V spanned by the polynomials
v1,=t –2t2+4t+1, v2=2t3–3t2+9t–1, v3=t3+6t–5, v4=2t3–5t2+7t+5
3
[20 Marks]
118. Verify that the transformation defined by T(x1,x2)=(x1+x2,x1–x2,x2) is a linear transforma
tion from R2 to R3. Find its range, null space and nullity. [20 Marks]
119. Let V be the vector space of 22 matrices over R. Determine whether the matrices
1 2   3 1  1 5
A,B,CV are dependent where A    , B  ,C    [20 Marks]
3 1  2 2   4 0 
120. Let a square matrix A of order n be such that each of its diagonal elements is  and
each of its off diagonal elements is 1. If B=A is orthogonal, determined the values of
 and  [20 Marks]

 2 1 0 
A   1 2 0 
121. Show that is diagonalisable over R and find a matrix P such that
 2 2 3 
P–1AP is diagonal. Hence determine A25 [20 Marks]
122. Let A   aij  be a square matrix of order n such that [aij]  M i , j=1,2 ....n. Let  be

an Eigen value of A. Show that   nM [20 Marks]

123. Define a positive definite matrix. Show that a positive definite matrix is always
non-singular. Prove that its converse does not hold. [20 Marks]
124. Find the characteristics roots and their corresponding vectors for the matrix

 6 2 2 
 2 3 1
  [20 Marks]
 2 1 3 

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125. Find an invertible matrix P which reduces Q(x,y,z)=2xy+2yz+2zx to its canonical form.
[20 Marks]
1996
126. R , W1 be the space generated by (1,1,0,–1),(2,4,6,0) and (–2,–3,–3,1) and let W 2 be
4

the space generate by (–1,–2,–2,2), (4,6,4,–6) and (1,3,4,–3). Find a basis for the
space W1+W2 [20 Marks]
127. Let V be a finite dimensional vector space and vV, v  0. Show that there exist a
linear functional f on V such that f (v)  0 [20 Marks]
128. Let V=R3 and v1,v2,v3 be a basis of R3. Let T :VV be a linear transformation such
that. By writing the matrix of T with respect to another basis, show that the matrix

1 1 1 3 0 0
1 1 1 0 0 0 
  is similar to   [20 Marks]
1 1 1 0 0 0 
129. Let V=R3 and T :VV be linear map defined by T(x,y,z) = (x+z, –2x+y, –x+2y+z). What
is the matrix of T with respect to the basis (1,0,1), (–1,1,1) and (0,1,1)? Using this
matrix, write down the matrix of T with respect to the basis (0,1,2), (–1,1,1) and
(0,1,1) [20 Marks]
130. Let V and W be finite dimensional vector spaces such that dim V  dim W. show that
there is always a linear map from V onto W [20 Marks]
131. Solve
x+y–2z=1
2x–7z=3 by using Cramer’s rule [20 Marks]
x+y–z=5
132. Find the inverse of the matrix

0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0 

0 0 0 1  by computing its characteristic polynomial. [20 Marks]
 
1 0 0 0
133. Let A and B be nn matrices such that AB=BA. Show that A and B have a common
characteristic vector. [20 Marks]

 2 / 3 2 / 3 1/ 3 
 2 / 3 1/ 3 2 / 3
134. Reduce to canonical form the orthogonal matrix   [20 Marks]
1/ 3 2 / 3 2 / 3 

1995
135. Let T be the linear operation in R3 defined T(x1,x2,x3)=(3x1+x3,–2x1+x2,–x1+2x2+4x3).
What is the matrix of T in the standard ordered basis of R3? What is a basis of range
space of T and a basis of null space of T? [20 Marks]
136. Let A be a sqaure matrix of order n. Prove that AX=b has solution if and only if bRn
is orthogonal to all solutions Y of the system ATY=0 [20 Marks]

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137. Define a similar matrix. Prove that the characterstic equation of two similar matrices
is the same. Let 1,2 and 3 be the Eigen-values of a matrix. Write down such a
matrix. Is such a matrix unique? [20 Marks]

 5 6 6 
 1 4 2 
138. Show that   is diagonalizable and hence determine A 5. [20 Marks]
 3 6 4 
139. Let A and B be matrices of order n. Prove that if (I–AB) is invertible, then (I–BA) is
also invertible and (I–BA)–1=I+B(I–AB)–1A. Show that AB and BA have precisely the
same characteristic values. [20 Marks]
140. If a and b complex numbers such that b  1 and H is a hermitian marix, show the
Eigen values of aI+bH lie on a straight line in the complex plane. [20 Marks]
141. Let A be a symmetric matrix. Show that A is positive definite if and only if its Eigen
values are all positive. [20 Marks]
142. Let A and B be square matrices of order n. Show that AB-BA can never be equal to
unit matrix. [20 Marks]
1994
144. Show that f1(t)=1, f2(t)=t–2, f3(t)=(t–2)2 form a basis of P3, the space of polynomials
with degree  2. Express 3t2–5t+4 as a linear combination of f1,f2,f3. [20 Marks]
145. If T :V4(R)V3(R) is a linear transformation defined by
T(a,b,c,d)=(a–b+c+d, a+2c–d,a+b+3c–3d). For a,b,c,d  R, then verify that Rank
T+Nullity T=dim V4(R) [20 Marks]
146. if T is an operator on R3 whose basis is B= {(1,0,0),(0,1,0),(–1,1,0)} such that

0 1 1
 1 0 1
[T:B] =   find the matrix T with respect to a basis
 1 1 0 
B1 = {(0,1,–1),(1.–1,1)(–1,1,0)} [20 Marks]
147. If A = [aij] is an nn matrix such that aii=n, aij=r if ij, show that [A–(n–r)I]
[A–(n–r+nr)I]=0. Hence find the inverse of the nn matrix B = [bij]. Where
1
bii=1, bij= when i  j and 1,  [20 Marks]
1 n
148. Prove that the Eigen vectors corresponding to distinct Eigen values of a sqaure
matrix are linearly independent. [20 Marks]

3 1 4
0 2 6 
149. Determine the Eigen values and eigen vectors of the matrix A =  
0 0 5 
[20 Marks]
150. Show that a matrix congruent to a skew-symmetric is skew-symmetric. Use the result
to prove that the determinant of skew-symmetric matrix of even order is the sqaure
of a rational function of its elements. [20 Marks]

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 0 c b a '
 -c 0 a b '

151. Find the rank of the matrix  b -a 0 c '  where aa'+bb'+cc'=0 a, b, c are all
 
-a ' -b ' -c ' 0 
positive integers. [20 Marks]
152. Reduce the following symmetric matrix to a diagonal form and interpret the result

 3 2 1
A   2 2 3 
interms of quadratic forms: [20 Marks]
 1 3 1 

1993
153. Show that the set S={(1,0,0),(1,1,0)(1,1,1),(0,1,0)} spans the vector space R3(R) but it
is not a basis set. [20 Marks]
154. Define rank and nullity of a linear transformation T. If V be finite dimentional vector
space and T a linear operator on V such that rank T2=rank T, then prove that the null
space of T = the null space of T2 and the intersection of the range space and null
space to T is the zero subspace of V. [20 Marks]
155. If the matrix of a linear operator T on R relative to the standard basis {(1,0),(0,1)} is
2

 1 1
  what is the matrix of T relative to the basis B={(1,1),(1,–1)}?[20 Marks]
 1 1

 A O  A O
1

156. Prove that the inverse of   is  1 1  where A, C are not singular

 B C  C BA C 1 

1 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 

matrices and hence find the inverse of 1 1 1 0 [20 Marks]
 
1 1 1 1
157. If A be an orthogonal matrix with the property that –1 is not an Eigen value, then
show that a is expressible as (I–S)(S+S)–S1 for some suitable skew-symmetric matrix
S. [20 Marks]
158. Show that any two Eigen vectors corresponding to two distnict Eigen value of
(i) Hermitian matrix
(ii) Unitary matrix are orthogonal [20 Marks]
159. A matrix B of order nn is of the form A where  is a scalar and A has unit elements
everywhere except in the diagonal which has elements . Find  and  so that B may
be orthogoanl. [20 Marks]

1 1 3 6 
1 3 3 4 
160. Find the rank of the matrix   by reducing it to canonical form.
5 3 3 11 

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 [20 Marks]
161. Determine the following form as definite, semi-definite or indefinite:
2x12+2x22+3x32–4x2x3–4x3x1+2x1x2 [20 Marks]
1992
162. Let V and U be vector spaces over the field K and let V be of finite dimension. Let
T :VU be a linear Map. dim V= dim R(T)+dim N(T) [20 Marks]
163. Let S = {(x,y,z)/x+y+z=0}, x,y,z being real. Prove that S is a subspace of R3. Find a
basis of S [20 Marks]
164. Verify which of the following are linear transformations?
(i) T :RR2 defined by T(x)=(2x,–x)
(ii) T :R2R3 defined by T(x,y)=(xy,y,x)
(iii) T :R2R3 defined by T (x,y)=(x+y,y,x)
(iv) T :RR2 defined by T(x)=(1,–1) [20 Marks]
165. T :M2,1M2,3 be a linear transformation defined by (with usual notations)
 1   2 1 3  1   6 1 0   x
T  , T      Find T   [20 Marks]
 0   4 1 5  1   0 0 2   y
166. For what values of  do the following equations
x+y+z=1
x+2y+4z= Have solutions? Solve them completely in each case.[20 Marks]
x+4y+10z= 2

167. Prove that a necessary and sufficient condition of a real quadratic form X'AX to be
positive definite is that the leading principal minors of A are all positive. [20 Marks]
168. State Cayley-Hamilton theorem and use it to calculate the inverse of the matrix 
 2 1
  [20 Marks]
 4 3
169. Transform the following to the diagonal forms and give the transformation employed:
x2+2y, 8x2–4xy+5y2 [20 Marks]
170. Prove that the characteristic roots of a Hermitian matrix are all real and a
characteristic root of a skew-Hermitian is either zero or a pure imaginary number.
[20 Marks]

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