Question Bank

Applied Linear Algebra (MAT3002)

Fall Semester 2025–26

1. Systems of Linear Equations

1.1. Find the general solution of the underdetermined system:





 x + y + z + t = 6,

 2x − y + 3z + 2t = 14,


x − 3y + 2z − t = −2.


1.2. Determine the rank and a parametric form of all solutions:





 x + 2y + 3z + t = 4,

 2x + 5y + 3z − t = 7,


x + y + z + 2t = 2.


1.3. For the parameter k, discuss consistency and solve (if consistent):




 x + 2y + z + t = 1,

 2x + 4y + kz + (k − 2)t = 2,


x + 3y + (k − 1)z + 2t = 1.


1.4. Reduce the augmented matrix to RREF and obtain the general solution:
 
1 −1 2 0 3
 
1 −1 .
 2 1 0 

3 0 1 −2 5

1
1.5. For parameter k, solve and discuss consistency:




 x + 2y + z = 1,

 2x + 4y + kz = 2,


x + 3y + (k − 1)z = 1.


2. Column Space and Dependence

 
1 0 2
 
2.1. Is (2, 1, 5) a linear combination of the columns of A = 
3 −1 1?


2 4 0

2.2. Determine whether {(1, 2, 3), (2, 4, 6), (3, 5, 8)} is dependent; find the nontrivial
relation.
 
1 2 1
 
2.3. For A = 
 0 1 2, find bases for Col(A) and Nul(A).

2 5 3

 
3 −1 2
 
Check if 1, 23 , 53 lies in the column space of A = 


2.4. 2 1 3 .

7 1 8

2.5. Let u = (1, 0, 1), v = (0, 1, 1), w = (1, 1, 2). Test if w ∈ span{u, v}.

3. Linear Independence and Basis

3.1. Verify whether B1 = {(x − 1), (x − 1)2 , (x − 1)3 } is linearly independent. If yes,
does it form a basis for S1 = { p ∈ P3 : p(1) = 0 }?

3.2. Verify whether B2 = {x, x2 + x, x3 − 2x} is linearly independent. If yes, does it

form a basis for S2 = { p ∈ P3 : p(0) = 0 }?

3.3. Verify whether B3 = {1 + x2 , 1 − x3 , x2 + x3 } is linearly independent. If yes, does

it form a basis for S3 = { a + bx + cx2 + dx3 ∈ P3 : b = 0 } (i.e., no x-term)?

2
3.4. Verify whether B4 = {1 − x, x2 − x, x3 − x} is linearly independent. If yes, does
it form a basis for S4 = { p ∈ P3 : p(1) = 0 }?

3.5. Verify whether B5 = {2−x+3x2 , 1+2x−x2 , x+x2 +x3 } is linearly independent.

If yes, does it form a basis for S5 = { a + bx + cx2 + dx3 ∈ P3 : a + b + c + d = 0 }?

4. Linear Transformations and Change of Basis

4.1. Let T : P3 → P2 be defined by

T a + bx + cx2 + dx3 = a x2 + b x.

Find the matrix of T with respect to

B3 = { 1 + x3 , 1 + x + x2 , 1 + x2 + x3 , x } and B2 = { 1 − x + x2 , x, x2 }.

4.2. T : P2 → P2 , T (p) = p′ . Find the matrix in B = {1, x, x2 }.

4.3. T : R2 → R2 reflection about y = x. Find the matrix and verify T 2 = I.

4.4. T : R3 → R3 , rotation by θ about the z-axis. Write the standard matrix.

4.5. Find the change-of-basis matrix from B = {1, x, 1 + x} to C = {1, x, x2 } in P2

(interpret 1 + x appropriately).

5. Coordinate Vectors

5.1. Express p(x) = 2 − 3x + x2 in B = {1 + x, x + x2 , x2 }.

5.2. Coordinates of p(x) = x2 − 2x + 1 in B = {x2 , x − 1, 1 + x2 }.

5.3. For p(x) = 1 + 2x + 3x2 , find [p]B where B = {1, 1 + x, x2 }.

5.4. Find the transition matrix PB→C for B = {1, x, x2 }, C = {1 − x, 1 + x, x2 }, and

compute [p]C for p(x) = x.

3
6. Orthogonal Projection

6.1. Project v = (3, −1, 2) onto span{(1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1)}; write v = u + w with u ⊥ w.

6.2. Project v = (4, 1, −1) onto the line span{(2, −1, 2)}; write v = u + w with u ⊥ w.

6.3. Project v = (3, −2, 1) onto span{(1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1)}.

6.4. Project v = (4, 1, −1) onto the line through a = (2, −1, 2) and decompose.

6.5. Find the distance from v = (1, 2, 3) to the plane x + y + z = 0 via orthogonal
projection.

6.6. Orthogonally project (1, 0, 1, 0) onto span{(1, 1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 1, 0)} in R4 .

7. Gram–Schmidt Orthogonalization

7.1. Apply Gram–Schmidt to {(1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1)}.

7.2. Apply Gram–Schmidt to {1, x, x2 } on [−1, 1].

R1
7.3. Apply Gram–Schmidt to {1, t, t2 } with ⟨f, g⟩ = 0
f (x)g(x) dx.

7.4. Orthonormalize {(1, 1, 1), (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0)} in R3 .

 
1 1
 
7.5. Use Gram–Schmidt to produce Q in the QR of A = 
1 0.


0 1

8. Range and Null Space Orthogonality

 
1 2 −1
 
8.1. For B = 2 4 −2, compute bases for Ran(B T ) and ker(B) (via RREF), and
 
 
0 1 3
verify that every vector in Ran(B T ) is orthogonal to every vector in ker(B); hence
Ran(B T ) ⊥ ker(B).

4
  
1 1 11
8.2. For C =  , find bases for Ran(C T ) and ker(C) and check their
2 0 −1 3
orthogonality by dot products. Conclude that Ran(C T ) ⊥ ker(C).

 
0 −2 5
  T
8.3. For A = 
1 4 , show Ran(A ) ⊥ ker(A).
−7
3 −1 6

8.4. Prove ker(AT ) = (Ran(A))⊥ for any matrix A.

 
1 2 3
8.5. For A =  , find orthonormal bases of Ran(A) and ker(AT ).
4 5 6

8.6. Show ker(A) ⊥ Ran(AT ) for A ∈ Rm×n via the inner-product identity.

 
1 1 1
 
8.7. Compute dim ker(A) and dim Ran(A) for A = 
1 1 1 and verify rank–nullity.

1 1 1

9. QR Decomposition
 
2 −1 0
 
0 2 1
9.1. QR of A =  .
 
1 0 2
 
2 1 1

 
2 1 0
 
9.2. QR of B = 
1 2 1.

0 1 2

 
1 1
 
9.3. QR of 
1 −1.


1 1

5
  
2 −1
 
9.4. QR of 
2 1.
1 0

   
1 1 1
   
9.5. Use QR to solve least squares for A = 
1 2 ,
 b=
2.


1 3 2

9.6. Show that if A has independent columns then Q in A = QR has orthonormal

columns and R is invertible upper triangular.

10. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

 
2 1
10.1. Eigenpairs of A =   and B = A − 2I; relate spectra and comment on
0 2
algebraic vs. geometric multiplicity.
 
3 −1
10.2. Let A =  . Compute eigenpairs of A and B = A − 3I; explain the
c 3
spectral shift and whether eigenvectors change.
 
2 0
10.3. Eigenpairs of   and of B = A − I; comment on the eigenvalue shift.
0 3

 
4 1
10.4. For A =  , compute P DP −1 .
2 3



0 1 0
 
10.5. Find eigenvalues of A = 
 0 0 1 and discuss diagonalizability.

0 0 0

10.6. If A is symmetric, prove eigenvectors for distinct eigenvalues are orthogonal; il-
lustrate with a 3 × 3 example.

6
11. Null Space Conditions
 
1 2 1
 
11.1. For A =  0 1 2, find all x with Ax ⊥ Col(A).
 
1 1 1

 
1 1 1
  T
11.2. For A = 
1 −1 1 , solve A Ax = 0.
1 1 −1

11.3. Describe ker(AT A) in terms of ker(A); prove equality.

 
1 2
 
11.4. For A =  2 4 , compute ker(A) and ker(AT ).
 
3 6

12. Matrix Representation of Linear Operators

Rx
12.1. T : P2 → P3 , T (p) = 0
p(t) dt. Find the matrix in standard bases.

12.2. D : P3 → P2 , D(p) = p′ (x). Find the matrix in standard bases.

12.3. S : P2 → P2 , S(p) = x p(x). Find the matrix in B = {1, x, x2 }.

12.4. Find the composition matrix for D ◦ T : P2 → P2 where T is in (2) and D is

differentiation.

13. Inner Product and Angles Between Functions

13.1. Angle between f (x) = x and g(x) = x2 over [0, 1].

13.2. Compute cos θ between f (x) = ex and g(x) = 1 + x on [0, 1].

R1
13.3. With weight w(x) = 1 + x2 on [−1, 1], compute ⟨x, 1 − x⟩w = −1
x(1 − x)w(x) dx
and the angle.

7
13.4. Orthogonalize {1, x} on [0, 2] and normalize under the L2 inner product.

14. Least Squares Approximation





 x + y = 2,

14.1. Solve 2x + 3y = 5, in the least-squares sense.



3x + 4y = 6


   
1 1 1
   
14.2. Least squares for A = 
 1 2 ,
 b=
2 (via normal equations).


1 3 2

14.3. Fit y ≈ α + βx to points (0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 2) and report (α̂, β̂).

14.4. Show that the least-squares solution x̂ satisfies AT (Ax̂ − b) = 0; verify on a 3 × 2

example.