Webwork 11, Math 204, Solutions.

Assignment 11, #1 . Find the matrix A of the linear transformation from R2 to R2 that rotates any
vector through an angle of 60 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

Solution: The standard matrix for a rotation from R2 to R2 is of the form

cos 𝜃 −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
( )
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 cos 𝜃

If we let 𝜃 = 60° 𝑤𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥.

1⁄ −√3⁄
2 2

√3⁄ 1⁄
2 2
( )
2. Find the standard matrix of the following linear transformations T from R2 to R2.
𝜋
a) Counter-clockwise rotation by radians.
2

𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜋⁄2 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜋⁄2 0 −1

b) Reflection about the y-axis

−1 0
Solution: T(1,0) = (-1,0) and T(0,1) = (0,1), so 𝐴 = ( )
0 1

c) Reflection about the line y = x.

0 1
Solution: T(1,0) = (0, 1) and T(0,1) = (1,0), so 𝐴 = ( )
1 0

𝜋
d) Clockwise rotation by 2 radians.

𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝜋⁄2 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝜋⁄2 0 1

e) The projection onto the x-axis given by T(x, y) = (x, 0).

1 0
Solution: T(1,0) = (1, 0) and T(0,1) = (0,0), so 𝐴 = ( )
0 0

f) Reflection about the x-axis

1 0
Solution: T(1,0) = (1,0) and T(0, 1) = (0, -1), so 𝐴 = ( )
0 −1
3. Let T be the linear transformation from R2 to R2 that first rotates points clockwise through 30 degrees
and then reflects points about the line y = x. Find the standard matrix A for T.

√3⁄ −1⁄
2 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜋⁄6 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜋⁄6
Solution: 𝐴1 = ( )=
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜋⁄6 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜋⁄6 1⁄ √3⁄
2 2
( )
0 1
𝐴2 = ( )
1 0

1⁄ √3⁄
2 2
Hence 𝐴 = 𝐴2 𝐴1=
√3⁄ −1⁄
2 2
( )

1 −3 0
4. Find the characteristic polynomial of the matrix 𝐴 = (0 −4 3)
4 −3 0

𝜆−1 3 0
Solution: 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = ( 0 𝜆 + 4 −3)
−4 3 𝜆

The characteristic polynomial = det(𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴) = 𝜆3 + 3𝜆2 + 5𝜆 + 27

Solution: 𝐴(𝑣1 + 𝑣2) = 𝐴𝑣1 + 𝐴𝑣2 = 𝜆1 𝑣1 + 𝜆2 𝑣2

= −5 𝑣1 + 2 𝑣2

= −5(5,1) + 2(−4, −2)

= (−33, −4)

𝐴(2𝑣1) = 2𝐴(𝑣1) = 2 𝜆1 𝑣1

= 2(−5)𝑣1

= −10 𝑣1

= −10(5,1)

= (−50, −10)
6. Find a basis of the eigenspace associated with the eigenvalue 3 of the matrix A.

Solution:

3 0 3 3
𝐴= [ 0 3 −3 −3]
−2 0 4 1
2 0 −4 −1

𝜆−3 0 −3 −3
First find 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ 0 𝜆 − 3 3 3 ]
2 0 𝜆 − 4 −1
−2 0 4 𝜆+1

0 0 −3 −3
When 𝜆 = 3 , 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 [ 0 0 3 3]
2 0 −1 −1
−2 0 4 4

1 0 0 0
Reduce this matrix to RREF. This gives [0 0 1 1]
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

Let x2 = s and x4 = t (parameters). Then x1 = 0 and x3 = -t.

𝑥1 0 0
This gives ⌈𝑥2⌉ = 𝑠 ⌈1⌉ + 𝑡 ⌈ 0 ⌉
𝑥3 0 −1
𝑥4 0 1

So the eigenvalues are (0,1,0,0) and (0,0,-1,1), and since these two vectors are linearly independent they
form a basis for the eigenspace.
7. The matrix A has two real eigenvalues, one of multiplicity 1 and one of multiplicity 2. Find the
eigenvalues and a basis of each eigenspace.

0 0 −2
Solution: 𝐴 = (1 2 1)
1 0 3

𝜆 0 2
𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = (−1 𝜆 − 2 −1 )
−1 0 𝜆−3

The characteristic equation is = det(𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴) = 𝜆3 − 5𝜆2 + 8𝜆 − 4 = 0

(𝜆 − 1)(𝜆 − 2)2 = 0

𝜆 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝜆 = 2

These are the two eigenvalues.

2 0 2
Case 1: If 𝜆 = 2, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [−1 0 −1]
−1 0 −1

1 0 1
This reduces to the matrix [0 0 0]
0 0 0

Let x2 = t and x3 =s (parameters). Then x1 = -s.

𝑥1 −1 0
This gives [𝑥2] = [ 0 ] 𝑠 + [1] 𝑡
𝑥3 1 0

So the vectors (-1, 0, 1) and (0, 1, 0) form a basis for the eigenspace corresponding to the eigenvalue 2.
 1 0 2
Case 2: If 𝜆 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [−1 −1 −1]
−1 0 −2

1 0 2
This reduces to the matrix [0 1 −1]
0 0 0

Let x3 = t (parameter). Then x1 = --2t, x2 = t, and x3 = t.

𝑥1 −2
This gives [𝑥2] = [ 1 ] 𝑡
𝑥3 1

So the vectors (-2, 1, 1) is a basis for the eigenspace corresponding to the eigenvalue 1.
8. Given the 2 x 2 matrix A, find an invertible matrix P and a diagonal matrix D such that 𝑃−1 𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐷.

Solution:

25 −7
𝐴= [ ]
84 −24
𝜆 − 25 7
𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−84 𝜆 + 24

det( 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴) = 𝜆2 − 𝜆 − 12

If we set this equal to zero, we obtain the two eigenvalues 𝜆 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜆 = −3.

−21 7
Case 1: If 𝜆 = 4, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−84 28
−3 1
This reduces to [ ]
0 0

Solving this homogeneous system gives

−3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦 = 3𝑥. 𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (1,3).

−28 7
Case 2: If 𝜆 = −3, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−84 21
−4 1
This reduces to [ ]
0 0

Solving this homogeneous system gives

−4𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦 = 4𝑥. 𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (1, 4).

We now put these two eigenvectors as the columns of our matrix P. This gives

1 1
𝑃= [ ]
3 4
4 −1
𝑃−1 = [ ]
−3 1

4 0
𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑃 −1 𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐷 = [ ]
0 −3

Notice that the diagonal entries of D are the eigenvalues of A. Also, notice that since we put the
eigenvector (1,3) in the first column of P and the eigenvector (1,4) in the second column of P, the
eigenvalue 4 associated with (1,3) appears in the first column and the eigenvalue -3 associated with (1,4)
appears in the second column of D.
 0 0 −2
9. Let 𝐴 = (1 2 1 ) . 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝐷 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑃−1 𝐴𝑃 = 𝐷
1 0 3

Solution: In problem 7 we have found that A has eigenvalues λ =2 with associated eigenvectors (-1,0,1)
and (0,1, 0) and λ =1 with associated eigenvector (-2, 1,1).

Form the matrix P using these eigenvectors as the columns of matrix P. This gives

−1 0 −2
𝑃= ⌈0 1 1⌉
1 0 1

Next find the inverse of this matrix using any method. This gives

1 0 2
𝑃−1 = ⌈ 1 1 1⌉
−1 0 −1
2 0 0
Next calculate 𝑃−1 𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐷 = ⌈0 2 0⌉
0 0 1

Notice that the diagonal entries of D are the eigenvalues of A. Also, notice that since we put the
eigenvectors (-1,0,1) and (0,1,0) in the first two columns of P and the eigenvector (-2,1,1) in the third
column of P, the eigenvalue 2 associated with (-1,0,1) and (0,1,0) appears in the first two columns and
the eigenvalue 1 associated with (-2,1,1) appears in the third column of D.
 4 −4
10. Let A = [ ]. Find formulas for the entries of the matrix 𝐴𝑛 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟.
2 10
𝜆−4 4
Solution: 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−2 𝜆 − 10

det( 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴) = 𝜆2 − 14𝜆 + 48

If we set this equal to zero, we obtain the two eigenvalues 𝜆 = 6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜆 = 8.

2 4
Case 1: If 𝜆 = 6, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−2 −4
1 2
This reduces to [ ]
0 0

Solving this homogeneous system gives

𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0, 𝑠𝑜 𝑥 = −2𝑦. 𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (−2, 1).

4 4
Case 2: If 𝜆 = 8, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜆𝐼 − 𝐴 = [ ]
−2 −2

1 1
This reduces to [ ]
0 0

Solving this homogeneous system gives

𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦 = −𝑥. 𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥 = 1, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (1, −1).

We now put these two eigenvectors as the columns of our matrix P. This gives

−2 1
𝑃= [ ]
1 −1

−1 −1
𝐼𝑓 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥, 𝑤𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑃−1 = [ ]
−1 −2

6 0
𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑃−1 𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐷 = [ ]
0 8
We have that 𝑃−1 𝐴 𝑃 = 𝐷. 𝐻𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐴 = 𝑃 𝐷 𝑃−1 . 𝑆𝑜 𝐴𝑛 = (𝑃 𝐷 𝑃−1 )𝑛 = 𝑃 𝐷 𝑛 𝑃−1

2 ∙ 6𝑛 − 8𝑛 2 ∙ 6𝑛 − 2 ∙ 8𝑛
This gives the matrix [ ]
−6𝑛 + 8𝑛 −6𝑛 + 2 ∙ 8𝑛