The University of Sydney

MATH1002 Linear Algebra

Semester 1 Preparatory Exercises for Week 8 2023

Answers are provided below.

Important Ideas and Useful Facts:
(i) If a system of equations can be expressed in the form Ax = b where A is invertible, then x = A−1 b.
(ii) An elementary matrix is any matrix that can be obtained by performing an elementary row operation
on an identity matrix.
(iii) Suppose E is an elementary matrix obtained by performing an elementary row operation on the identity
matrix In . If A is an n × p matrix and we perform the same elementary row operation on A, then the
resulting matrix is the same as the product EA.
(iv) The determinant of a 1 × 1 matrix [a] is simply the entry a.
   
a b a b 
(v) The determinant of a 2 × 2 matrix A = is det(A) =  = ad − bc.
c d c d
(vi) Expanding along any row or down any column of a square matrix A produces the same real number,
called the determinant of A, denoted by det(A) (or det A) or |A|:
If A = [ai,j ] is an n × n matrix, then
n
X n
X
det(A) = ai,k Ci,k = ak,j Ck,j ,
k=1 k=1

where Cij = (−1)i+j det Aij is the (i, j)-cofactor of A, and Aij is the (i, j)-minor of A, defined as the
(n − 1) × (n − 1) matrix obtained from A by removing row i and column j.
 
a b c
(vii) The determinant of a 3 × 3 matrix A = d e f  is
g h k
     
e f  d f  d e 
det(A) = |A| = a    − b
  + c  .
h k g k g h

Note that this is the expansion along the first row (where the smaller determinant arises by ignoring
the row and column of the entry being used as a coefficient), but expanding along any row or column
is valid, as long as we remember to multiply the determinant of the (i, j)-minor of A by (−1)i+j . So,
for a 3 × 3 matrix, we get the following pattern of positive and negative signs:
 
+ − +
− + − .
+ − +

(viii) If A is triangular, in the sense that all entries above or below the diagonal are zero, then det(A) is the
product of the diagonal elements.
(ix) Determinant method for cross products: If u = u1 e1 + u2 e2 + u3 e3 and w = w1 e1 + w2 e2 + w3 e3
then
 
 e1 e2 e3 
 
u × w =  u1 u2 u3 

 w1 w2 w3 
= (u2 w3 − u3 w2 ) e1 − (u1 w3 − u3 w1 ) e2 + (u1 w2 − u2 w1 ) e3
= [u2 w3 − u3 w2 , u3 w1 − u1 w3 , u1 w2 − u2 w1 ].

1
Preparatory Exercises:

1. Let      
1 −2 3 4 0 5 4 0 5
A= 1 3 0 , B =  1 3 0 , C =  1 3 0 .
4 0 5 1 −2 3 3 4 3
Find an elementary matrix E that satisfies (i) EA = B (ii) EB = A (iii) EB = C
 
4 8
2. Let A = . Find elementary matrices E1 , . . . , Ek such that Ek · · · E1 A = I2 .
1 1
3. Find the following determinants:
           
 1 −2  1 −1 −1 1  1 0 0 2 5 4
−1 3  , −2 , , , , .
  
3 3 −2 0 2 1 0 3 3
 
2
 −3 −2
4. Find the determinant −1 3 4  by expanding along the first row.
−7 −2 8
5. Now find the determinant of the previous exercise by expanding
(i) along the second row (ii) along the third row (iii) down the third column

2
Answers:
     
0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
1. (i) E =  0 1 0  (ii) E =  0 1 0  (iii) E =  0 1 0 
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1
 1       
0 0 1 1 0 1 −1
2. E1 = 4 , E2 = , E3 = , E4 = .
0 1 1 0 −1 1 0 1
3. 1 , 1 , −1 , 2 , −2 , 3
 
 2 −3 −2      
 + 3 −1 4 − 2 −1 3  = 64 + 60 − 46 = 78
   3 4    
4. −1 3 4  = 2 
−7 −2 8  −2 8   −7 8   −7 −2
 
 2 −3 −2      
 −3 −2
 + 3  2 −2 − 4  2 −3 = −28 + 6 + 100 = 78
    
5. (i) −1 3 4  = 
−2 8   −7 8   −7 −2
 −7 −2 8 
 
 2 −3 −2      
  −3 −2  2 −2  2 −3
(ii) −1 3
 4  = −7 
   + 2   + 8   = 42 + 12 + 24 = 78
−7 −2 8  3 4 −1 4  −1 3 
 
 2 −3 −2      
  −1 3   2 −3  2 −3
(iii) −1 3
 4  = −2 
   − 4   + 8   = −46 + 100 + 24 = 78
−7 −2 8  −7 −2 −7 −2 −1 3 

Copyright © Some of these tutorial exercises have been adapted from A First Course in Linear Algebra by David Easdown
and from Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction, 4th Edition by David Poole.