Linear Algebra Homework 1

Topics: Vector, Matrix and Linear Equations

1. For    
    3 6
−1 4
u= , v= , w =  −1  , x =  −2 
2 6
−5 3
evaluate the following:
(a) u · u  
−1
SOL: Since u = , u · u = (−1)2 + 22 = 5.
2
(b) u · v  
4
SOL: Since v = , u · v = 4(-1) + 6(2) = 8.
6
(c) w · w  
3
SOL: Since w = −1, w · w = 32 + (−1)2 + (−5)2 = 35.
−5
(d) w · x 
6
SOL: Since x = −2, w · x = 3(6) + (-1)(-2) + (-5)3 = 5.
3
1
(e) w·w w  
3/35
SOL: −1/35
−1/7
(f) kwk √
SOL: 35
(g) kxk
SOL: 7

2. Find a unit vector in the direction of the given vector

 
30
(a)
−40    
1 30 3/5
SOL: √ w =
(−30)2 +402 −40 −4/5
  
−6
(b)  4 
−3
   √ 
−6 −6/√ 61
1
SOL: √ w  4  =  4/ √61 
(−6)2 +42 +(−3)2
−3 −3/ 61

   
10 −1
3. Find the distance between and
−3 −5
√ √
   
10 −1 2
SOL: Since x = and y = , kx − yk = [10 − (−1)]2 + [−3 − (−5)2 ] = 125 and dist(x,y) = 125 = 5 5.
−3 −5

4. State True or False for the following:

   
8 −2
(a) and are orthogonal
−5 −3
SOL: Since a · b = 8(-2) + (-5)(-3) = -1 6= 0, a and b are not orthogonal.

   
12 2
(b)  3  and −3 are orthogonal
−5 3
SOL: Since a · b = 12(2) + (3)(-3) + (-5)3 = 0, a and b are orthogonal.

5. Find the cosine similarity of (2, 2, −1) and (0, 4, 3)

SOL: TO BE GRADED:1/3
6. State the number of rows and columns of matrix
 
1 2 3
4 5 6

SOL: rows: 2, columns: 3

7. Solve the system.

x1 − 3x2 =5
−x1 + x2 + 5x3 = 2
x2 + x3 = 0
 SOL: Replace R2 by R2+R1. Then interchange R2 and R3. Next replace R3 by R3+2R2. Then divide R3 by
7. Next replace R2 by R2+(-1)R3. Finally, replace R1 by R1+3R2.
         
1 −3 0 5 1 −3 0 5 1 −3 0 5 1 −3 0 5 1 −3 0 5
 −1 1 5 2  ∼  0 −2 5 7  ∼  0 1 1 0 ∼ 0 1 1 0 ∼ 0 1 1 0 
0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 −2 5 7 0 0 7 7 0 0 1 1
   
1 −3 0 5 1 0 0 2
∼ 0 1 0 −1  ∼  0 1 0 −1 
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
The solution is (2, -1, 1).

8. Find an equation involving g, h and k that makes this augmented matrix correspond to a consistent system.
 
1 −4 7 g
 0 3 −5 h 
−2 5 −9 k

SOL: TO BE GRADED:
     
1 −4 7 g 1 −4 7 g 1 −4 7 g
 0 3 −5 h  ∼  0 3 −5 h ∼ 0 3 −5 h 
−2 5 −9 k 0 −3 5 k + 2g 0 0 0 k + 2g + h

Let b denote the number k + 2g + h. Then the third equation represented by the augmented matrix above is 0 = b.
This equation is possible if and only if b is zero. So the original system has a solution if and only if k + 2g + h = 0.

9. Find the elementary row operation that transforms the first matrix into the second, and then find the reverse row
operation that transforms the second matrix into the first.
   
0 −2 5 1 4 −7
(a) 1 4 −7 , 0 −2 5 
3 −1 6 3 −1 6
SOL: Swap R1 and R2. Swap R1 and R2.
   
1 2 −5 0 1 2 −5 0
(b) 0 1 −3 −2 , 0 1 −3 −2
0 −3 9 5 0 0 0 −1
SOL: Replace R3 by R3+(3)R2. Replace R3 by R3+(-3)R2.

10. Row reduce the matrices below to reduced echelon form. Circle the pivot positions in the final matrix and in the
original matrix, and list the pivot columns.
  
1 2 3 4
(a) 4 5 6 7
6 7 8 9
SOL: TO BE GRADED:
     
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 4 5 6 7 ∼ 0 −3 −6 −9 ∼ 0 1 2 3 
6 7 8 9 0 −5 −10 −15 0 −5 −10 −15
   
1 2 3 4 1 0 −1 −2
∼ 0 1 2 3 ∼ 0 1 2 3 
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
1 2 3 4
Pivot cols 1 and 2. 4 5 6 7.
6 7 8 9

 
1 3 5 7
(b) 3 5 7 9
5 7 9 1

SOL:
       
1 3 5 7 1 3 5 7 1 3 5 7 1 3 5 7
 3 5 7 9 ∼ 0 −4 −8 −12  ∼  0 1 2 3 ∼ 0 1 2 3 
5 7 9 1 0 −8 −16 −34 0 −8 −16 −34 0 0 0 −10
     
1 3 5 7 1 3 5 7 1 0 −1 0
∼ 0 1 2 3 ∼ 0 1 2 0 ∼ 0 1 2 0 
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
 
1 3 5 7
Pivot cols 1, 2, and 4. 3 5 7 9.
5 7 9 1

11. Find the general solution of the system whose augmented matrix is given.
 
1 −7 0 6 5
0 0 1 −2 −3
−1 7 −4 2 7

SOL:
     
1 −7 0 6 5 1 −7 0 6 5 1 −7 0 6 5
 0 0 1 −2 −3  ∼  0 0 1 −2 −3  ∼  0 0 1 −2 −3 
−1 7 −4 2 7 0 0 −4 8 12 0 0 0 0 0

Corresponding system:
x1 − 7x2 + 6x4 = 5
 x3 − 2x4 = −3
0=0

Basic variables: x1 and x3 . Free variables: x2 and x4 .

General solution:
x1 = 5 + 7x2 − 6x4
x2 is f ree
x3 = −3 + 2x4
x4 is f ree

12. Compute Ax where    

4 −3 1 −3
A= 5 −2 5  , x =  −1 
−6 2 −3 2

SOL:  
−7
−3
10
13. Write the solution set of the given homogeneous system in parametric vector form.
x1 + 3x2 + x3 = 0
−4x1 − 9x2 + 2x3 = 0
−3x2 − 6x3 = 0

SOL:
       
1 3 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 0 −5 0 1 0 −5 0
 −4 −9 2 0 ∼ 0 3 6 0 ∼ 0 3 6 0 ∼ 0 1 2 0 
0 −3 −6 0 0 −3 −6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
x1 − 5x3 = 0
x2 + 2x3 = 0
0 =0

The variable x3 is free, x1 = 5x3 , and x2 = −2x3 .      

x1 5x3 5
In parametric vector form, the general solution is x = x2  = −2x3 = −2.
x3 x3 1
14. Determine if the vectors are linearly independent.
     
5 7 9
 0 , 2 , 4 
0 −6 −8

SOL: Use an augmented matrix to study the solution

 set of x1u + x2 v + x3 w = 0(*), where u, v, and w are the
5 7 9 0 5 7 9 0
three given vectors. Since 0 2 4 0 ∼ 0 2 4 0, there are no free variables. So the homogeneous
0 −6 −8 0 0 0 4 0
equation(*) has only the trivial solution. The vectors are linearly independent.

15. Find the value(s) of h for which the vectors are linearly dependent.
     
1 3 −1
 −1  ,  −5  ,  5 
4 7 h

 
SOL: To study the linear dependence of three vectors, say v1 , v2 , v3 , row reduce the augmented matrix v1 v2 v3 0 :
     
1 3 −1 0 1 3 −1 0 1 3 −1 0
 −1 −5 5 0  ∼  0 −2 4 0  ∼  0 -2 4 0 
0 −3 −6 0 0 −5 h + 4 0 0 0 h−6 0
The equation x1 v1 + x2 v2 + x3 v3 = 0 has a nontrivial solution if and only if h-6 = 0 (which corresponds to x3 being
a free variable). Thus, the vectors are linearly dependent if and only if h = 6.

16. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer on the basis of a careful reading of the text.
(a) The columns of a matrix A are linearly independent if the equation Ax = 0 has the trivial solution.
SOL: False. A homogeneous system always has the trivial solution. See the box before Example 2(Section
1.7).

(b) If S is a linearly dependent set, then each vector is a linear combination of the other vectors in S.
SOL: False. See the warning after Theorem 7.

(c) The columns of any 4 x 5 matrix are linearly dependent.

SOL: True. See Fig.3, after Theorem 8.

 
2 3 5
−5 1 −4
17. Given A =  −3 −1
, observe that the third column is the sum of the first two columns. Find a nontrivial
−4
1 0 1
solution of Ax = 0.
 SOL: Think of A = [a1 a2 a3 ]. The text points out that a3 = a1 + a2 . Rewrite this as a1 + a2 - a3 = 0. As a matrix
equation, Ax = 0 for x = (1, 1, -1).

18. Each statement is either true(in all cases) or false (for at least one example). If false, construct a specific example
to show that the statement is not always true. Such an example is called a counterexample to the statement. If a
statement is true, give a justification. (One specific example cannot explain why a statement is always true.)
(a) If v1 , ..., v4 are in R4 and v3 = 2v1 + v2 , then {v1 , v2 , v3 ,v4 } is linearly dependent.
SOL: True, by Theorem 7.

(b) If v1 , ..., v4 are in R4 and v3 = 0, then {v1 , v2 , v3 ,v4 } is linearly dependent.

SOL: True, by Theorem 9.

(c) If v1 , ..., v4 are in R4 and v3 is not a linear combination of v1 , v2 ,v4 , then {v1 , v2 , v3 ,v4 } is linearly indepen-
dent.
SOL: False. Counterexample: Take v1 , v2 and v4 all to be multiples of one vector. Take v3 to be no a multiple
of that vector. For example,
       
1 2 1 4
 1   2   0   4 
v1 =   1  , v2 =  2  , v3 =  0  , v4 =  4  .
      

1 2 0 4

     
2 0 2 2 1 a
19. Let A = , and define T : R → R by T (x) = Ax. Find the images under T of u = and v = .
0 2 3 b
SOL:          
2 0 1 2 2 0 a 2a
T (u) = A(u) = = , T (v) = = .
0 2 3 6 0 2 b 2b

20. Show that the transformation T defined by T (x1 , x2 ) = (2x1 -3x2 , x1 +4, 5x2 ) is not linear.
SOL: One possibility is to show that T does not map the zero vector into zero vector, something that every linear
transformation does do. T (0, 0) = (0, 4, 0)

21. T : R2 → R2 rotates points (about the origin)  through 3π/2

 radians(counterclock wise).
0 1
SOL: T (e1 ) = -e2 , T (e2 ) = e1 . A = [-e2 e1 ] =
−1 0

22. T : R2 → R2 first rotates points√ through

√ -3π/4 radian (clockwise) and then reflects points through the horizontal
x1 -axis. [Hint : T (e1 ) = (-1/ 2, 1/ 2).]
SOL: Follow what happens to e1 and e2 . Since e1 is on the unit circle in the plane, it rotates through -3π/4 radians
into a point on the unit circle that lies in the third quadrant and on the line x2 = x1 (that √ is, y = x in more familiar
notation).√The point
√ (-1, -1) is on the line x2 = x 1 , but its distance from the
√ origin
√ is 2. So the rotational image of
e1 is (-1/ 2, 1/ 2). Then this image reflects in the horizontal axis to (-1/ 2, 1/ 2).
Similarly,
√ √e2 rotates into a point on the unit circle that lies in the fourth √ quadrant
√ and on the line x2 = x1 , namely,
(1/ 2, -1/ 2). Then this image reflects in the horizontal axis to (1/ 2, -1/ 2).
When the two calculations described above are written in vertical vector notation, the transformation’s standard ma-
trix [T(e1 ) T √
(e2 )]is easily
 seen: √   √   √   √ √ 
−1/√2 −1/√2 1/√2 1/√2 −1/√2 1/√2
e1 → → , e2 → → ,A=
−1/ 2 1/ 2 −1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2