MTH 435 Solutions for Homework 4

4.1. Show that the mapping f : V W is linear if and only if it satisfies conditions (2) and (3).

Solution: Let f : V W be linear and let x, y V and a R. Then

f (ax) = f (ax + 0x) = af (x) + 0f (x) = af (x)

and
f (x + y) = f (1x + 1y) = 1f (x) + 1f (y) = f (x) + f (y)
so f satisfies (2) and (3).
Now assume that f satisfies conditions (2) and (3). Let x, y V and let a, b R.

f (ax + by) = f (ax) + f (by) (by (3)) = af (x) + bf (y) (by (2))

So f is linear.

4.2.b. Determine whether f (x, y, z) = (xy, yz) is linear.

Solution: We will check to see whether f (2(1, 1, 1)) = 2f (1, 1, 1).

f (2(1, 1, 1)) = f (2, 2, 2) = (4, 4)

and
2f (1, 1, 1) = 2(1, 1) = (2, 2)
so f (2(1, 1, 1)) = 2f (1, 1, 1) and f is not linear. You can also show that f violates Condition (3) or the
definition of a linear function.

4.2.c. Determine whether f (x, y, z) = (x + y, y + z) is linear.

Solution: We will check the definition of a linear function. Let (a, b, c), (x, y, z) R3 and let p, q R.

f (p(a, b, c) + q(x, y, z)) = f (pa + qx, pb + qy, pc + qz)

= (pa + qx + pb + qy, pb + qy + pc + qz)
= p(a + b, b + c) + q(x + y, y + z)
= pf (a, b, c) + qf (x, y, z)

Therefore f is linear.

4.4. Show directly from the definition of linearity that the composition g f is linear if both f and g are
linear.

Solution: Let f and g be linear functions. Let x, y dom g f and a, b R.

(g f )(ax + by) = g(f (ax + by)) = g(af (x) + bf (y)) = ag(f (x)) + bg(f (y)) = a(g f )(x) + b(g f )(y)

Therefore g f is linear.
4.11. Show that (A + B)C = AC + BC by a proof similar to that of part (b) of Theorem 4.3.

Solution: Let A and B be m n matrices and let C be an n p matrix. Let f : Rn Rm , g : Rn Rm , and

h : Rp Rn such that Mf = A, Mg = B and Mh = C. This just means that the functions f , g, and h are
defined by f (x) = Ax, g(x) = Bx, and h(x) = Cx. Then (f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x) = Ax + Bx = (A + B)x
so Mf +g = A + B. In fact, this shows that for any two linear functions, and , M+ = M + M . We
therefore have the following, using Theorem 4.2 from the book, and the fact that (f + g) h = (f h) + (g h).

(A + B)C = Mf +g Mh
= M(f +g)h
= M(f h)+(gh)
= Mf h + Mgh
= Mf Mh + Mg Mh
= AC + BC