1.

Short Answer Problems

[1] (a) State the definition of the rank of a matrix A.

Soln: The number of leading ones in the RREF of the matrix.

[1] (b) State the definition of a basis B of a subspace S of Rn .

Soln: A linearly independent spanning set.

[2] (c) Find a scalar equation for the plane in R3 with vector equation

m
er as
     
1 3 1
~x = s −1 + t 2 +  1  , s, t ∈ R

co
eH w
2 5 −1

o.
rs e 1
    
3 −9

ou urc
Soln: A normal vector for the plane is ~n = −1 × 2 = 1 .
    
2 5 5
 
1
o

Observe that the plane passes through ~b =  1 .

aC s

−1
vi y re

Thus, a scalar equation for the plane is

−9x1 + x2 + 5x3 = ~n · ~b = −13
ed d
ar stu

1
[2] (d) Let ~x ∈ Rn with ~x 6= ~0. Prove that ~x is a unit vector.
k~xk
sh is

Soln: We have
Th

 
1  1 
k~xk ~x =  k~xk  k~xk = 1
 

1
since > 0 as ~x 6= ~0.
k~xk

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 2

2. Consider the following system of linear equations:

x3 + 2x4 = 3
2x1 + 4x2 − 2x3 = 4
2x1 + 4x2 − x3 + 2x4 = 7

[1] (a) Write the augmented matrix of the system.

 
0 0 1 2 3
Soln:  2 4 −2 0 4 
2 4 −1 2 7

[3] (b) Row reduce the augmented matrix to reduced row echelon form and state the rank of

m
the augmented matrix.

er as
co
Soln:

eH w
o.
   
0 0 1 2 3 0 0 1 2 3 R1 ↔ R3
rs e
 2 4 −2 0 4  R2 − R3 ∼  0 0 −1 −2 −3  ∼
ou urc
2 4 −1 2 7 2 4 −1 2 7
    1
2 4 −1 2 7 R1 − R2 2 4 0 4 10 R
2 1
 0 0 −1 −2 −3  ∼  0 0 −1 −2 −3  −R2 ∼
o

0 0 1 2 3 R3 + R2 0 0 0 0 0
aC s
vi y re

 
1 2 0 2 5
 0 0 1 2 3 
0 0 0 0 0
ed d

Thus, the rank of the augmented matrix is 2.

ar stu

[2] (c) Determine the solution set for the system. If the solution is not empty, express the solution
set as a vector equation.
sh is

Soln: We can rewrite the RREF as

Th

x1 + 2x2 + 2x4 = 5
x3 + 2x4 = 3
Thus, every ~x in the solution set satisfies
         
x1 5 − 2x2 − 2x4 5 −2 −2
x2   x 0 1
2 0
      
~x = 
x3  =  3 − 2x4  = 3 + x2  0  + x4 −2 ,
       x2 , x4 ∈ R
x4 x4 0 0 1

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 3
  
2 2
[3] 3. Let ~u = 3 and w
  ~ = 2. Calculate projw~ (~u) and perpw~ (~u).

−2 1

Soln: We have
 
2
~u · w
~ 8 
projw~ (~u) = w
~= 2
~ 2
kwk 9 1
     
2 16/9 2/9
perpw~ (~u) = ~u − projw~ (~u) =  3  − 16/9 =  11/9 
−2 8/9 −26/9

m
er as
     
1  2 1 

co
[3] 4. Find the projection of ~v = 1 onto the plane S = Span 1 , 0 .

eH w
    
1 3 3
 

o.
rs e      
2 1 3
ou urc
Soln: A normal vector for the plane is ~n = 1 × 0 = −3.
3 3 −1

Thus,
o

     
1 3 22/19
aC s

~v · ~n −1   
projP (~v ) = perp~n (~v ) = ~x − ~n = 1 − −3 = 16/19
vi y re

k~nk 2 19
1 −1 18/19
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

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 4
  

 x1 

x
 
2
4

5. Let S be the subspace of R defined by S =   | x1 , x2 , x4 ∈ R .
 x1 − x2 + x4  
 
 x4 
     

 −1 0 −1 
     
2 , , 2  .
1

Let B =   0  1 −1

 
 3 2 2 

[3] (a) Prove that Span B = S.

Soln: Consider
         
x1 −1 0 −1 −c1 − c3
 x2  = c1  2  + c2 1 + c3  2  =  2c1 + c2 + 2c3 
        

m

x1 − x2 + x4  0 1 −1  c2 − c3

er as

x4 3 2 2 3c1 + 2c2 + 2c3

co
eH w
Row reducing the corresponding system of linear equations gives:

o.
   
−1 0 −1 x1 −1 0 −1 x1 −R1
 2 1 2
rs e
x2  R2 + 2R1 ∼  0 1
 0 x2 + 2x1 
∼
ou urc
 
 0 1 −1 x1 − x2 + x4   0 1 −1 x1 − x2 + x4  R3 − R2
3 2 2 x4 R4 + 3R1 0 2 −1 x4 + 3x1 R4 − 2R2
   
1 0 1 −x1 R1 + R3 1 0 0 −2x1 − 2x2 + x4
o

 0 1 0 x 2 + 2x 1 
  0 1 0 x2 + 2x1 
aC s


 0 0 −1 −x1 − 2x2 + x4  ∼ 0 0 −1 −x1 − 2x2 + x4

vi y re


0 0 −1 x4 − x1 − 2x2 R4 − R3 0 0 0 0
Thus, the system is consistent for all x1 , x2 , x4 ∈ R. Thus, Span B = S.
ed d
ar stu

[2] (b) Prove that B is linearly independent.

Soln: Consider
sh is

         
0 −1 0 −1 −c1 − c3
0
  = c1  2  + c2 1 + c3  2  =  2c1 + c2 + 2c3 
Th

       
0 0 1 −1  c2 − c3 
0 3 2 2 3c1 + 2c2 + 2c3
Our work in (a) shows us that we get unique solution c1 = c2 = c3 = 0. Hence, B is linearly
independent.

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 5

[3] 6. Find a basis for the plane P in R3 with scalar equation 3x1 − 2x2 − x3 = 0.
 
x1
Soln: Let ~x = x2  be any vector in P . Then we have

x3
     
x1 1 0
~x =  x2  = x1 0 + x2 1 
  
3x1 − 2x2 3 −2
    
 1 0 
Thus, B = 0 ,  1  spans the plane.
 3 −2 

B is also clearly linearly independent. Therefore, B is a basis for the plane P .

m
er as
co
eH w
[3] 7. Let S and T both be subspaces of Rn . Prove that S ∩ T is also a subspace of Rn .

o.
Soln: By definition S ∩ T ⊆ S which is a subset of Rn , so S ∩ T is a subset of Rn .
rs e
Since S and T are both subspaces, we have ~0 ∈ S and ~0 ∈ T . Thus, ~0 ∈ S ∩ T .
ou urc
Let ~x, ~y ∈ S ∩ T . Then, ~x, ~y ∈ S and ~x, ~y ∈ T .
Therefore, ~x + ~y ∈ S and ~x + ~y ∈ T since S and T are both closed under addition. Hence,
o

~x + ~y ∈ S ∩ T .
aC s
vi y re

Similarly, for any c ∈ R we have c~x ∈ S and c~x ∈ T , thus c~x ∈ S ∩ T .

So, by the Subspace Test, we have that S ∩ T is a subspace of Rn .
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

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 6

8. Prove or disprove each of the following statements.

[1] (a) A system of 3 linear equations in 4 variables has infinitely many solutions.

Soln: The statement is false. The system could be inconsistent.

[1] (b) Let ~u, ~v ∈ Rn . If ~u and ~v are orthogonal, then {~u, ~v } is linearly independent.
Soln: The statement is false. If ~u is the zero vector, then ~u and ~v are orthogonal by theorem,
and {~u, ~v } would be linearly dependent by theorem since it contains the zero vector.

m
[1] (c) If {~v1 , ~v2 , ~v3 } is linearly independent in Rn , then {~v1 , ~v2 } is also linearly independent.

er as
co
Soln: Assume for a contradiction that {~v1 , ~v2 } is linearly dependent. Then, by definition, there

eH w
exists c1 , c2 not both zero such that

o.
~0 = c1~v1 + c2~v2 = c1~v1 + c2~v2 + 0~v3
rs e
But, this equation having a non-trivial solution contradicts the fact that {~v1 , ~v2 , ~v3 } is linearly
ou urc
independent. Hence, {~v1 , ~v2 } is also linearly independent.
o
aC s

~ ~b ∈ R3 . If d~ 6= ~0 and ~b 6= ~0, then the set S with vector equation

[1] (d) Let d,
vi y re

~x = td~ + ~b, t ∈ R is not a subspace of R3 .

Soln: The statement is false. If d~ = ~b, then every vector in the set has the form
ed d

~x = td~ + d~ = (t + 1)d,
~ t∈R
ar stu

~ and so is a subspace by theorem.

Therefore, S = Span{d}
sh is
Th

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 7

[3] 9. Suppose that {~u, ~v } is a basis for a plane P in R3 such that ~u and ~v are orthogonal,
and let ~n = ~u × ~v . Prove that for every ~x ∈ R3 ,
~x · ~u ~x · ~v
perp~n (~x) = 2
~u + ~v
k~uk k~v k2

Soln: We have that ~n is a normal vector to P . Also, we know that perp~u×~v (~x) is a vector
that is orthogonal to ~n and hence is a vector in the plane by Theorem 1.4.6. Thus, there exists
s, t ∈ R such that
(1) perp~n (~x) = s~u + t~v
Taking the dot product of both sides of (1) with respect to ~u gives
 
~x · ~n
~u · ~x − ~n = ~u · (s~u + t~v )
k~nk2

m
~x · ~n

er as
~u · ~x − (~u · ~n) = s~u · ~u + t~u · ~v
k~nk2

co
eH w
~u · ~x − 0 = sk~uk2 + 0
~u · ~x

o.
=s
rs e k~uk2
ou urc
Similarly, taking the dot product of both sides of (1) with respect to ~v gives
~x · ~v
t=
k~v k2
o

as required.
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

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 8

[2] 10. Prove the part of Theorem 2.2.7 which says that if {~v1 , . . . , ~vn } spans Rn ,
then {~v1 , . . . , ~vn } is linearly independent.
Soln: Consider the homogeneous system
(2) ~0 = c1~v1 + · · · + cn~vn
 
Observe that the coefficient matrix of the system is A = ~v1 · · · ~vn and has n rows and n
columns.
Since, {~v1 , . . . , ~vn } spans Rn , we know that the system
c1~v1 + · · · + cn~vn = ~b
is consistent for all ~b ∈ Rn . Hence, by the System-Rank Theorem (3), we get that rank A = n.
Therefore, equation (2) has a unique solution by the System-Rank Theorem (2). Thus, {~v1 , . . . , ~vn }
is linearly independent.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

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 9

[2] 11. Let S = Span{~v1 , ~v2 } be a plane in R4 and define a subspace S ⊥ of R4 by

S ⊥ = {~x ∈ R4 | ~x · ~v1 = 0 and ~x · ~v2 = 0}
Prove that there exists vectors ~v3 , ~v4 ∈ R4 such that {~v3 , ~v4 } is a basis for S ⊥ .
 
x1
x2  ⊥
Soln: By definition, every vector ~x =  x3  in S satisfies ~x · ~v1 = 0 and ~x · ~v2 = 0. These

x4
gives us a homogenous system of 2 linear equations in 4 unknowns
v11 x1 + v12 x2 + v13 x3 + v14 x4 = 0
v21 x1 + v22 x2 + v23 x3 + v24 x4 = 0
The corresponding coefficient matrix is

m
 
v v v v

er as
A = 11 12 13 14
v21 v22 v23 v24

co
eH w
Observe that rank A > 0 since ~v1 6= ~0.

o.
If rank A = 1, then we must have v11 = tv21 , v12 = tv22 , v13 = tv23 ,v14 = tv24 for some t ∈ R.
rs e
This would gives us that ~v1 = t~v2 which contradicts the fact that S is a plane.
ou urc
Hence, we have that rank A = 2. Then, by the Solution Theorem, we get that the solution
space of the system has the form
~x = t1~v3 + t2~v4 + d~
o

where {~v3 , ~v4 } is linearly independent.

aC s
vi y re

Since the system is homogeneous, the solution space includes ~0, and so we can take d~ = ~0.
Therefore, {~v3 , ~v4 } spans S ⊥ and is linearly independent, so it is a basis for S ⊥ .
ed d
ar stu
sh is
Th

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