T HE U NIVERSITY OF S YDNEY

P URE M ATHEMATICS

Linear Mathematics Intensive January Session 2024

Tutorial 1 — Solutions

  
3 0 4 5
1. a) Calculate the matrix product  1 1 2 −2.
−1 3 5 4
b) Hence find all solutions to the system of linear equations:

3x1 + 4x3 = 31
x1 + x2 + 2x3 = 11
−x1 + 3x2 + 5x3 = 9

Solution
    
3 0 4 5 31
a)  1 1 2 −2 = 11.
−1 3  5 4 9  x1   
3 0 4 31
b) Let A = −1 3 5 . Then we want to find x = x3 such that Ax = 11 .
1 1 2 x 2
  9
5
From part (a) x = −2 is a solution. The question, then, is whether or not this is the
4
only solution. One way to see that it is is to evaluate det A. We have det A 13 6= 0
= 
5
(check!). Hence A is invertible, and the system has the unique solution x = −2.
4
We could, of course, find the solution using Gaussian elimination:
     
3 0 4 31 1 1 2 11 1 1 2 11
R1 ↔R2 R2 :=R2 −3R1
 1 1 2 11 − −−−→  3 0 4 31 −− −−−−−→ 0 −3 −2 −2
−1 3 5 9 −1 3 5 9  −1 3 5 9
1 1 2 11 1 1 2 11
R3 :=R3 +R1 R2 :=R2 +R3
−−−−−−−→ 0 −3 −2 −2 −−−−−−−→ 0 1 5 18
  
0 4 7 20  0 4 7 20
1 1 2 11 1
R3 :=− R3
1 1 2 11
R3 :=R3 −4R2
−− −−−−−→0 1 5 18  −−−−−13 −−→ 0 1 5 18
0 0 −13 −52 0 0 1 4

Therefore x3 = 4, x2 = 18−5x
 3 = −2, x1 = 11−x2 −2x3 = 5. Using back substitution
5
the unique solution is −2 , as before.
4

2. Use set notation to describe all the vectors in R2 that correspond to the points on the line y = x
in two dimensional space.
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 1 — Solutions Page 2

n  There
Solution o aren
various
 different ways
o ton
write
 the set. o
The following
n  are some of them:
o
x 2 x 2 x x1 2
x ∈R ; y ∈R |x=y ; x |x∈R ; x2 ∈ R | x1 = x2 ;
n  o
t 11 | t ∈ R .

n x  o
3
3. Give a geometric interpretation of ∈R |x=y .
y
z
x
Solution Consider the vectors yz in the set as position vectors, and associate the head of each
position vector with a point (x, y, z) in three dimensional space. Then the set can be interpreted
as the plane with equation x = y. This is a vertical plane, through the line x = y in the
xy - plane.

n 
o
x
4. a) Explain why the set A = | x ∈ R is not a subspace of R2 .
x2
n    o
1 1
b) Explain why the set B = 0 +t 1 | t ∈ R is not a subspace of R3 .
0 0

Solution    
a) The set A is not closed under addition. For example, 11 ∈ A and 24 ∈ A, but
     
1 + 2 = 35 6∈ A.
1 4
 
0
b) 0 6∈ B.
0

n  o
x
5. Prove that the set S = y ∈ R2 | y = 4x is a subspace of R2 .
 
Solution S is clearly non-empty, since 00 satisfies the equation y = 4x and is therefore in S.
   
a
Now suppose that u = 4a and v = 4bb both belong to S.
   
a+b a+b
Then u + v = 4a+4b = 4(a+b) , and so u + v ∈ S, and S is closed under addition.
   
a ka
If k ∈ R, then ku = k 4a = 4(ka) , and so ku ∈ S, and S is closed under scalar
multiplication.

 1

6. Determine whether or not the vector −2 can be written as a linear combination of the vectors
      1
1 2 3
4 , 5 , 6 .
7 8 3

Solution The question asks whether or not we can find scalars a, b and c such that
       1 
1 2 3
a 4 + b 5 + c 6 = −2 .
7 8 3 1

This equation is the same as the following system of simultaneous equations:

a + 2b + 3c = 1
4a + 5b + 6c = −2
7a + 8b + 3c = 1.
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 1 — Solutions Page 3

We use Gaussian elimination to reduce the augmented matrix to row echelon form:
1 2 3 1 ! 1 2 3 1 ! 1 2 3 1 !
R2 :=R2 −4R1 R3 :=R3 −7R1
4 5 6 −2 −−−−−−−→ 0 −3 −6 −6 −−−−−−−→ 0 −3 −6 −6
7 8 3 1 7 8 3 1 0 −6 −18 −6
1 2 3 1 1 2 3 1
! !
R2 :=− 1 R2 R3 :=− 1 R3
−−−−−3−→ 0 1 2 2 −−−−−6−→ 0 1 2 2
0 −6 −18 −6 0 1 3 1
1 2 3 1 !
R :=R −R
−−3−−−3−−→
2
0 1 2 2
0 0 1 −1

By back-substitution, the solution is a = −4, b = 4 and c = −1, and hence we can write
 1       
1 2 3
−2 = −4 4 + 4 5 − 6 .
1 7 8 3

7. Each of the following matrices is the reduced row echelon form of an augmented matrix be-
longing to a system of linear equations in the variables xi , (i = 1, 2, 3 in part a), i = 1, 2, 3, 4
in part b)). (Both the systems represented here have infinitely many solutions – why?)
For each augmented matrix determine the number of parameters needed to solve the system
and express the solution of the system in parametric form.
1 0 4 0 1 2 0 0 6
! !
a) 0 1 −5 −1 b) 0 0 1 0 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 −1

Solution
a) The variable x3 is a parameter. Let x3 = t. Then x2 = −1 + 5t and x1 = −4t.
       
x1 −4t 0 −4
x2  = −1 + 5t = −1 + t  5  , t ∈ R.
x3 t 0 1

b) There is one parameter, namely x2 . Let x2 = t. Then x4 = −1, x3 = 5, x1 = 6 − 2t.

       
x1 6 − 2t 6 −2
 x2   t   0  1
x3   5  =  5  + t  0  , t ∈ R.
 =     

x4 −1 −1 0

n  x1  o
8. Recall that R3 = x2
x3
x1 , x 2 , x 3 ∈ R is a vector space. Give a geometric interpretation of
each of the following subsets of R3 and determine whether or not each subset is a vector space
(under the usual addition of vectors and multiplication by scalars).
Linear Mathematics Tutorial 1 — Solutions Page 4

n  x1  o
x1
a) A = x2 ∈ R3 2
= − x32 = x3
n  xx31  o
3
b) B = x2
x3
∈R x21 + x22 + x23 ≤1
Solution
a) Consider the vectors in A as position vectors in three dimensional space, and associate a
point (x, y, z) with the head of each of those position vectors. Then A can be interpreted
as the set of points on the line x2 = − y3 = z.
We claim that A is a vector space. To check this we have to verify that each of the vector
space axioms is satisfied.
a d
A1 Suppose that cb ∈ A and fe ∈ A. Then a2 = − 3b = c and d2 = − 3e = f , so
 a+d 
a+d b+e
2
= − 3
= c + f . Hence, b+e ∈ A. Hence, A is closed under addition.
c+f
A2 If u, v, x ∈ R3 then (u + v) + x = u + (v + x) so, in particular, this is true when
u, v, x ∈ A. Hence, addition is associative in A.
A3 If u, v ∈ R3 then u + v = v + u so, in particular, this is true when u, v ∈ A. Hence,
  in A.
addition is commutative
0
A4 The vector 0 ∈ A and
0
a   a   a
0 0
b
c
+ 0 = cb = 0 + cb
0 0
a a  
3 0
for all cb ∈ R ; in particular, this holds if cb ∈ A, so 0 is a zero vector in A.
a  −a  0

A5 If cb ∈ A, so that 2 = − 3 = c, then −b ∈ A since −a

a b
2
= − −b3
= −c. Also
−c
 a   −a     −a   a 
0
b
c
+ −b = 0 = −b + cb ,
−c 0 −c
 −a  a
so −b is a negative of cb .
−c a  a   ka 
S1 Suppose that cb ∈ A and k ∈ R. Then k cb = kb ∈ A since ka 2
= − kb3
= kc.
kc
S2 If u, v ∈ A and k ∈ R then k(u + v) = ku + kv since this is true for all points
in R3 .
S3 If u ∈ A and k, l ∈ R then (k + l)u = ku + lu since this is true in R3 .
S4 If u ∈ A and k, l ∈ R then (kl)u = k(lu) since this is true in R3 .
S5 If u ∈ A then (1)u = u since this is true in R3 .
Note: The equation x2 = − y3 = z is the Cartesian equation of the straight line in 3-
dimensional space through the origin and the point (2, −3, 1). (If you are n unsure
 of whyo
2
this so, see page 33 of the little blue book.) So the set A can also be written t −3 t ∈ R .
1
Hence, the verification
 2  of the
 2 vector space axioms
 2  could be carried out using the arbitrary
vectors u = t −3 , v = s −3 , v = r −3 .
1 1 1
b) By associating each vector in B with a point (x, y, z) in three dimensional space, the set B
can be interpreted as the unit ball of radius 1 and centre (0, 0, 0) (including the boundary
of the ball).
The set B is not ! a vector space because it is not closed under scalar multiplication. For
1
2
 
1
example, a = 12 ∈ A but 2a = 1 ∈ / A.
1 1
2
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 1 — Solutions Page 5

 1 −3 2 
9. Let A = 2 −5 6 .
−1 0 −8
a) Use Gaussian elimination (that is, reduce the augmented matrix to row
 x1   echelon form) to
0
find all solutions of the equation Ax = 0, where x = xx23 and 0 = 0 .
0
b) Hence show that some non–zero linear combination of the columns of A is equal to 0.
b1
 
c) Let b = b2 ∈ R3 and suppose that Ax = b is a consistent system. Using (a), show that
b3
the equation Ax = b has infinitely many solutions.
Solution
a) Using Gaussian elimination to reduce A to row echelon form we find
 1 −3 2   1 −3 2   1 −3 2 
R2 :=R2 −2R1 R :=R +R1
2 −5 6 −− −−−−−→ 0 1 2 −−3−−−3−−→ 0 1 2
−1 0 −8
−1 0 −8
0 1−3−3−62 
R3 :=R3 +3R2
−− −−−−−→ 0 1 2
0 0 0

Therefore, x3 is a free variable. Set x3 = t, where t is an arbitrary element of R. Then, by

back substitution, x2 = −2t and x1 = 3x2 − 2x3 = −6t − 2t = −8t. That is, the general
solution of the equation Ax = 0 is
 −8t   −8 
x = −2t = t −2 , where t ∈ R.
t 1
 −8 
b) Taking t = 1 in part (a), we see that x = −2 is a solution of Ax = 0. Therefore,
1
 1   −3   2   
0
−8 −1
2 − 2 −5 + −8 6 =0= 0 ,
0 0

is one linear combination of the columns of A which adds up to 0. In fact,

 1   −3   2 
−8t −1 2 − 2t −5 + t −8 6 = 0,
0

for any t ∈ R.
 is consistent, then there is at least one solution to Ax = b. So suppose that
c) If thesystem
x1
x = xx23 is a solution. Then, by part (a),
 x1 −8t   −8t 
A x2 −2t = Ax + A −2t = b + 0 = b,
x3 +t t
 x1 −8t 
for any t ∈ R. Hence, there are infinitely many solutions, all of the form x2 −2t .
x3 +t

10. Let V be the set of all ordered pairs of real numbers, and consider the following addition and
scalar multiplication operations on u = (u1 , u2 ) and v = (v1 , v2 ):

u + v = (u1 + v1 , u2 + v2 ), ku = (ku1 , 0)

a) Compute u + v and ku for u = (−1, 2), v = (3, 4) and k = 3.

b) Explain in words why V is closed under addition and scalar multiplication. (That is,
explain why the vector space axioms A1 and S1 hold for V .)
c) Note that addition on V is the standard addition operation on R2 . Hence, certain vector
space axioms hold for V because they are known to hold for R2 . Which axioms are they?
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 1 — Solutions Page 6

d) Show that the axioms S2, S3 and S4 hold.

e) Show that V is not a vector space under the given operations.

Solution
a) (−1, 2) + (3, 4) = (2, 6); 3(−1, 2) = (−3, 6).
b) Adding two ordered pairs of real numbers produces another ordered pair of real numbers,
so V is closed under addition. Multiplying an ordered pair of real numbers by a real
number (using the operation defined above) produces an ordered pair of real numbers, so
V is closed under scalar multiplication.
c) Axioms A2–5.
d) S2: If u = (u1 , u2 ), v = (v1 , v2 ) ∈ V and k ∈ R then k(u + v) = k(u1 + v1 , u2 + v2 ) =
(ku1 + kv1 , 0) = (ku1 , 0) + (kv1 , 0) = ku + kv.
S3 If u ∈ V and k, l ∈ R then (k + l)u = ((k + l)u1 , 0) = (ku1 , 0) + (lu1 , 0) = ku + lu.
S4 If u ∈ V and k, l ∈ R then (kl)u = ((kl)u1 , 0) = k(lu1 , 0) = k(lu).
e) 1u = (u1 , 0) 6= u. So axiom S5 does not hold, and hence V is not a vector space.

11. Let V be the set of positive

L realNnumbers. For any real number k, and any numbers u and v
in V , define operations and on V by:
L
u v = uv (vector addition)
k
N
k u=u (scalar multiplication)

Show that V , with these operations, is a vector space.

Solution We need to check each of the vector space axioms.
Suppose u, v and w are in V (that is, they are positive real numbers), and that k, k1 , k2 ∈ R.
L
A1 If u > 0 and v > 0 then uv > 0. That is, u v ∈ V .
L L L L L L
A2 (u v) w = (uv) w = (uv)w = u(vw) = u (vw) = u (v w).
L L
A3 u v = uv = vu = v u.
L L
A4 The number 1 is a zero vector: 1 u = u = u 1.
A5 For each u ∈ V , u1 ∈ V and u
L1 1
L
u
= u
u = 1.
S1 If u > 0 and k ∈ R then k u = uk > 0. That is, k u ∈ V .
N N

S2 k (u v) = k (uv) = (uv)k = uk · v k = (k u) (k v).

N L N N L N

S3 (k1 + k2 ) u = uk1 +k2 = uk1 · uk2 = (k1 u) (k2 u).

N N L N

S4 (k1 k2 ) u = uk1 k2 = (uk2 )k1 = (k2 u)k1 = k1 (k2 u).

N N N N

S5 1 u = u1 = u.
N

All the axioms are satisfied, and so V is a vector space.