2.1.

Vectors and Linear Equations 41

6 Move the third plane in Problem 5 to a parallel plane 2x + 3y + 2z = 9. Now the
three equations have no solution-why not? The first two planes meet along the line
L, but the third plane doesn't that line.
7 In Problem 5 the columns are (1, 1,2) and (1,2,3) and (1, 1,2). This is a "singular
case" because the third column is . Find two combinations of the columns that
give b = (2,3,5). This is only possible for b = (4,6, c) if c = __
8 Normally 4 "planes" in 4-dimensional space meet at a Normally 4 col-
umn vectors in 4-dimensional space can combine to produce b. What combination
of (1,0,0,0), (1,1,0,0), (1,1,1, 0), (1,1,1,1) produces b = (3,3,3, 2)? What 4
equations for x, y, z, t are you solving?
Problems 9-14 are about multiplying matrices and vectors.
9 Compute each Ax by dot products of the rows with the column vector:
[ - ~
2
nm
2 1 0 0 1
1 2 1 0 1
(a) 3 (b)
0 1 2 1 1
-4 1
0 0 1 2 2
10 Compute each Ax in Problem 9 as a combination of the columns:
How many separate multiplications for Ax, when the matrix is "3 by 3"?
11 Find the two components of Ax by rows or by columns:
12 Multiply A times x to find three components of Ax :
[
~ 1 001 00
1
] [;z] [2 1 3] [ 1] [2 1]
and ~ ; _: and ~ ; [:l
13 (a) A matrix with m rows and n columns multiplies a vector with compo-
nents to produce a vector with components.
(b) The planes from the m equations Ax = b are in -dimensional space.
The combination of the columns of A is in -dimensional space.
52 Chapter 2. Solving Linear Equations
3 What multiple of equation 1 should be subtracted from equation 2?
2x -4y = 6
-x + Sy = O.
After this elimination step, solve the triangular system. If the right side changes to
(-6,0), what is the new solution?
4 What multiple .e of equation 1 should be subtracted from equation 2 to remove e?
ax +by = f
ex + dy = g.
The first pivot is a (assumed nonzero). Elimination produces what formula for the
second pivot? What is y? The second pivot is missing when ad = be: singular.
5 Choose a right side which gives no solution and another right side which gives in-
finitely many solutions. What are two of those solutions?
Singular system
3x + 2y = 10
6x + 4y =
6 Choose a coefficient b that makes this system singular. Then choose a right side g
that makes it solvable. Find two solutions in that singular case.
2x + by = 16
4x + 8y = g.
7 For which numbers a does elimination break down (1) permanently (2) temporarily?
ax + 3y =-3
4x + 6y = 6.
Solve for x and y after fixing the temporary breakdown by a row exchange.
S For which three numbers k does elimination break down? Which is fixed by a row
exchange? In each case, is the number of solutions 0 or 1 or oo?
"
kx + 3y = 6
3x +ky = -6.
9 What test on bi and b
2
decides whether these two equations allow a solution? How
many solutions will they have? Draw the column picture for b = (1,2) and (1,0).
3x - 2y = b
i
6x - 4y = b
2

10 In the xy plane, draw the lines x + y = 5 and x + 2y = 6 and the equation
y = that comes from elimination. The line Sx - 4y = e will go through the
solution of these equations if c = __
2.2. The Idea of Elimination 53
Problems 11-20 study elimination on 3 by 3 systems (and possible failure).
11 (Recommended) A system of linear equations can't have exactly two solutions. Why?
(a) If (x, y, z) and (X, Y, Z) are two solutions, what is another solution?
(b) If 25 planes meet at two points, where else do they meet?
12 Reduce this system to upper triangular form by two row operations:
2x + 3y + z = 8
4x + 7y + 5z = 20
-2y +2z = O.
Circle the pivots. Solve by back substitution for z, y, x.
13 Apply elimination (circle the pivots) and back substitution to solve
2x-3y = 3
4x -5y + z = 7
2x - y - 3z = 5.
List the three row operations: Subtract __ times row __ from row __
d
14 Which number d forces a row exchange, and what is the triangular system (not sin-
gular) for that d? Which d makes this system singular (no third pivot)?
2x + 5y + z = 0
4x + dy + z = 2
y -z = 3.
15 Which number b leads later to a row exchange? Which b leads to a missing pivot?
In that singular case find a nonzero solution x, y, z.
x +by = 0
x -2y -z = 0
y + z = O.
16 (a) Construct a 3 by 3 system that needs two row exchanges to reach a triangular
form and a solution.
(b) Construct a 3 by 3 system that needs a row exchange to keep going, but breaks
down later.
17 If rows 1 and 2 are the same, how far can you get with elimination (allowing row
exchange)? If columns 1 and 2 are the same, which pivot is missing?
Equal 2x - y + z = 0
rows 2x - y + z = 0
4x + y + z = 2
2x + 2y + z = 0
4x + 4y + z = 0
6x + 6y + z = 2.
Equal
columns
54 Chapter 2. Solving Linear Equations
18 Construct a 3 by 3 example that has 9 different coefficients on the left side, but
rows 2 and 3 become zero in elimination. How many solutions to your system with
b = (1, 10, 100) and how many with b = (0,0, O)?
19 Which number q makes this system singular and which right side t gives it infinitely
many solutions? Find the solution that has z = 1.
x + 4y - 2z = 1
x + 7y -6z = 6
3y + qz = t.
20 Three planes can fail to have an intersection point, even if no planes are parallel. The
system is singular if row 3 of A is a of the first two rows. Find a third equation
that can't be solved together with x + y + z = 0 and x - 2y - z = 1.
21 Find the pivots and the solution for both systems (Ax = band Kx = b):
2x+
Y
=0 2x- y
=0
x+2y+ z =0 -x +2y- z
=0
y +2z + t=O y +2z- t =0
z +2t = 5
-
z + 2t = 5.
22 If you extend Problem 21 following the 1,2, 1 pattern or the -1,2, -1 pattern, what
is the fifth pivot? What is the nth pivot? K is my favorite matrix.
23 If elimination leads to x + y = 1 and 2y = 3, find three possible original problems.
24 For which two numbers a will elimination fail on A = [:;]?
25 For which three numbers a will elimination fail to give three pivots?
26
[
a 2 3]
A = a a 4 is singular for three values of a.
a a a
Look for a matrix that has row sums 4 and 8, and column sums 2 and s:
"
M
. [a b] .
atnx = c d
a+b=4 a+c=2
c+d=8 b+d=s
The four equations are solvable only if s = . Then find two different matrices
that have the correct row and column sums. Extra credit: Write down the 4 by 4
system Ax = b with x = (a, b, c, d) and make A triangular by elimination.
27 Elimination in the usual order gives what matrix U and what solution to this "lower
triangular" system? We are really solving by forward substitution:
3x = 3
6x +2y = 8
9x -2y + z = 9.
2.3. Elimination Using Matrices
Problem Set 2.3
Problems 1-15 are about elimination matrices.
1 Write down the 3 by 3 matrices that produce these elimination steps:
(a) E21 subtracts 5 times row 1 from row 2.
(b) E32 subtracts -7 times row 2 from row 3.
(c) P exchanges rows 1 and 2, then rows 2 and 3.
63
2 In Problem 1, applying E21 and then E32 to b = (1,0,0) gives E32E21b = __
Applying E32 before E21 gives E21 E
32
b . When E32 comes first,
row feels no effect from row __
3 Which three matrices E
21
, E
31
, E32 put A into triangular form U?
A=[!
-2
1
6
2
Multiply those E's to get one matrix M that does elimination: M A = U.
4 Include b = (1,0,0) as a fourth column in Problem 3 to produce [A b]. Carry out
the elimination steps on this augmented matrix to solve Ax = b.
5 Suppose a33 = 7 and the third pivot is 5. If you change a33 to 11, the third pivot is
__ . If you change a33 to , there is no third pivot.
6 If every column of A is a mUltiple of (1,1,1), then Ax is always a multiple of
(1,1,1). Do a 3 by 3 example. How many pivots are produced by elimination?
7 Suppose E subtracts 7 times row 1 from row 3.
(a) To invert that step you should __ 7 times row __ to row __
\
(b) What "inverse matrix" E-
1
takes that reverse step (so E-l E = I)?
(c) If the reverse step is applied first (and then E) show that E E -1 = I.
8 The determinant of M = ~ ~ ] is det M = ad - bc. Subtract l times row 1
from row 2 to produce a new M *. Show that det M * = det M for every .e. When
l = cia, the product of pivots equals the determinant: (a)(d - lb) equals ad - bc.
9 (a) E21 subtracts row 1 from row 2 and then P23 exchanges rows 2 and 3. What
matrix M = P23E21 does both steps at once?
(b) P
23
exchanges rows 2 and 3 and then E31 subtracts row 1 from row 3. What
matrix M = E31 P
23
does both steps at once? Explain why the M's are the
same but the E's are different.