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University of Zimbabwe: Time: 2 Hours

This document is a question paper for a Linear Mathematics 1 exam at the University of Zimbabwe. It contains 8 questions testing concepts in linear algebra including: - Finding roots of polynomials and writing polynomials as products of irreducible quadratic functions - Finding matrices that satisfy certain properties like nonsingularity and being solutions to matrix equations - Testing matrices for invertibility and computing determinants - Solving systems of linear equations using methods like determinants and Gauss elimination.

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Tinotenda Fred
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181 views3 pages

University of Zimbabwe: Time: 2 Hours

This document is a question paper for a Linear Mathematics 1 exam at the University of Zimbabwe. It contains 8 questions testing concepts in linear algebra including: - Finding roots of polynomials and writing polynomials as products of irreducible quadratic functions - Finding matrices that satisfy certain properties like nonsingularity and being solutions to matrix equations - Testing matrices for invertibility and computing determinants - Solving systems of linear equations using methods like determinants and Gauss elimination.

Uploaded by

Tinotenda Fred
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE HMTH102

BSc Honours in Mathematics Level 1

LINEAR MATHEMATICS 1

Nov/Dec 2019
Time : 2 hours

Candidates may attempt ALL questions in Section A and at most TWO questions in Section
B. Each question should start on a fresh page.

SECTION A (40 marks)


Candidates may attempt ALL questions being careful to number them A1 to A4.

A1. Let f (z) = z 5 − 11z 3 − 26z 2 + 48z + 144. Given that z = −2 + 2i and z = −2 are roots
of f (z). Find all the other roots of f (z) and write f (z) as a product of irreducible real
quadratic functions. [6]

A2. Find a nonsingular 2 × 2 matrix A such that A3 = A2 B − 3A2 , where


[ ]
4 1
B= .
2 6

Verify that the matrix A you obtained is actually a nonsingular matrix. [6]

A3. (a) Given any constants a, b, c, where a ̸= 0, find all the values of x such that the
matrix A is invertible if  
1 0 c
A=  0 a −b  .
− a1 x x2
[8]
 
8 1 6

(b) Let A = 3 5 7 . Notice that A contains every integer from 1 to 9 and that
4 9 2
the sums of each row, column, and diagonal are equal. Such a grid is sometimes
called a magic square. Compute the determinant of A.
[6]

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HMTH102

A4. (a) Determine whether or not the following functions are linearly independent on
(−1, 1)
f1 (x) = ex , f2 (x) = e2x , f3 (x) = e3x .
[4]
   
[ ] 2 1 −2 3 3 −1 0 5
1 −1 2
(b) Let U = , V = −2 2 1 −3 and W = 1 −4 7 3.
2 0 −2
−1 0 −1 0 0 −2 1 2
(i) Calculate V − W , and then calculate U (V − W ). [2,2]
(ii) Calculate U V and U W . Is U (V − W ) = U V − U W ? [2,2,2]

SECTION B (60 marks)


Candidates may attempt TWO questions being careful to number them B5 to B8.

B5. (a) A square matrix A is called idempotent if A2 = A.


(i) Suppose A is an n × n idempotent matrix and let I be the n × n identity
matrix. Prove that the matrix I − A is an idempotent matrix. [5]
(ii) Assume that A is an n×n nonzero idempotent matrix. Determine all integers
k such that the matrix I − kA is idempotent. [6]
(iii) Let A and B be n × n matrices satisfying AB = A and BA = B. Prove that
A is an idempotent matrix. [5]
(b) Determine the values of a real number a such that the matrix
 
3 0 a
A = 2 3 0 ,
0 18a a + 1

is nonsingular. [6]
(c) Suppose the following matrix A is the augmented matrix for a system of linear
equations.  
1 2 3 4
A =  2 −1 −2 a2 
−1 −7 −11 a
where a is a real number. Determine all the values of a so that the corresponding
system is consistent. [8]

B6. (a) (i) Solve


z 2 = (x + iy)2 = 15 + 8i
for z ∈ C by computing x and y which are assumed to be integers. Hence
write down the squre roots of 15 + 8i. [6]

page 2 of 3
HMTH102

(ii) Hence or otherwise solve, in x + iy form


z 2 − (2 + 3i)z − 5 + i = 0.
[8]
(b) (i) Suppose that A and B are invertible n × n matrices. Prove that
(AB)−1 = B −1 A−1 .
[6]
t −1 −1 t
(ii) If A is an n × n invertible matrix. Prove that (A ) = (A ) . [5]
(iii) Let A and B be n × n matrices, where n is an integer greater than 1. Is it
true that
det(A + B) = det(A) + det(B)?
If so, then give a proof. If not, then give a counterexample. [5]

B7. (a) Use determinants to solve the system


3y + 2x = z + 1
3x + 2z = 8 − 5y
3z − 1 = x − 2y.
[15]
(b) Solve the following system of linear equations using Gauss elimination.
x + 2y + 3z = 4
5x + 6y + 7z = 8
9x + 10y + 11z = 12.
[15]

B8. (a) For what values of c does the following system of linear equations have no solution,
a unique solution, infinitely many solutions.
x + 2y − 3z = 4
3x − y + 5z = 2
4x + y + (c − 14)z = c + 2.
2

Show that in case of infinitely many solutions, the solution may be written as
( 78 − α, 10
7
+ 2α, α) for any real α. [15]
(b) Determine conditions on the scalars a, b, so that the following set S of vectors is
linearly dependent.
S = {v1 , v2 , v3 },
where      
1 1 0

v1 = 3 , 
v2 = a  , 
v3 = 2 .
1 4 b
[15]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

page 3 of 3

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