Math 511 TA Solution Manual – Assignment 1

Spring 2024 Prof R. Kaufmann

Text: Strang’s Linear Algebra and It‘s Applications 4th e.d.

1.2 – The Geometry of Linear Equations

3. Describe the intersection of the three planes u + v + w + z = 6, u + w + z = 4, and
u + w = 2. What is the intersection if the fourth plane u = −1 is included? Find a fourth
equation that leaves no solutions.

Solution: Substituting the last equation into the second and solving for z says that any
point (u, v, w, z) in the intersection must have z = 2. Similarly, we can conclude that v = 2
by substituting the second equation into the first and solving for v. Therefore, the inter-
section is a subset of the plane {(u, 2, w, 2)|u, w ∈ R}. Now, we know u + w = 2 and any
quadruple (u, 2, 2 − u, 2) lies in all three planes, so we conclude that the intersection is a line.
This is parameterized as (0, 2, 2, 2) + u(1, 0, −1, 0). (Read column vectors.)
If we must also have u = −1, then the point (−1, 2, 3, 2) is the entire intersection.

If for instance the fourth equation is u + w = 1, the intersection would be empty, since
one can’t have u + w = 2 and u + w = 1 simultaneously.

8. Explain why the system

A:u+v+w =2
B : u + 2v + 3w = 1
C : v + 2w = 0

is singular by finding a combination of the three equations that adds up to 0 = 1. What

value should replace the last zero on the right side to allow the equations to have solutions
and what is one of the solutions?
Solution: The combination −1 · A + B + (−1) · C gives 0 = 1. Thus the system has no
solution so it’s singular. If we replace the last zero on the right side by -1, then the system
becomes:

A:u+v+w =2
B : u + 2v + 3w = 1
C ′ : v + 2w = −1.

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Then from C ′ we have v = −1 − 2w. Substituting this expression into A we get u − 1 −
2w + w = 2 thus u = 3 + w. Substituting this and the previous expressions into B we get
3 + w − 2(1 − 2w) + 3w = 1 thus w = 0. Therefore, u = 3 + 0 = 3, and v = −1 − 0 = −1.
One of the solutions of the system is u = 3, v = −1, w = 0.

1.3 – An Example of Gaussian Elimination

11. 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 row from row .

Solution: Step 1: Subtract twice of row 1 from row 2.

2x − 3y =3 2x − 3y =3
4x − 5y + z = 7 =⇒ y+z =1
2x − y − 3z = 5 2x−y − 3z = 5

Step 2: Subtract row 1 from row 3.

2x − 3y =3 2x − 3y =3
y + z = 1 =⇒ y+z =1
2x−y − 3z = 5 2y − 3z = 2

Step 3: Subtract twice of row 2 from row 3.

2x − 3y =3 2x − 3y =3
y + z = 1 =⇒ y+z =1
2y − 3z = 2 − 5z = 0

So the pivots are 2, 1, -5. By back-substitution, we find

2x − 3y =3
y+z =1
−5z =0
z = 0.

Therefore,
y=1
x=3
Thus the solution is x = 3, y = 1, z = 0.

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12. Which number d forces a row exchange, and what is the triangular system (not singular)
for that d? Which d makes this system singular (no third pivot)?

2x + 5y + z = 0
4x + dy + z = 2 (1)
y−z =3
d = 10 forces a row exchange

2x + 5y + z = 0 2x + 5y + z = 0 2x + 5y + z = 0
4x + 10y + z = 2 =⇒ −z = 2 =⇒ y−z =3 (2)
y−z =3 y−z =3 −z = 2

d = 11 makes the system singular

2x + 5y + z = 0 2x + 5y + z = 0 2x + 5y + z = 0
4x + 11y + z = 2 =⇒ y − z = 2 =⇒ y−z =2 (3)
y−z =3 y−z =3 0=1

26. Solve by elimination the system of two equations

(
x− y =0
3x + 6y = 18

Draw a graph representing each equation as a straight line in the x − y plane. The lines
intersect at the solution. Also, add one more line- the graph of the new second equation
which arises after elimination.
Solution: Using elimination, we will multiply the first equation by 3 and subtract it
from the second equation. The new second equation you should get is y = 2.
( ( (
x− y =0 x− y =0 x−y =0
⇒ ⇒
3x + 6y = 18 9y = 18 y=2

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1.4 – Matrix Notation and Matrix Multiplication
2.Working a column at a time, compute the products:
           
4 1   4 1 4 3 7
5 1 1 = 1 · 5 + 3 · 1 = 5 + 3 = 8
3
6 1 6 1 6 3 9
                
1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 2 0 2
4 5 6 1 = 0 · 4 + 1 · 5 + 0 · 6 = 0 + 5 + 0 = 5
7 8 9 0 7 8 9 0 8 0 8
           
4 3 1 4 3 2 1 3
6 6 21 = 1 · 6 + 1 6 = 3 + 2 = 5
2 3
8 9 3 8 9 4 3 7
3. Find two inner products and a matrix product:
 
  1
1 −2 7 −2 = 1 + 4 + 49 = 54 (4)
7
 
  3
1 −2 7 5 = 3 − 10 + 7 = 0 (5)
1

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    
1   3 5 1
−2 3 5 1 = −6 −10 −2 (6)
7 21 35 7
13. By trial and error find examples of 2 by 2 matrices such that
(a) A2 = −I, A having only real entries.
 
1 2
We may take A = .
−1 −1
    
2 1 2 1 2 1−2 2−2
Then A = = = −I.
−1 −1 −1 −1 −1 + 1 −2 + 1
(b) B 2 = O, although B ̸= O.
    
0 1 2 0 1 0 1
We may take B = . Then B ̸= O but B = = O.
0 0 0 0 0 0
(c) CD = −DC, not allowing the case CD = O.
       
0 1 0 1 1 0 −1 0
We may take C = and D = . Then CD = and DC = .
−1 0 1 0 0 −1 0 1
So, CD = −DC.
(d) EF = O, although no entries of E or F are zero.
     
1 1 1 1 1−1 1−1
We may take E = and F = . Then EF = = O.
1 1 −1 −1 1−1 1−1
17. Which of the following matrices are guaranteed to equal (A + B)2 ?
Note that

(A + B)2 = (A + B)(A + B) = A(A + B) + B(A + B) = A2 + AB + BA + B 2 ,

(a) A2 + 2AB + B 2 . (No)

Matrix multiplication is not commutative in general, meaning AB = BA may not be
true. So (a) is not always equal to (A + B)2 .
(b) A(A + B) + B(A + B). (Yes)
Equal, shown by the equation.
(c) (A + B)(B + A). (Yes)
Matrix addition is always commutative, meaning A + B = B + A.
(d) A2 + BA + AB + B 2 . (Yes)
Equal, shown by the equation.
29.
(a) What 3 by 3 matrix E13 will add row 3 to row 1?
 
1 0 1
E13 = 0 1 0
0 0 1

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(b) What matrix adds row 1 to row 3 and at the same time adds row 3 to row 1?
 
1 0 1
E13,31 = 0
 1 0
1 0 1

(c) What matrix adds row 1 to row 3 and then adds row 3 to row 1?
    
1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1
E31 E13 = 0
 1 0 0 1 0 = 0
   1 0
0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1