Hanoi University of Science and Technology SAMI

EXERCISES ON ALGEBRA
Advanced Program Code: MI 1036

Chapter 1

Sets, Maps, and Complex Numbers

1.1. Sets and set operations

Exercise 1. Let

A = {x ∈ R|x2 − 4x + 3 ≤ 0}, B = {x ∈ R||x − 1| ≤ 1}, C = {x ∈ R|x2 − 5x + 6 ≤ 0}.

Compute (A ∪ B) ∩ C, (A ∪ B) \ C and (A ∩ B) ∪ C.

Exercise 2. Let A, B, C, D be arbitrary sets. Prove that

a) A ∩ (B \ C) = (A ∩ B) \ (A ∩ C). e) (A \ B) ∪ (B \ A) = (A ∪ B) \ (A ∩ B).

b) A ∪ (B \ A) = A ∪ B. f) (A \ B) ∩ (C \ D) = (A ∩ C) \ (B ∪ D).

c) (A \ B) \ C = A \ (B ∪ C). g) (A ∪ B) × C = (A × C) ∪ (B × C).

d) A \ (A \ B) = A ∩ B. h) (A ∩ B) × C = (A × C) ∩ (B × C).

i) Is it true that (A ∪ B) × (C ∪ D) = (A × C) ∪ (B × D). If not, give a counterexample.

j) If (A ∩ C) ⊂ (A ∩ B) and (A ∪ C) ⊂ (A ∪ B), then C ⊂ B.

1.2. Mappings
Exercise 3. Let f : X → Y be a map. Prove that

a) f (A ∪ B) = f (A) ∪ f (B), ∀A, B ⊂ X

b) f −1 (A ∪ B) = f −1 (A) ∪ f −1 (B), ∀A, B ⊂ Y

c) f −1 (A ∩ B) = f −1 (A) ∩ f −1 (B), ∀A, B ⊂ Y

d) f −1 (A \ B) = f −1 (A) \ f −1 (B), ∀A, B ⊂ Y

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

e) A ⊂ f −1 (f (A)), ∀A ⊂ X, f) B ⊃ f (f −1 (B)), ∀B ⊂ Y .

g) f (A ∩ B) ⊂ f (A) ∩ f (B), ∀A, B ⊂ X. Give an example to show that f (A ∩ B) 6=

f (A) ∩ f (B).

Exercise 4. Let f : R2 → R2 , f (x, y) = (2x, 2y) and A = {(x, y) ∈ R2 | (x − 4)2 + y 2 = 4}.

Find f (A), f −1 (A).

Exercise 5. Which of the following maps are injective, surjective, bijective?

a) f : R → R, f (x) = 3 − 2x, e) f : [4, 9] → [21, 96], f (x) = x2 + 2x − 3,

b) f : (−∞, 0] → [4, +∞), f (x) = x2 + 4, f) f : R → R, f (x) = 3x − 2|x|,

c) f : (1, +∞) → (−1, +∞), f (x) = x2 − 1+x

g) f : (−1, 1) → R, f (x) = ln ,
2x, 1−x
3x + 1 1
d) f : R \ {1} → R \ {3}, f (x) = , h) f : R \ {0} → R, f (x) = ,
x−1 x
Exercise 6. Let X, Y, Z be sets and let f : X → Y, g : Y → Z be maps. Prove that

a) If f and g are injective, then g ◦ f is injective.

b) If f and g are surjective, then g ◦ f is surjective.

c) If f and g are bijective, then g ◦ f is bijective.

d) If f is surjective and g ◦ f is injective, then g is injective.

e) Give an example to show that g ◦ f is injective, but g is not injective.

f) If g is is injective and g ◦ f is surjective, then f is surjective.

g) Give an example to show that g ◦ f is surjective but f is not surjective.

1.3. Algebraic structures

Exercise 7. Determine which of the following binary operations are associative:

(a) the operation ∗ on R defined by: a ∗ b = a + b + ab

(b) the operation ∗ on Z defined by: a ∗ b = a − b

(c) the operation ∗ on Z × Z defined by: (a, b) ∗ (c, d) = (ad + bc, bd)

Exercise 8. Decide which of the binary operations in the preceding exercise are commutative.

Exercise 9. Determine which of the following sets are groups under addition:

a) the set of rational numbers of absolute value < 1

b) the set of rational numbers with denominators equal to 1 or 2

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

c) the set of rational numbers with denominators equal to 1,2 or 3.

Exercise 10. Consider the set Z5 = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4} with the following binary operation ∗ defined
as: for a, b ∈ Z5 , a ∗ b = (a + b) mod 5 (the remainder of (a + b) divided by 5). For example
2 ∗ 4 = 1. Show that Z5 is a group under this operation ∗.

Exercise 11. Which set of the following sets is a ring? a field?

√ √
(a) X = {a + b 2 | a, b ∈ Z} (b) Y = {a + b 2 | a, b ∈ Q}

where the addition and multiplication are the common addition and multiplication
√ √ √
(a + b 2) + (c + d 2) = (a + c) + (b + d) 2
√ √ √
(a + b 2)(c + d 2) = (ac + 2bd) + (ad + bc) 2.

1.4. Complex numbers

Exercise 12. Find the canonical forms of the following complex numbers.
√ √ √
a) (1 + i 3)9 , (1 + i)21 c) (2 + i 12)5 ( 3 − i)11 .
b) ,
(1 − i)13
√
Exercise 13. Find all 8th roots of 1 − i 3.

Exercise 14. Suppose (3 + 4i)10 = a + bi, with a, b ∈ R. Find a2 + b2 .

Exercise 15. Solve the following equations in the field of complex numbers.

a) z 2 + z + 1 = 0, (z + i)4
e) = 1,
(z − i)4
b) z 2 + 2iz − 5 = 0, √
f) z 8 ( 3 + i) = 1 − i,

c) z 4 − 3iz 2 + 4 = 0, 1
g) z 7 = ,
z3
d) z 6 − 7z 3 − 8 = 0, h) z 4 = z + z.

Exercise 16. Let f : C → C, f (z) = z 4 + 1. Find f −1 ({i}).

Exercise 17. Suppose 2 + i is a root of a polynomial p(x) = x3 − 2x2 − 3x + a. Find a.

Exercise 18. Suppose 1 + 2i is a root of a real polynomial p(x) = x3 − ax2 + bx − (2a + 2).
Find a, b.
2π 2π
Exercise 19. Let  = cos( ) + i sin( ). Show that
7 7
(a)  + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = −1;
√
(b)  + 2 − 3 + 4 − 5 − 6 = i 7;
2π 2π
Exercise 20. Let  = cos( ) + i sin( ). Show that
15 15
 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 8 + 11 + 13 + 14 = 1.

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Chapter 2

Matrices, System of Linear Equations

2.1-2.2. Matrix operations

     
1 −3 2 2 1 1 −1 2 1
Exercise 21. Let A = 2 1 −1 , B = −2 3 0 , C =  3 4 1 .
     

0 3 −2 1 2 4 2 0 2
T
Compute A + BC, A B − C, A(BC), (A + 3B)(B − C).
" # " #
1 3 −1 0
Exercise 22. Let A = ,B = .
−1 2 1 1

a) Compute F = A2 − 3A,

b) Find the matrix X satisfying (A2 + 5I)X = B T (3A − A2 ).

Exercise 23. Find the matrix X such that:

" #" # " #
1 2 3 0 1 −2
a) + 2X = .
−3 4 2 1 5 7
    
1 −3 2 2 5 6 0 −6 6
1
b) X −  3 −4 1   1 2 5  =  −2 −9 2  .
    
2
2 −5 3 1 3 2 −4 −8 6

Exercise 24. Find a real 2 × 2 matrix A 6= 0 such that: a)A2 = 0, b) A2 = −I2 .

Exercise 25. Find two real 2 × 2 matrices A and B such that (A + B)2 6= A2 + 2AB + B 2 .

Exercise 26. Use the given definition to find f (A): If f (x) = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + · · · + ad xd ,

then for an n × n matrix A, f (A) is defined to be f (A) = a0 In + a1 A + a2 A2 + · · · + ad Ad .
" # " #
1 2 5 4
a) f (x) = x2 − 5x + 2, A = ; b) f (x) = x2 − 7x + 6, A = ;
2 −3 1 2
 
2 1 −1
c) f (x) = x3 − 2x2 + 5x − 10, A =  1 0 2 .
 

−1 1 3

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

" #
a b
Exercise 27. Let A = . Prove that A2 − (a + d)A + (ad − bc)I2 = O2 .
c d
" #
2 3
Exercise 28. Let A = . Check that A2 − 4A − 5I2 = O2 , and compute An (n ∈ N).
3 2
 
" # a 1 0
cos a − sin a
Exercise 29. Compute An , where: a) A = , b) A =  0 a 1  .
 
sin a cos a
0 0 a

Exercise 30. Let A be a square matrix. Show that

a) AAT , AT A and A + AT are symmetric matrices.

b) A − AT is a skew-symmetric matrix.

Exercise 31. Let A ∈ Mn (R) be a matrix such that AAT = On . Show that A = On .

Exercise 32. Let A, B ∈ Mn (R) be two matrices such that AAT + BB T = AB T + BAT . Show
that A = B.

2.3. Linear systems of equations

Exercise 33. Solve the following systems of linear equations
 
 x1 − 2x2 + x3 = 4  x1 − 2x2 + x3 =4

 

 
a) 2x1 + x2 − x3 = 0 b) 2x1 + x2 − x3 =0

 

 −x1 + x2 + x3 = −1
  −x1 − 3x2 + 2x3

=4

 3x1 − 5x2 + 2x3 + 4x4 =2



c) 7x1 − 4x2 + x3 + 3x4 =5


 5x1 + 7x2 − 4x3 − 6x4

=3



 3x1 − x2 + 3x3 =1

 −4x + 2x + x

=3
1 2 3
d)


 −2x1 + x2 + 4x3 =4


10x1 − 5x2 − 6x3 = −10


Exercise 34. For which values of a will the following system have no solutions? Exactly one
solution? Infinitely many solutions?

 x + 2y − 3z =4



3x − y + 5z =2


 4x + y + (a2 − 14)z

= a + 2.

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Chapter 3

Vector spaces, rank and inverse of a

matrix

3.1. Vector spaces and subspaces

Exercise 35. Determine whether V is a vector space?

a) V = {(x, y, z) |x, y, z ∈ R } , the operations are defined as

(x, y, z) + (x0 , y 0 , z 0 ) = (x + x0 , y + y 0 , z + z 0 ); k(x, y, z) = (|k| x, |k| y, |k| z) (k ∈ R).

b) V = {x = (x1 , x2 ) |x1 > 0, x2 > 0} ⊂ R2 , the operations are defined as

(x1 , x2 ) + (y1 , y2 ) = (x1 y1 , x2 y2 ); k(x1 , x2 ) = (xk1 , xk2 ), k ∈ R.

Exercise 36. For each of the following subsets of R3 , determine whether it is a subspace of
R3 :

(a) {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 0}; (d) {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x1 x2 x3 = 0};

(b) {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 1};

(c) {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x1 + 2x2 + x3 > 0}; (e) {(x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x1 = 3x3 }.

Exercise 37. Let V1 , V2 be linear subspaces of V and V1 + V2 := {x1 + x2 |x1 ∈ V1 , x2 ∈ V2 }.

Prove that:

a) V1 ∩ V2 is a linear subspace of V . b) V1 + V2 is a linear subspace of V .

Exercise 38. Let V1 , V2 be subspaces of V . Assume that

i) {v1 , v2 , · · · , vm } be a set of generators (a generating set) of V1 , and

ii) {u1 , u2 , · · · , un } be a set of generators of V2 .

Prove that {v1 , · · · , vm , u1 , u2 , · · · , un } is a set of generators of V1 + V2 .

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

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Exercise 39. Prove that V = V1 ⊕ V2 if and only if each v ∈ V has a unique representation

v = v1 + v2 , (v1 ∈ V1 , v2 ∈ V2 ).

3.2. Dimension and coordinates

Exercise 40. Write v as a linear combination of u1 , u2 and u3 if possible, where

v = (3, 0, −6), u1 = (1, −1, 2), u2 = (2, 4, −2), u3 = (1, 2, −4).

Exercise 41. Express the polynomial v = t2 + 4t − 3 over R as a linear combination of the

polynomials p1 = t2 − 2t + 5, p2 = 2t2 − 3t, p3 = t + 3.

Exercise 42. Find a condition on a, b, c so that w = (a, b, c) is a linear combination of u =

(1, −3, 2) and v = (2, −1, 1), that is, so that w belongs to span(u, v).

Exercise 43. Is the vector (3, −1, 0, −1) in the subspace of R4 spanned by the vectors (2, −1, 3, 2),
(−1, 1, 1, −3) and (1, 1, 9, −5)?

Exercise 44. Determine whether the following vectors are linearly dependent or linearly inde-
pendent.

a) (1, 2, −1), (2, 1, −1), (7, −4, 1). b) (2, 3, −1), (3, −1, 5), (1, 7, −7).

Exercise 45. Let V be the vector space of functions from R to R. Show that f, g, h ∈ V are
linearly indepedent, where f (t) = sin t, g(t) = cos t, h(t) = t.

Exercise 46. Let v1 , v2 and v3 be three linearly independent vectors in a vector space V .

a) Prove that {v1 − v2 , v2 − v3 , v1 + v2 + v3 } is linearly independent.

b) Prove that {v1 − v2 , v2 − v3 , v1 − 2v2 + v3 } is linearly dependent.

c) For which values of a is the set {v1 − v2 , v2 − v3 , v1 + av2 + v3 } linearly independent?

Exercise 47. Determine whether the set S is a basis of R3

a) S = {(1, 2, 1), (1, 1, 1)}; c) S = {(1, 0, −1), (1, 2, 1), (0, −3, 2)}.

b) S = {(1, 1, 7), (3, 1, −3), (2, 1, 2)};

Exercise 48. Determine whether the set S in P2 [x] is a basis. (Here P2 [x] is the vector space
of polynomials in x with real coefficients of degree ≤ 2.)

a) S = {1 + x, 2 + x + x2 , 3 − 2x + x2 };

b) S = {x2 + 3x − 2, 2x2 + 5x − 3, −x2 − 4x + 3}.

1
We say that V is a direct sum of V1 and V2 and write V = V1 ⊕ V2 if V1 + V2 = V, V1 ∩ V2 = {0}.

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

Exercise 49. Find a basis and the dimension of subspace W of R3 .

a) W = {(a, a + b, a − 2b) | a, b ∈ R}; b) W = {(x, y, z) | x + y + z = 0};

c) W = {(x, y, z) | x − 2y + z = 0 and 2x − 3y + z = 0}.

Exercise 50. Let W be a subspace of R4 spanned by the vectors

u1 = (1, −2, 5, −3), u2 = (2, 3, 1, −4), u3 = (3, 8, −3, −5).

a) Find a basis and the dimension of W .

b) Extend the basis of W found in part a) to a basis of the whole space R4 .

Exercise 51. Find the coordinate vector of x relative to (with respective to) the basis B of
Rm :

a) B = {(1, 1), (0, −2)}, x = (2, −1).

b) B = {(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), (1, 1, 1)}, x = (4, −2, 9).

c) B = {(1, 2, 3), (1, 2, 0), (0, −6, 2)}, x = (3, −3, 0).

Exercise 52. Find the coordinate vector of x relative to the basis B 0 , where
" #
3
B = {(1, 1), (1, −1)}, B 0 = {(0, 1), (1, 2)}, [x]B = .
−3

Exercise 53. Find the coordinates of p(x) = 6 − 7x + x2 relative to the basis S of P2 [x], where

S = {1 + x, 2 + x + x2 , 3 − 2x + x2 }.

Exercise 54. Consider the subspaces U = span(u1 , u2 , u3 ) and W = span(w1 , w2 , w3 ) of R3

where

u1 = (1, 1, −1), u2 = (2, 3, −1), u3 = (3, 1, −5), w1 = (1, −1, −3), w2 = (3, −2, −8), w3 = (2, 1, −3).

Show that U = W .

Exercise 55. Let v1 = 1, v2 = 1 + x, v3 = x + x2 , v4 = x2 + x3 be vectors on P3 [x].

a) Prove that B = {v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 } is a basis of P3 [x].

b) Find the coordinates of v = 2 + 3x − x2 + 2x3 with respect to this basis.

c) Find the coordinates of v = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + a3 x3 with respect to this basis.

Exercise 56. Let E = {1, x, x2 , x3 } be the standard basis of P3 [x] and B = {1, 1 + x, (1 + x)2 , (1 + x)3 }.

a) Prove that B is a basis of P3 [x].

b) Find the transformation matrices from E to B, and from B to E.

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

c) Find the coordinates of v = 2 + 2x − x2 + 3x3 with respect to the basis B.

3.3. Rank
Exercise 57. Find the rank of the following family of vectors on P3 [x]:

v1 = 1 + x2 + x3 , v2 = x − x2 + 2x3 , v3 = 2 + x + 3x3 , v4 = −1 + x − x2 + 2x3 .

Exercise 58. Find the rank of the following matrices

   
1 3 5 −1 4 3 −5 2 3
2 −1 −1 4  8 6 −7 4 2
  
a) A =  .
   
 5 1 −1 7  b) B = 
4 3 −8 2 7.
7 7 9 1 4 3 1 2 −5
 
8 6 −1 4 −6

3.4. Linear systems of equations revisited

Exercise 59. Find the dimension and a basis of the solution space of the homogeneous system



 x1 − x2 + 2x3 + 2x4 − x5 = 0

 x1 − 2x2 + 3x3 − x4 + 5x5 = 0




 2x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + 3x5 = 0


 3x − x − 2x − x + x = 0
1 2 3 4 5

3.5. The inverse and determinant of a matrix

Exercise 60. Find the inverses of the matrices
" #    
1 2 3 −4 5 1 −a 0 0
a) A = ,
3 4 b) C =  2 −3 1  0 1 −a 0
   
c) D = 
 

3 −5 1  0 0 1 −a 
0 0 0 1

Exercise 61. Compute the following determinants

1 0 2 −1 1 1 2 3
3 0 0 5 1 2 − x2 2 3
a) A = c) C =
2 1 4 −3 2 3 1 5
1 0 5 0 2 3 1 9 − x2

a b c d 1+x 1 1 1
b a d c 1 1−x 1 1
b) B = d) D = .
c d a b 1 1 1+z 1
d c b a 1 1 1 1−z

Exercise 62. Prove that if A is a skew-symmetric (or antisymmetric) matrix of order n, where
n is odd, then det(A) = 0.

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Exercise 63. Let A be a square matrix of order 2017. Prove that

det(A − AT )2017 = 2017(det A − det AT ).

Exercise 64. Let A, B be square matrices of order 2017 satisfying AB + B T AT = 0. Prove

that det A = 0 or det B = 0.

Exercise 65. Let A, B ∈ Mn (R). Suppose that AB = BA. Show that

a) det(A2 + B 2 ) ≥ 0. b) det(A2 + AB + B 2 ) ≥ 0.

Exercise 66. Let A, B ∈ Mn (R). Suppose that A2 + B 2 = On and AB − BA is invertible.

Show that n is even.

Exercise 67. Prove that if A is a real square matrix satisfying A3 = A + I, then det A > 0.
(Hint: A5 = A2 + A + I.)

Exercise 68. Let A, B be square matrices of the same order satisfying AB = A + B. Prove
that AB = BA.

Exercise 69. Let A, B be two 3 × 3 matrices such that A2 = AB + BA. Prove that det(AB −
BA) = 0. (Hint: AB − BA = A2 − 2BA = A(A − 2B), then taking determinant both sides. )

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Chapter 4

Linear mappings and transformations

4.1-4.3. Linear mappings

Exercise 70. If α1 = (1, −1), α2 = (2, −1), α3 = (−3, 2), β1 = (1, 0), β2 = (0, 1), β3 = (1, 1), is
there a linear transformation T from R2 to R2 such that T (αi ) = βi for i = 1, 2, 3?

Exercise 71. Let T : R2 → R2 be the linear mapping for which T (1, 2) = (2, 3) and T (0, 1) =
(1, 4). Find a formula for T , that is, find T (a, b) for arbitrary a and b.

Exercise 72. Suppose b, c ∈ R. Define T : R3 → R2 by T (x, y, z) = (2x−4y +3z +b, 6x+cxyz)

Show that T is linear if and only if b = c = 0.

Exercise 73. Let T be the function from R3 to R3 defined by

T (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (x1 − x2 + 2x3 , 2x1 + x2 , −x1 − 2x2 + 2x3 ).

a) Verify that T is a linear transformation.

b) Show that (a, b, c) ∈ imT if and only if −a + b + c = 0.

c) Find a basis of imT . d) Find a basis of ker T .

Exercise 74. Find a basis for (a) ker(T ) and (b) im(T ), where

T : R4 → R3 , T (x, y, z, w) = (4x − 5y + 5z + 2w, −2x + 2y − w, −y + 5z).

Exercise 75. Let T : V → U be linear, and suppose v1 , . . . , vn ∈ V have the property that
their images T (v1 ), . . . , T (vn ) are linearly indepedent. Show that the vectors v1 , . . . , vn are also
linearly independent.

Exercise 76. Suppose T : V → U be an injective linear map and v1 , . . . , vm are linearly inde-
pendent in V . Show that T (v1 ), . . . , T (vm ) are linearly independent in U .

Exercise 77. Give an example of a linear map T : R4 → R4 such that imT = kerT .

Exercise 78. Prove that there does not exist a linear map T : R5 → R5 such that imT = kerT .

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Exercise 79. Suppose T : R4 → R2 is a linear map such that

kerT = {(x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) ∈ R4 | x1 = 5x2 and x3 = 7x4 }.

Prove that T is surjective.

Exercise 80. Prove that there does not exist a linear map T : R5 → R2 such that

kerT = {(x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , x5 ) ∈ R5 | x1 = 3x2 and x3 = x4 = x5 }.

Exercise 81. Let f : R3 → R2 be a linear map defined f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (3x1 + x2 − x3 , 2x1 + x3 ).

Find the matrix of f with respect to the standard bases.

Exercise 82. Find the matrix of T with respect to the bases B and B 0 , where

T : R2 → R3 , T (x, y) = (−x, y, x + y), B = {(1, 1), (1, −1)}, B 0 = {(0, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1), (1, 0, 0)}.

Exercise 83. Let f : R3 → R3 be be a function defined by

f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (x1 + x2 − x3 , x1 − x2 + x3 , −x1 + x2 + x3 ).

Find the matrix of f with respect to the basis B = {v1 = (1, 0, 0), v2 = (1, 1, 0), v3 = (1, 1, 1)} .

Exercise 84. Consider the linear transformation T : R3 → R3 defined by T (x, y, z) = (2x, 4x −

y, 2x + 2y − z). (a) Show that T is invertible. Find formulas for: (b) T −1 , (c) T 2 , (d) T −2 .

Exercise 85. Let the function f : P2 [x] → P4 [x] be a map defined as: f (p) = p + x2 p, ∀p ∈
P2 [x].

a) Prove that f is a linear map.

b) Find the matrix of f with respect to the bases E1 = {1, x, x2 } of P2 [x] and E2 =
{1, x, x2 , x3 , x4 } of P4 [x].

c) Find the matrix of f with respect to the bases E10 = {1 + x, 2x, 1 + x2 } of P2 [x] and
E2 = {1, x, x2 , x3 , x4 } of P4 [x].
 
1 3 −1
Exercise 86. Suppose A =  2 0 5  is the matrix of a linear transformation f : P2 [x] →
 

6 −2 4
P2 [x] with respect to the basis B = {v1 , v2 , v3 }, where

v1 = 3x + 3x2 , v2 = −1 + 3x + 2x2 , v3 = 3 + 7x + 2x2 .

a) Find f (v1 ), f (v2 ), f (v3 ). b) Find f (1 + x2 ).

Exercise 87. Let A be an m × n matrix and B be an n × p matrix. Prove that

rank(AB) ≤ min {rank A, rank B} .

Exercise 88. Let A, B be m × n matrices. Prove that rank(A + B) ≤ rank(A) + rank(B).

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Chapter 5

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

5.1. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Exercise 89. Find the eigenvalues and a basis for each eigenspace of the following matrices:
" #      
10 −9 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 −5 2
a)
4 −2 b)  −1 1 1  c)  −4 4 0  d)  5 −7 3 
     

−1 −2 4 −2 1 2 6 −9 4

Exercise 90. Let T : R3 → R3 , T (x, y, z) = (−2x + 2y − 3z, 2x + y − 6z, −x − 2y). Find all
eigenvalues and a basis for each eigenspace of T .

Exercise 91. Let f : P2 [x] → P2 [x] be a linear transformation defined by

f (a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 ) = (5a0 + 6a1 + 2a2 ) − (a1 + 8a2 )x + (a0 − 2a2 )x2 .

Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of f .

5.2-5.3. Properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diag-

onalization
Exercise 92. Suppose T : V → V is linear with rankT = k. Prove that T has at most k + 1
distinct eigenvalues.

Exercise 93. Suppose T : V → V is linear and there exist a nonzero vectors v and w in V
such that T v = 3w and T w = 3v. Prove that 3 or −3 is an eigenvalue of T .
√
Exercise 94. Suppose that T : R3 → R3 is linear and that −4, 5, 6 are eigenvalues of T .
√
Prove that there exists x ∈ R3 such that T x − 7x = (−4, 5, 6).

Exercise 95. Let λ1 , . . . , λn be a list of distinct real numbers. Prove that the list eλ1 x , . . . , eλn x
is linearly independent in the vector space of real-valued functions on R. [Hint: Let V =
span{eλ1 x , . . . , eλn x } and define T : V → V by T f = f 0 .]

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

Exercise 96. Diagonalize the following matrices (if possible)

" #    
−14 12 1 0 0 −1 4 −2
a) A =
−20 17 c) C =  0 1 1  e) E =  −3 4 0  .
   

0 1 1 −3 1 3
 
" # 2 1 −2
1 0 d) D =  0 3 1 
 
b) B =
6 −1 0 0 3

Exercise 97. Suppose that A, B ∈ M3 (R) each have 2, 6, 7 as eigenvalues. Prove that there
exists an invertible matrix P ∈ M3 (R) such that B = P −1 AP .

Exercise 98. Let f : R3 → R3 be a linear transformation defined as

f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (2x1 − x2 − x3 , x1 − x2 + x3 , −x1 + x2 + 2x3 ).

Diagonalize the transformation f .

Exercise 99. Find a basis of R3 such that the matrix of f : R3 → R3 with respect to this basis
is a diagonal matrix, where

f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (2x1 + x2 + x3 , x1 + 2x2 + x3 , x1 + x2 + 2x3 ).

Exercise 100. Let V be the R-vector space of all polynomials p(x) ∈ R[x] with deg(p) ≤ 2.
Let T : V → V be the linear transformation given by

T (a + bx + cx2 ) = (a + 3b + 3c) + (3a + b + 3c)x + (3a + 3b + c)x2 .

If possible find a basis B for V such that the matrix of T with respect to B is diagonal.
(Diagonalize the transformation T .)

Exercise 101. The trace of an n-by-n square matrix A is defined to be the sum of the elements
n
P
on the main diagonal,i.e., tr(A) = aii = a11 + a22 + · · · + ann . Prove that
i=1

a) The trace is a linear mapping. That is,

i) tr(A + B) = tr(A) + tr(B), ii) tr(cA) = c tr(A);

b) tr(A) = tr(AT ), c) tr(AB) = tr(BA), d) tr(P −1 AP ) = tr A.

Exercise 102. Let A ∈ Mn (C) be an invertible matrix and 0 6= λ ∈ C. Show that λ is an

1
eigenvalue of A if and only if is an eigenvalue of A−1 .
λ
Exercise 103. Let P (x) ∈ C[x] be a polynomial and let A be a square matrix. Show that if
λ is an eigenvalue of A then P (λ) is an eigenvalue P (A).

Exercise 104. Let A ∈ Mn (C) and let P ∈ C[x] be a polynomial such that P (A) = 0. Prove
that any eigenvalue λ of A satisfies P (λ) = 0.

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Chapter 6

Euclidean spaces, orthogonality

6.1. Inner products

Exercise 105. Verify that the following is an inner product on R2 where u = (x1 , x2 ) and
v = (y1 , y2 ):
huiv = x1 y1 − 2x1 y2 − 2x2 y1 + 5x2 y2 .

Exercise 106. Find the values of k so that the following is an inner product on R2 where
u = (x1 , x2 ) and v = (y1 , y2 ):

huiv = x1 y1 − 3x1 y2 − 3x2 y1 + kx2 y2 .

Exercise 107. Determine if each of the following is an inner product on P3 [x]:

a) hp, qi = p(0)q(0) + p(1)q(1) + p(2)q(2)

b) hp, qi = p(0)q(0) + p(1)q(1) + p(2)q(2) + p(3)q(3)

R1
c) hp, qi = p(x)q(x)dx.
−1

In case it is an inner product, compute hp, qi, where p = 2 − 3x + 5x2 − x3 , q = 4 + x − 3x2 + 2x3 .

Exercise 108. Suppose T : Rn → Rn is a linear transformation such that kT vk ≤ kvk for every
√
v ∈ V . Prove that T − 2I is invertible.

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

Exercise 109. (a) Suppose u, v, w ∈ Rn . Prove that

1 kw − uk2 + kw − vk2 ku − vk2

kw − (u + v)k2 = − .
2 2 4

1
(b) Suppose C is a subset of Rn with the property that u, v ∈ C implies (u + v) ∈ C. Let
2
w ∈ V . Show that there is at most one u ∈ C such that

kw − uk ≤ kw − vk for all v ∈ C.

6.2. Orthogonality
R1
Exercise 110. Let the inner product on P2 [x] be defined as hp, qi = p(x)q(x)dx, where
−1
p, q ∈ P2 [x].

a) Apply the Gram-Schmidt process to the basis {1, x, x2 } to get an orthonormal basis A.

b) Find the coordinate vector [r]A , where r = 2 − 3x + 3x2 .

In the following exercises (Ex 111-Ex 121), we consider Rn or Mn×1 (R) with the standard inner
product.

Exercise 111. Find vectors u, v ∈ R2 such that u is a scalar multiple of (1, 3), v is orthogonal
to (1, 3) and (1, 2) = u + v.

Exercise 112. Let S consist of the following vectors of R4 :

u1 = (1, 1, 1, 1), u2 = (1, 1, −1, −1), u3 = (1, −1, 1, −1), u4 = (1, −1, −1, 1).

a) Show that S is orthogonal and a basis of R4 .

b) Write v = (1, 3, −5, 6) as a linear combination of u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 .

c) Find the coordinates of an arbitrary vector v = (a, b, c, d) in R4 relative to the basis S.

d) Normalize S to obtain an orthonormal basis of R4 .

Exercise 113. Use the Gram-Schmidt process to transform the basis B into an orthonormal
basis.

(a) B = {(1, 1), (0, 1)}. (c) B = {(1, 2, −2), (0, 1, −2), (−1, 3, 11),

(b) B = {(1, −2, 2), (2, 2, 1), (2, −1, −2)}, (d) B = {(3, 4, 0, 0), (−1, 1, 0, 0), (2, 1, 0, −1), (0, 1, 1, 0)}.

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

Exercise 114. Let v1 = (1, 1, 0, 0, 0) , v2 = (0, 1, −1, 2, 1) , v3 = (2, 3, −1, 2, 1) , and

V = x ∈ R5 | x ⊥ vi , i = 1, 2, 3 .


a) Prove that V is a subspace of R5 . b) Find a baisis of V and dim V .

Exercise 115. Let W be a the solution space of the homogeneous system of linear equations
x+y−z+w =0
2x + y + z + 2w = 0.
(a) Find an orthonormal basis for W .

(b) Find an orthonormal basis for W ⊥ .

(c) Find a system of linear equations for which W ⊥ is its solution space.
Exercise 116. Find the (orthogonal) projection of u = (1, 3, −2, 4) on v = (2, −2, 4, 5).
Exercise 117. Let v1 = (2, 2, 1) , v2 = (2, 5, 4). Find the (orthogonal) projection of v =
(3, −2, 1) onto U = span(v1 , v2 ).
6.3. Least square approximations
Exercise 118. In R4 , let U = span{(1, 1, 0, 0), (1, 1, 1, 2), (2, 2, 1, 2)}. Find u ∈ U such that
ku − (1, 2, 3, 4)k is as small as possible.
Exercise 119. Find a, b ∈ R such that

(a + b − 1)2 + (a + b − 2)2 + (b − 3)2 + (2b − 4)2

is as small as possible.
   
1 1 2 1
1 1 2 2
Exercise 120. Let A =  , B =  . Find a column vector X̃ ∈ M3×1 (R) for which
   
0 1 1 3
0 2 2 4
minimizes the function f (X) = kAX − Bk defined for all X ∈ M3×1 (R).
6.4. Orthogonal diagonalization
Exercise 121. Orthogonally diagonalize of the following symmetric matrices
     
1 2 2 1 0 0 7 −2 0
a) 2 1 2 b) 0 1 1 c) −2 6 2 .
     

2 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 5

6.5. Quadratic forms

Exercise 122. Determine the definiteness of the following quadratic form on R3 .

a) ω1 (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = x21 + 5x22 − 4x23 + 2x1 x2 − 4x1 x3 ,

b) 2x21 + x22 + 3x23 + 2x1 x2 + 2x1 x3 ,

c) ω2 (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = x1 x2 + 4x1 x3 + x2 x3 ,

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HUST School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics

Exercise 123. Find a such that the following quadratic forms are positive definite:

a) 5x21 + x22 + ax23 + 4x1 x2 − 2x1 x3 − 2x2 x3 , c) x21 + x22 + 5x23 + 2ax1 x2 − 2x1 x3 + 4x2 x3 .

b) 2x21 + x22 + 3x23 + 2ax1 x2 + 2x1 x3 ,

Exercise 124. Orthogonally diagonalize of the following quadratic forms

a) x21 + x22 + x23 + 2x1 x2 , c) 7x21 + 6x22 + 5x23 − 4x1 x2 + 4x2 x3 .

b) 7x21 − 7x22 + 48x1 x2 ,

Exercise 125. Transform the following quadric surface to the principal axes:

2x2 + 6y 2 + 14z 2 − 6xy + 2xz + 6yz + 2x − y + z = 0.

Exercise 126. Classify the following quadratic curves

a) 2x2 − 4xy − y 2 + 8 = 0, c) 2x2 + 4xy + 5y 2 = 24.

b) x2 + 2xy + y 2 + 8x + y = 0,

Exercise 127. Classify the following quadric surfaces

a) x21 + x22 + x23 + 2x1 x2 = 4, b) 2x21 + 2x22 + 3x23 − 2x1 x2 − 2x2 x3 = 16,

c) 2xy + 2yz + 2xz − 6x − 6y − 4z = 0.

Exercise 128. Let Q (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = 9x21 + 7x22 + 11x23 − 8x1 x2 + 8x1 x3 .

Find 2 max
2 2
Q (x1 , x2 , x3 ) , 2 min
2 2
Q (x1 , x2 , x3 ).
x1 +x2 +x3 =16 x1 +x2 +x3 =16

Exercise 129. Let Q(x, y, z) = 9x21 + 7x22 + 11x23 − 8x1 x2 + 8x1 x3 (x, y, z ∈ R). Find
max x21 + x22 + x23 , and min x21 + x22 + x23 .
Q(x1 ,x2 ,x3 )=16 Q(x1 ,x2 ,x3 )=16

Exercise 130. Is there an orthogonal matrix A ∈ M3 (R) such that

       
1 3 −3 1
A 3 = 0 and A  1  = −3?
       

0 1 0 0

Exercise 131. Is there a symmetric matrix A ∈ M3 (R) such that

       
1 1 2 1
A 2 = 1 and A 3 = 0?
       

3 1 5 2

Exercise 132. Let A, B be n × n matrices on R. Prove that:

a) All the eigenvalues of A are positive if and only if X T AX > 0 for all X ∈ Mn×1 (R) \ {0}.

b) If all the eigenvalues of A and B are positive, then so are the eigenvalues of A + B.

18