40 CHAPTER 1 Linear Equations in Linear Algebra

NUMERICAL NOTE
To optimize a computer algorithm to compute Ax, the sequence of calculations
should involve data stored in contiguous memory locations. The most widely
used professional algorithms for matrix computations are written in Fortran, a
language that stores a matrix as a set of columns. Such algorithms compute Ax as
a linear combination of the columns of A. In contrast, if a program is written in
the popular language C, which stores matrices by rows, Ax should be computed
via the alternative rule that uses the rows of A.

PROOF OF THEOREM 4 As was pointed out after Theorem 4, statements (a), (b), and
(c) are logically equivalent. So, it suffices to show (for an arbitrary matrix A) that (a)
and (d) are either both true or both false. This will tie all four statements together.
Let U be an echelon form of A. Given b in Rm , we can row reduce the augmented
matrix Œ A b � to an augmented matrix Œ U d � for some d in Rm :
ŒA b� � ��� � ŒU d�
If statement (d) is true, then each row of U contains a pivot position and there can be no
pivot in the augmented column. So Ax D b has a solution for any b, and (a) is true. If (d)
is false, the last row of U is all zeros. Let d be any vector with a 1 in its last entry. Then
Œ U d � represents an inconsistent system. Since row operations are reversible, Œ U d �
can be transformed into the form Œ A b �. The new system Ax D b is also inconsistent,
and (a) is false.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
2 3
2 3 3 2 3
1 5 �2 0 6 �2 7 �7
1. Let A D 4 �3 1 9 �5 5, p D 6 7
4 0 5, and b D
4 9 5. It can be shown that
4 �8 �1 7 0
�4
p is a solution of Ax D b. Use this fact to exhibit b as a specific linear combination
of the columns of A.
� � � � � �
2 5 4 �3
2. Let A D ,uD , and v D . Verify Theorem 5(a) in this case
3 1 �1 5
by computing A.u C v/ and Au C Av.
3. Construct a 3 � 3 matrix A and vectors b and c in R3 so that Ax D b has a solution,
but Ax D c does not.

1.4 EXERCISES
Compute the products in Exercises 1–4 using (a) the definition, as In Exercises 5–8, use the definition of Ax to write the matrix
in Example 1, and (b) the row–vector rule for computing Ax. If a equation as a vector equation, or vice versa.
product is undefined, explain why. 2 3
2 32 3 2 3 � � 5 � �
�4 2 3 2 � � 5 1 �8 6
4 6 �1 7 7 D �8
5 5.
1. 4 1 6 54 �2 5 2. 4 6 5 �2 �7 3 �5 4 3 5 16
�1
0 1 7 �1 �2
2 3 2 3
2 3 2 3 7 �3 � � 1
5 � � � � 1 6 2 17 6 �9 7
6
3 �4 4 5 6. 6 7 �2 6 7
3. 4 �4 �3 5
2
4.
8
1 4 9 �6 5 �5 D 4 12 5
�3 5 1 2
7 6 1 �3 2 �4

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 1.4 The Matrix Equation Ax D b 41

2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3
4 �5 7 6 1 3 0 3 1 3 �2 2
6 �1 7 6 37 6 �8 7 6 �8 7 6 �1 �1 �1 17 6 0 1 1 �5 7
7. x1 6 7 6 7 6 7 6
4 7 5 C x2 4 �5 5 C x3 4 0 5 D 4 0 5
7 AD6
4 0 �4
7 BD6 7
2 �8 5 4 1 2 �3 75
�4 1 2 �7 2 0 3 �1 �2 �8 2 �1
� � � � � � � � � �
4 �4 �5 3 4 17. How many rows of A contain a pivot position? Does the
8. ´1 C ´2 C ´3 C ´4 D equation Ax D b have a solution for each b in R4 ?
�2 5 4 0 13
In Exercises 9 and 10, write the system first as a vector equation 18. Do the columns of B span R4 ? Does the equation B x D y
and then as a matrix equation. have a solution for each y in R4 ?

9. 3x1 C x2 � 5x3 D 9 10. 8x1 � x2 D 4 19. Can each vector in R4 be written as a linear combination of
the columns of the matrix A above? Do the columns of A
x2 C 4x3 D 0 5x1 C 4x2 D 1
span R4 ?
x1 � 3x2 D 2
20. Can every vector in R4 be written as a linear combination of
Given A and b in Exercises 11 and 12, write the augmented matrix the columns of the matrix B above? Do the columns of B
for the linear system that corresponds to the matrix equation span R3 ?
Ax D b. Then solve the system and write the solution as a vector. 2 3 2 3 2 3
1 0 1
2 3 2 3 6 07 6 �1 7 6 07
1 2 4 �2 21. Let v1 D 6 7 6 7 6 7
4 �1 5, v2 D 4 0 5, v3 D 4 0 5.
11. A D 4 0 1 5 5, b D 4 2 5
�2 �4 �3 9 0 1 �1
2 3 2 3 Does fv1 ; v2 ; v3 g span R4 ? Why or why not?
1 2 1 0 2 3 2 3 2 3
12. A D 4 �3 �1 2 5, b D 4 1 5 0 0 4
0 5 3 �1 22. Let v1 D 4 0 5, v2 D 4 �3 5, v3 D 4 �1 5.
�2 8 �5
2 3 2 3
0 3 �5 Does fv1 ; v2 ; v3 g span R3 ? Why or why not?
13. Let u D 4 4 5 and A D 4 �2 6 5. Is u in the plane R3
In Exercises 23 and 24, mark each statement True or False. Justify
4 1 1
each answer.
spanned by the columns of A? (See the figure.) Why or why
not? 23. a. The equation Ax D b is referred to as a vector equation.
u? b. A vector b is a linear combination of the columns of a
matrix A if and only if the equation Ax D b has at least
one solution.
Plane spanned by c. The equation Ax D b is consistent if the augmented ma-
u? the columns of A trix Œ A b � has a pivot position in every row.
d. The first entry in the product Ax is a sum of products.
Where is u?
2 3 2 3 e. If the columns of an m � n matrix A span Rm , then the
2 5 8 7 equation Ax D b is consistent for each b in Rm .
14. Let u D 4 �3 5 and A D 4 0 1 �1 5. Is u in the subset f. If A is an m � n matrix and if the equation Ax D b is
2 1 3 0 inconsistent for some b in Rm , then A cannot have a pivot
of R3 spanned by the columns of A? Why or why not? position in every row.
� � � �
2 �1 b1 24. a. Every matrix equation Ax D b corresponds to a vector
15. Let A D and b D . Show that the equation
�6 3 b2 equation with the same solution set.
Ax D b does not have a solution for all possible b, and b. Any linear combination of vectors can always be written
describe the set of all b for which Ax D b does have a in the form Ax for a suitable matrix A and vector x.
solution.
2 3 2 3 c. The solution set of a linear system whose augmented
1 �3 �4 b1 matrix is Œ a1 a2 a3 b � is the same as the solution
16. Repeat Exercise 15: A D 4 �3 2 6 5, b D 4 b2 5. set of Ax D b, if A D Œ a1 a2 a3 �.
5 �1 �8 b3 d. If the equation Ax D b is inconsistent, then b is not in the
Exercises 17–20 refer to the matrices A and B below. Make set spanned by the columns of A.
appropriate calculations that justify your answers and mention an e. If the augmented matrix Œ A b � has a pivot position in
appropriate theorem. every row, then the equation Ax D b is inconsistent.

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42 CHAPTER 1 Linear Equations in Linear Algebra

f. If A is an m � n matrix whose columns do not span Rm , argument to the case of an arbitrary A with more rows than
then the equation Ax D b is inconsistent for some b in columns.
Rm . 32. Could a set of three vectors in R4 span all of R4 ? Explain.
2 32 3 2 3
4 �3 1 �3 �7 What about n vectors in Rm when n is less than m?
25. Note that 4 5 �2 5 54 �1 5 D 4 �3 5. Use this fact
�6 2 �3 2 10 33. Suppose A is a 4 � 3 matrix and b is a vector in R4 with the
property that Ax D b has a unique solution. What can you say
(and no row operations) to find scalars c1 , c2 , c3 such that
2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 about the reduced echelon form of A? Justify your answer.
�7 4 �3 1
4 �3 5 D c14 5 5 C c24 �2 5 C c34 5 5. 34. Suppose A is a 3 � 3 matrix and b is a vector in R3 with the
10 �6 2 �3 property that Ax D b has a unique solution. Explain why the
2 3 2 3 2 3 columns of A must span R3 .
7 3 6
26. Let u D 4 2 5, v D 4 1 5, and w D 4 1 5. 35. Let A be a 3 � 4 matrix, let y1 and y2 be vectors in R3 , and
5 3 0 let w D y1 C y2 . Suppose y1 D Ax1 and y2 D Ax2 for some
vectors x1 and x2 in R4 . What fact allows you to conclude that
It can be shown that 3u � 5v � w D 0. Use this fact (and
the system Ax D w is consistent? (Note: x1 and x2 denote
no row operations) to find x1 and x2 that satisfy the equation
2 3 2 3 vectors, not scalar entries in vectors.)
7 3 � � 6
42 x 36. Let A be a 5 � 3 matrix, let y be a vector in R3 , and let z
15 1
D 4 1 5.
x2 be a vector in R5 . Suppose Ay D z. What fact allows you to
5 3 0
conclude that the system Ax D 4z is consistent?
27. Let q1 , q2 , q3 , and v represent vectors in R5 , and let x1 , x2 ,
and x3 denote scalars. Write the following vector equation as [M] In Exercises 37–40, determine if the columns of the matrix
a matrix equation. Identify any symbols you choose to use. span R4 .
2 3 2 3
x1 q1 C x2 q2 C x3 q3 D v 7 2 �5 8 5 �7 �4 9
6 �5 �3 4 �9 7 6 6 �8 �7 57
28. Rewrite the (numerical) matrix equation below in symbolic 6
37. 4 7 6
38. 4 7
form as a vector equation, using symbols v1 ; v2 ; : : : for the 6 10 �2 75 4 �4 �9 �9 5
vectors and c1 ; c2 ; : : : for scalars. Define what each symbol �7 9 2 15 �9 11 16 7
2 3
represents, using the data given in the matrix equation. 12 �7 11 �9 5
2 3 6 �9 4 �8 7 �3 7
�3 39. 6 7
� �6 2 7 � � 4 �6 11 �7 3 �9 5
�3 5 �4 9 7 66 47D
7 8 4 �6 10 �5 12
5 8 1 �2 �4 6 4 �1 5
7 �1 2 3
8 11 �6 �7 13
2 6 �7 �8 5 6 �9 7
6
40. 4 7
29. Construct a 3 � 3 matrix, not in echelon form, whose 11 7 �7 �9 �6 5
columns span R3 . Show that the matrix you construct has the �3 4 1 8 7
desired property. 41. [M] Find a column of the matrix in Exercise 39 that can be
30. Construct a 3 � 3 matrix, not in echelon form, whose deleted and yet have the remaining matrix columns still span
columns do not span R3 . Show that the matrix you construct R4 .
has the desired property. 42. [M] Find a column of the matrix in Exercise 40 that can be
31. Let A be a 3 � 2 matrix. Explain why the equation Ax D b deleted and yet have the remaining matrix columns still span
cannot be consistent for all b in R3 . Generalize your R4 . Can you delete more than one column?

SG Mastering Linear Algebra Concepts: Span 1–18 WEB

SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1. The matrix equation

2 3
2 3 3 2 3
1 5 �2 0 6 7 �7
�2 7 4
4 �3 1 9 �5 564 05 D 95
4 �8 �1 7 0
�4

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