Linear Algebra Practice Sheet
Linear Algebra Practice Sheet
Linear Algebra
Question 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(a) Determine the general solution of the following equations by reducing the augmented matrix to row
echelon form.
x + 3y − z = 6
8x + 9y + 4z = 21
2x + y + 2z = 3
(b) Show that the following set of simultaneous equations are inconsistent.
x − y + 2z = 2 x − y + 2z = 1
3x + y − z = 3 − x + 3y − z = −1
5x − y + 3z = 4 3x − 7y + 4z = 5
(c) Find the value of a for which the following system has exactly one solution.
x + 2y − 3z = 4
3x − y + 5z = 2
2
4x + y + (a − 14)z = a + 2
Question 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The accompanying figure shows a network of one-way streets with traffic flowing in the directions indi-
cated. The flow rates along the streets are measured as the average number of vehicles per hour. (a) Set
up a linear system whose solution provides the unknown flow rates.
(b) Solve the system for the unknown flow rates.
Question 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Determine whether the vectors v1 = (1, −2, 3), v2 = (5, 6, −1), v3 = (3, 2, 1) are linearly independent or
linearly dependent in R3 .
Question 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Show that the three vectors v1 = (0, 3, 1, −1), v2 = (6, 0, 5, 1), and v3 = (4, −7, 1, 3) form a linearly
dependent set in R4 .