University of Johannesburg

Faculty of Science

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS

MAT02A2

LINEAR ALGEBRA

FINAL ASSESSMENT

Examiners: Dr. E. Joubert

Moderator: Dr. F. Schulz
Time: 120 minutes 50 marks

Surname and initials:

Student number:

Tel No.:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The paper consists of 8 printed pages, including the front page.

2. Answer all questions.

3. Write out all calculations (steps) and motivate all answers.

4. Read the questions carefully.

5. Questions are to be answered on the question paper in the space provided.

Please indicate when the blank side of a page is used.

6. Answer questions only in pen.

7. Calculators are not allowed.

8. Good luck!
MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 1/7

Question 1 [8]

True or false. Motivate if true, give a counter-example if false:

 2 
sin α sin2 β sin2 γ
(a) The matrix A = cos2 α cos2 β cos2 γ is invertible for some values of α, β and γ. (2)
1 1 1

 
1 4 5 2
(b) The dimension of the null space of the matrix A =  2 1 3 0 is 2. (2)
−1 3 2 2

(c) Let A and B be n × n matrices. If A + B and A are symmetric then the matrix B must be
symmetric. (2)
MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 2/7

(d) If E is an m × m matrix and A is an m × n matrix then the row space of EA is the same as
the row space of A. (2)

Question 2 [3]

Let S = {(a, b) ∈ R2 } be the set of all ordered pairs of real numbers with vector addition and
scalar multiplication defined as

(a, b) + (a′ , b′ ) = (a + a′ , b + b′ )
k(a, b) = (ka, b),

respectively. Is V a vector space? Motivate your answer. (3)

Question 3 [10]

Let A be an n × n matrix and let v1 , v2 , ..., vn be n × 1 linearly independent column vectors in

Rn . Let B denote the matrix with columns given by vectors v1 , v2 , ..., vn . Answer the following
questions:

(a) Show that if A is invertible then the n × 1 column vectors Av1 , Av2 , ..., Avn are linearly
independent. (2)
MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 3/7

(b) Explain why the vectors v1 , v2 , ..., vn form a basis for Rn . (1)

(c) What is the dimension of the row space of B T ? (1)

(d) Explain why the reduced row-echelon form of B T cannot have a zero row. (2)

(e) Show that B and B T must be invertible. (1)

(f) Assume the n × 1 column vectors Av1 , Av2 , ..., Avn are linearly independent. Show that
the linear system Ax̄ =[ 0̄ only has the] trivial solution (HINT: Use the change of variable
ȳ = B −1 x̄, where ȳT = y1 y2 . . . yn ). What can we say about A? (3)
MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 4/7

Question 4 [12]

Consider the vector space M22 consisting of all 2 × 2 matrices under [ the] standard
[ matrix
] op-
1 1 0 1
erations. Let S = {v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 } and T = {w1 , w2 }, where u1 = , u2 = , u3 =
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 1 0 0 1
1 0 2 3 1 2 −1 0
, u4 = , w1 = and w2 = . Define V = span(S) and W = span(T ).
1 −1 2 1 1 1 −1 1
Answer the following questions:

(a) Find a basis for V using only vectors from S. (3)

(b) Extend the basis found in question (a) to a basis for M22 by adding appropriate vectors from
the standard basis of M22 . (3)

(c) Show that every vector in S is in span(T ). (3)

MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 5/7

(d) Show that every vector in T is in span(S). (2)

(e) Using questions (c) and (d), what can we say about the vector spaces V and W ? (1)

Question 5 [8]

Let C[−2π, 2π] be the vector space of all real-valued continuous functions defined on the interval
[−2π, 2π]. Let V = span(f1 , f2 ), where f1 = sin2 x and f2 = cos2 x. Answer the following questions:

(a) Show that g1 = sin2 x − cos2 x and g2 = 1 form a basis for V . (3)

(b) Find the transition matrix from B ′ = {g1 , g2 } to B = {f1 , f2 }. (2)

MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 6/7

(c) Find the transition matrix from B to B ′ . (1)

(d) Compute the coordinate vector [h]B , where h = sin2 x + cos2 x, and use ONLY question (c)
to find [h]B ′ . (2)

Question 6 [6]
 
2 1 2
Let A = 2 2 −2. Consider the following subset of the 3-dimensional vector space R3 given
3 1 1    
x x x
by W = y  ∈ R3 A y  = 4 y .
z z z
(a) Show that W is a subspace of R3 . (2)
MAT02A2 FINAL ASSESSMENT 7/7

(b) Find a basis for the subspace W . (3)

(c) Determine the dimension of W . (1)

Question 7 [3]

Consider the line L in R3 given by x = 2t, y = 2t and z = t. Answer the following questions:

(a) Find the orthogonal projection of the vector ū = (0, 0, 1) onto L. (1)

(b) Find the equation of the plane P that contains the vector ū and the line L. (2)