B.Sc. (Hons.

) Statistics

Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Statistics

Semester II
STAT C-202: Algebra
Credits: 6 Marks: 150

Course Objectives:
Algebra serves as a building block that will enable students to learn more advanced
techniques that will help them to solve problems more quickly and easily.

Course Learning Outcomes:

After completing this course, students should have developed a clear understanding of:
 Theory of Equations
 The fundamental concepts of matrices and determinants
 Echelon form
 Linear equations
 Rank of a Matrix
 Characteristic roots and vectors
 Quadratic forms
 Partitioning of matrices
 Generalized inverse

Contents:
UNIT I
Theory of equations, statement of the fundamental theorem of algebra and its
consequences. Relation between roots and coefficients or any polynomial equations.
Solutions of cubic and biquadratic equations when some conditions on roots of equations
are given. Evaluation of the symmetric polynomials and roots of cubic and biquadratic
equations. Vector spaces, Subspaces, sum of subspaces, Span of a set, Linear dependence and
independence, dimension and basis, dimension theorem.

UNIT II
Algebra of matrices - A review, theorems related to triangular, symmetric and skew
symmetric matrices, idempotent matrices, Hermitian and skew Hermitian matrices,
orthogonal matrices, singular and non-singular matrices and their properties. Trace of a
matrix, unitary, involutory and nilpotent matrices. Adjoint and inverse of a matrix and
related properties.
UNIT III
Determinants of Matrices: Definition, properties and applications of determinants for 3 rd and
higher orders, evaluation of determinants of order 3 and more using transformations.
Symmetric and Skew symmetric determinants, Circulant determinants, Jacobi’s Theorem,
product of determinants. Use of determinants in solution to the system of linear equations,
row reduction and echelon forms, the matrix equations AX=B, solution sets of linear
equations, linear independence, Applications of linear equations, inverse of a matrix.

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 B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics

UNIT IV
Rank of a matrix, row-rank, column-rank, standard theorems on ranks, rank of the sum and
the product of two matrices. Generalized inverse (concept with illustrations). Partitioning of
matrices and simple properties. Characteristic roots and Characteristic vector, Properties of
characteristic roots, Cayley Hamilton theorem, Quadratic forms, Linear orthogonal
transformation and their digitalization.

SUGGESTED READINGS:
1. Artin M. (1994). Algebra. Prentice Hall of India.
2. Biswas, S. (1997). A Textbook of Matrix Algebra, New Age International.
3. Gupta, S.C. (2008). An Introduction to Matrices (Reprint). Sultan Chand & Sons.
4. Hadley, G. (2002). Linear Algrbra. Narosa Publishing House (Reprint).
5. Jain, P.K. and Ahmad, K. (1973). Metric Spaces, Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi.
6. Krishnamurthy, V., Mainra, V.P. and Arora, J.L. (2015). An Introduction to Linear
Algebra, East West Press Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
7. Lay, D. C. (2000). Linear Algebra and its Applications, Addison Wesley.
8. Searle, S.R. (1982). Matrix Algebra Useful for Statistics. John Wiley &Sons.

PRACTICAL/LABWORK
List of Practicals:

1. Finding inverse using Cayley Hamilton theorem.

2. For a real Skew Symmetric matrix S, show that matrix A defined by (I-S) (I+S)-1 is an
orthogonal matrix.
3. Reducing a Quadratic Form to its canonical form and finding its rank and index.
4. Proving that a quadratic form is positive or negative definite.
5. Finding the product of two matrices by considering partitioned matrices.
6. Finding inverse of a matrix by partitioning.
7. Finding Generalized Inverse of a matrix and symmetric generalized inverse of a matrix
8. To show that matrix A defined as A= (In - X (X’X)-1X’) is idempotent. Also, determine
its rank and characteristic root. Repeat the process by finding a generalized inverse of
X’X if inverse does not exist.
9. Find XGX’ for any X of order nxk, where G is generalized inverse and show that XGX’
is invariant with respect to G.
10. To find whether a given set of vectors is linearly dependent or linearly independent.
11. Constructing an Orthonormal Basis using Gram Schmidt Orthogonalization Process.

Week –wise Teaching Plan:

Week 1 Statement of the fundamental theorem of algebra and its consequences.
Relation between roots and coefficients or any polynomial equations.
Week 2 Solutions of cubic and biquadratic equations when some conditions on
roots of equations are given. Evaluation of the symmetric polynomials and

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 B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics

roots of cubic and biquadratic equations.

Week 3-4 Review of algebra of matrices, theorems related to triangular, symmetric
and skew symmetric matrices, idempotent matrices, Hermitian and skew
Hermitian matrices, orthogonal matrices, singular and non-singular
matrices and their properties. Trace of a matrix, unitary, involutory and
nilpotent matrices. Practical work.
Week 5 Adjoint and inverse of a matrix and related properties. Practical work.
Week 6-7 Definition, properties and applications of determinants for 3rd and higher
orders, evaluation of determinants of order 3 and more using
transformations. Symmetric and Skew symmetric determinants, Circulant
determinants, Jacobi’s Theorem, product of determinants. Use of
determinants in solution to the system of linear equations.
Week 8-9 Row reduction and echelon forms, the solution of matrix equations AX=B,
linear independence, Applications of linear equations, inverse of a matrix.
Practical work.
Week 10 Rank of a matrix, row-rank, column-rank, standard theorems on ranks,
rank of the sum and the product of two matrices. Practical work.
Week 11 Generalized inverse (concept with illustrations). Practical work.
Week 12 Partitioning of matrices and simple properties. Practical work.
Week 13-14 Characteristic roots and Characteristic vector, Properties of characteristic
roots, Cayley Hamilton theorem. Practical work.
Week 15 Quadratic forms, Linear orthogonal transformation and their digitalization.
Practical work.

Facilitating the Achievement of Course Learning Outcomes:

Unit Course Learning Outcomes Teaching and Assessment Tasks
No. Learning Activity
I Theory of Equations. Class room Solving problems.
lectures.
II, III The fundamental concepts of Class room Solving problems.
matrices and determinants. lectures with
practical work.
III Echelon form, Linear Class room Solving problems.
equations. lectures with
practical work.
IV Rank of a Matrix, Class room Class test*.
Characteristic roots and lectures with
vectors, Quadratic forms. practical work.
IV Partitioning of matrices. Class room Assignment* work on
lectures with different kinds of partitioned
practical work. matrices.
IV Generalized inverse. Class room Identification of cases for
lectures with application.
practical work.
*As per the requirements of Internal Assessment for B.Sc. (Hons.).
Keywords: Theory of Equations, The fundamental concepts of matrices and determinants,
Echelon form, Linear equations, Rank of a Matrix, Characteristic roots and vectors,

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