Homework 8: Exercise 5.

1 Solution
 Linear Algebra – Math 205
Exercise Set of Lect 12
(SPRING 2023)
Date: 20/02/2023

Note: In the previous solution, question 26, 27 28’s solution not correct. So, it
is updated in this version.

Exercise Set 5.1 Solution

Question 06
The set of all pairs of real numbers of the form (x, y) , where x ≥ 0, with the
standard operations on R2 .
Solution: It does not satisfy the axiom 5 of vector space. See the previous solution.

Question 11
The set of all real-valued functions f defined everywhere on the real line and such
that f (1) = 0 , with the operations defined in Example 4.
Solution: It satisfies all axioms of vector space, one can consider f (x) = x − 1
which satisfies f (1) = 0. See the previous solution.

Question 26
It was shown in Exercise 14 above that the set of polynomials of degree 1 or less is a
vector space under the operations stated in that exercise. Is the set of polynomials
whose degree is exactly 1 a vector space under those operations? Explain your
reasoning.
Solution: It does not contain zero vector hence it is not vector space, i,e. x − x = 0

Question 27
Consider the set whose only element is the moon. Is this set a vector space under
the operations moon + moon = moon and k(moon) = moon for every real number
k? Explain your reasoning.
Solution: Yes, moon has to be the zero element because moon + moon = moon
means that ’moon’ fulfills the definition of the additive identity.

Question 28
Do you think that it is possible to have a vector space with exactly two distinct
vectors in it? Explain your reasoning
Solution: No, the fact that all scalar multiples are included means that it has
infinite vectors.

1
 Linear Algebra – Math 205
Exercise Set of Lect 13
(SPRING 2023)
Date: 23/02/2023

Homework 8: Exercise Set 5.2 Solution

Question 01
Use Theorem 5.2.1 to determine which of the following are subspaces of R3 .
(a) All vectors of the form (a, 0, 0).
Solution: Using Theorem 5.2.1
Let u = (a, 0, 0) and v = (b, 0, 0)

u + v = (a, 0, 0) + (b, 0, 0) = (a + b, 0, 0) = (c, 0, 0)

ku = k(a, 0, 0) = (ka, 0, 0) = (d, 0, 0)

Hence, it is a vector space.
(b) All vectors of the form (a, 1, 1).
Solution: Using Theorem 5.2.1
u = (a, 1, 1) and v = (b, 1, 1)

u + v = (a, 1, 1) + (b, 1, 1) = (a + b, 2, 2) = (c, 2, 2)

Hence, it is not a vector space.

(c) All vectors of the form (a, b, c) , where b = a + c.
Solution: Using Theorem 5.2.1
Let u = (a1 , b1 , c1 ) and v = (a2 , b2 , c2 )

u + v = (a1 , b1 , c1 ) + (a2 , b2 , c2 ) ⇒ (b1 + b2 ) = (a1 + a2 ) + (c1 + c2 ) ⇒ b3 = a3 + c3

ku = k(a, b, c) ⇒ k(b = a + c) ⇒ kb = ka + kc
Hence, it is a vector space.
(d) All vectors of the form (a, b, c) , where b = a + c + 1.
Solution: Using Theorem 5.2.1
Let u = (a1 , b1 , c1 ) and v = (a2 , b2 , c2 )

u+v = (a1 , b1 , c1 )+(a2 , b2 , c2 ) ⇒ (b1 +b2 ) = (a1 +a2 )+(c1 +c2 )+(1+1) ⇒ b3 = a3 +c3 +2

Hence, it is not a vector space.

(e) All vectors of the form (a, b, 0).
Solution: Using Theorem 5.2.1
Let u = (a1 , b1 , 0) and v = (a2 , b2 , 0)

u + v = (a1 , b1 , 0) + (a2 , b2 , 0) = (a1 + a2 , b1 + b2 , 0) = (a3 , b3 , 0)

ku = k(a1 , b1 , 0) = (ka1 , kb1 , 0) = (a4 , b4 , 0)

Hence, it is a vector space.

1
Question 02
2. Use Theorem 5.2.1 to determine which of the following are subspaces of M2×2
(a) All 2 × 2 matrices with integer entries
Solution: To be a subspace it needs to be closed under scalar multiplication (and
addition); and the set of 2 × 2 matrices with integer entries is not. For example, take
any 2 × 2 matrix with non-zero integer entries and multiply it by 1/2; the resulting
matrix will not be a matrix with integer entries and so it will not be in our set.
Mathematically,    1 
1 1 1 2 2 1
u= = 3
2 2 3 4 2 2
 
a b
(b) All matrices where a + b + c + d = 0
c d
   
a b a1 b1
Solution: Let u = and v = where a + b + c + d = 0 and
c d c1 d1
a1 + b1 + c1 + d1 = 0 , so by using Theorem 5.2.1
       
a b a1 b1 a + a1 b + b1 a2 b2
u+v = + = =
c d c1 d1 c + c1 d + d1 c2 d2

where (a+a1 )+(b+b1 )+(c+c1 )+(d+d1 ) = (a+b+c+d)+(a1 +b1 +c1 +d1 ) = 0+0 = 0
   
a b ka kb
ku = k =
c d kc kd

where (ka) + (kb) + (kc) + (kd) = k(a + b + c + d) = k(0) = 0. Hence it is a subspace.

(c) All 2 × 2 matricessuch that
 det(A) = 0. It is a subspace.
1 0 0 0
Solution: Let u = and v = , hence det(u) = det(v) = 0 but
0 0 0 1
det(u + v) = 1. Hence it is not
 a subspace.

a b
(d) all matrices of the form
0 c
   
a b a1 b1
Solution: Let u = and v = . It is a subspace, it is closed under
0 d 0 d1
addition and scalar multiplication , u + v and ku.
       
a b a1 b1 a + a1 b + b1 a2 b2
u+v = + = =
0 d 0 d1 0 d + d1 0 d2
   
a b ka kb
ku = k =
0 d 0 kd
 
a a
(e) all matrices of the form
−a −a
Solution: It is not a subspace, it is not closed under scalar multiplication when k
is negative.

Question 05
Use Theorem 5.2.1 to determine which of the following are subspaces of Mnn .
(a) all n × n matrices A such that tr(A) = 0
Solution: It is a subspace, one can show the following conditions.
Trace of a zero matrix is zero, so zero matrix must belongs here.

2
Any two matrices A1 , A2 , it is closed under addition. A1 + A2 ⇒ tr(A1 + A2 ) =
tr(A1 ) + tr(A2 ) = 0 + 0 = 0. Addition is matrices is component-wise.
Scalar multiplication is also closed since kA1 ⇒ tr(kA1 ) = 0, k(tr(A1 )) = k0 = 0
(b) all n × n matrices A such that AT = −A
Solution:
We will prove that it is a subspace. The zero vector 0 is the space, and it is
skew-symmetric because 0T = 0 = −0 Thus it is not empty set.
For condition, take arbitrary elements A, B. The matrices A, B are skew-symmetric,
namely, we have AT = −A and B T = −B. We show that A + B belongs here. , or
equivalently we show that the matrix A+B is skew-symmetric.
We have
(A + B)T = AT + B T = −A + (−B) = −(A + B)
. Therefore the matrix A+B is skew-symmetric and condition 2 is met.
To prove the last condition, We show that kA is skew-symmetric.

(kA)T = kAT = k(−A) = −kA

. Hence kA is skew-symmetric.
(c) All n × n matrices A such that the linear system Ax = 0 has only the trivial
solution.
Solution: It is not a subspace.
Since Ax= 0 has −1
 only trivial
 solution implies A exists.
2 1 −2 −1
Let u = and v = are both invert-able but u + v is not invert-
1 1 −1 −1
able.
(d) All n × n matrices A such that BA = AB for a fixed n × n matrix B
Solution: It is a subspace.
Zero matrix belongs to the subspace.

B0 = 0B = 0

Closed under addition

BA1 + BA2 = A1 B + A2 B ⇒ B(A1 + A2 ) = (A1 + A2 )B ⇒ BA3

Closed under scalar multiplication.

B(kA1 ) = (kA1 )B = k(AB)