Category: Linear Algebra

Is the Linear Transformation Between the Vector Space of 2 by 2 Matrices an Isomorphism?

Problem 528

Let $V$ denote the vector space of all real $2\times 2$ matrices.
Suppose that the linear transformation from $V$ to $V$ is given as below.
\[T(A)=\begin{bmatrix}
2 & 3\\
5 & 7
\end{bmatrix}A-A\begin{bmatrix}
2 & 3\\
5 & 7
\end{bmatrix}.\] Prove or disprove that the linear transformation $T:V\to V$ is an isomorphism.

 
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Unit Vectors and Idempotent Matrices

Problem 527

A square matrix $A$ is called idempotent if $A^2=A$.


(a) Let $\mathbf{u}$ be a vector in $\R^n$ with length $1$.
Define the matrix $P$ to be $P=\mathbf{u}\mathbf{u}^{\trans}$.

Prove that $P$ is an idempotent matrix.


(b) Suppose that $\mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{v}$ be unit vectors in $\R^n$ such that $\mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{v}$ are orthogonal.
Let $Q=\mathbf{u}\mathbf{u}^{\trans}+\mathbf{v}\mathbf{v}^{\trans}$.

Prove that $Q$ is an idempotent matrix.


(c) Prove that each nonzero vector of the form $a\mathbf{u}+b\mathbf{v}$ for some $a, b\in \R$ is an eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue $1$ for the matrix $Q$ in part (b).

 
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How to Prove a Matrix is Nonsingular in 10 Seconds

Problem 509

Using the numbers appearing in
\[\pi=3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749\dots\] we construct the matrix \[A=\begin{bmatrix}
3 & 14 &1592& 65358\\
97932& 38462643& 38& 32\\
7950& 2& 8841& 9716\\
939937510& 5820& 974& 9
\end{bmatrix}.\]

Prove that the matrix $A$ is nonsingular.

 
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The Formula for the Inverse Matrix of $I+A$ for a $2\times 2$ Singular Matrix $A$

Problem 505

Let $A$ be a singular $2\times 2$ matrix such that $\tr(A)\neq -1$ and let $I$ be the $2\times 2$ identity matrix.
Then prove that the inverse matrix of the matrix $I+A$ is given by the following formula:
\[(I+A)^{-1}=I-\frac{1}{1+\tr(A)}A.\]

Using the formula, calculate the inverse matrix of $\begin{bmatrix}
2 & 1\\
1& 2
\end{bmatrix}$.

 
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10 True of False Problems about Nonsingular / Invertible Matrices

Problem 500

10 questions about nonsingular matrices, invertible matrices, and linearly independent vectors.

The quiz is designed to test your understanding of the basic properties of these topics.

You can take the quiz as many times as you like.

The solutions will be given after completing all the 10 problems.
Click the View question button to see the solutions.

 
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The Matrix for the Linear Transformation of the Reflection Across a Line in the Plane

Problem 498

Let $T:\R^2 \to \R^2$ be a linear transformation of the $2$-dimensional vector space $\R^2$ (the $x$-$y$-plane) to itself which is the reflection across a line $y=mx$ for some $m\in \R$.

Then find the matrix representation of the linear transformation $T$ with respect to the standard basis $B=\{\mathbf{e}_1, \mathbf{e}_2\}$ of $\R^2$, where
\[\mathbf{e}_1=\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
0
\end{bmatrix}, \mathbf{e}_2=\begin{bmatrix}
0 \\
1
\end{bmatrix}.\]

 
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A Matrix Commuting With a Diagonal Matrix with Distinct Entries is Diagonal

Problem 492

Let
\[D=\begin{bmatrix}
d_1 & 0 & \dots & 0 \\
0 &d_2 & \dots & 0 \\
\vdots & & \ddots & \vdots \\
0 & 0 & \dots & d_n
\end{bmatrix}\] be a diagonal matrix with distinct diagonal entries: $d_i\neq d_j$ if $i\neq j$.
Let $A=(a_{ij})$ be an $n\times n$ matrix such that $A$ commutes with $D$, that is,
\[AD=DA.\] Then prove that $A$ is a diagonal matrix.

 
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Determine Whether There Exists a Nonsingular Matrix Satisfying $A^4=ABA^2+2A^3$

Problem 486

Determine whether there exists a nonsingular matrix $A$ if
\[A^4=ABA^2+2A^3,\] where $B$ is the following matrix.
\[B=\begin{bmatrix}
-1 & 1 & -1 \\
0 &-1 &0 \\
2 & 1 & -4
\end{bmatrix}.\]

If such a nonsingular matrix $A$ exists, find the inverse matrix $A^{-1}$.

(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Final Exam Problem)
 
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Compute $A^{10}\mathbf{v}$ Using Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of the Matrix $A$

Problem 485

Let
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & -14 & 4 \\
-1 &6 &-2 \\
-2 & 24 & -7
\end{bmatrix} \quad \text{ and }\quad \mathbf{v}=\begin{bmatrix}
4 \\
-1 \\
-7
\end{bmatrix}.\] Find $A^{10}\mathbf{v}$.

You may use the following information without proving it.
The eigenvalues of $A$ are $-1, 0, 1$. The eigenspaces are given by
\[E_{-1}=\Span\left\{\, \begin{bmatrix}
3 \\
-1 \\
-5
\end{bmatrix} \,\right\}, \quad E_{0}=\Span\left\{\, \begin{bmatrix}
-2 \\
1 \\
4
\end{bmatrix} \,\right\}, \quad E_{1}=\Span\left\{\, \begin{bmatrix}
-4 \\
2 \\
7
\end{bmatrix} \,\right\}.\]

(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Final Exam Problem)

 
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Find a Basis of the Vector Space of Polynomials of Degree 2 or Less Among Given Polynomials

Problem 481

Let $P_2$ be the vector space of all polynomials with real coefficients of degree $2$ or less.
Let $S=\{p_1(x), p_2(x), p_3(x), p_4(x)\}$, where
\begin{align*}
p_1(x)&=-1+x+2x^2, \quad p_2(x)=x+3x^2\\
p_3(x)&=1+2x+8x^2, \quad p_4(x)=1+x+x^2.
\end{align*}

(a) Find a basis of $P_2$ among the vectors of $S$. (Explain why it is a basis of $P_2$.)

(b) Let $B’$ be the basis you obtained in part (a).
For each vector of $S$ which is not in $B’$, find the coordinate vector of it with respect to the basis $B’$.

(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Final Exam Problem)

 
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