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• Dot Product, Lengths, and Distances of Complex Vectors For this problem, use the complex vectors \[ \mathbf{w}_1 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 + i \\ 1 - i \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} , \, \mathbf{w}_2 = \begin{bmatrix} -i \\ 0 \\ 2 - i \end{bmatrix} , \, \mathbf{w}_3 = \begin{bmatrix} 2+i \\ 1 - 3i \\ 2i \end{bmatrix} . \] Suppose $\mathbf{w}_4$ is […]
• If Two Matrices Have the Same Rank, Are They Row-Equivalent? If $A, B$ have the same rank, can we conclude that they are row-equivalent? If so, then prove it. If not, then provide a counterexample.   Solution. Having the same rank does not mean they are row-equivalent. For a simple counterexample, consider $A = […]
• Inner Products, Lengths, and Distances of 3-Dimensional Real Vectors For this problem, use the real vectors \[ \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{bmatrix} -1 \\ 0 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix} , \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 2 \\ -3 \end{bmatrix} , \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{bmatrix} 2 \\ 2 \\ 3 \end{bmatrix} . \] Suppose that $\mathbf{v}_4$ is another vector which is […]
• Is the Sum of a Nilpotent Matrix and an Invertible Matrix Invertible? A square matrix $A$ is called nilpotent if some power of $A$ is the zero matrix. Namely, $A$ is nilpotent if there exists a positive integer $k$ such that $A^k=O$, where $O$ is the zero matrix. Suppose that $A$ is a nilpotent matrix and let $B$ be an invertible matrix of […]
• The Length of a Vector is Zero if and only if the Vector is the Zero Vector Let $\mathbf{v}$ be an $n \times 1$ column vector. Prove that $\mathbf{v}^\trans \mathbf{v} = 0$ if and only if $\mathbf{v}$ is the zero vector $\mathbf{0}$.   Proof. Let $\mathbf{v} = \begin{bmatrix} v_1 \\ v_2 \\ \vdots \\ v_n \end{bmatrix} $. Then we […]
• A One Side Inverse Matrix is the Inverse Matrix: If $AB=I$, then $BA=I$ An $n\times n$ matrix $A$ is said to be invertible if there exists an $n\times n$ matrix $B$ such that $AB=I$, and $BA=I$, where $I$ is the $n\times n$ identity matrix. If such a matrix $B$ exists, then it is known to be unique and called the inverse matrix of $A$, denoted […]
• 7 Problems on Skew-Symmetric Matrices Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ skew-symmetric matrices. Namely $A^{\trans}=-A$ and $B^{\trans}=-B$. (a) Prove that $A+B$ is skew-symmetric. (b) Prove that $cA$ is skew-symmetric for any scalar $c$. (c) Let $P$ be an $m\times n$ matrix. Prove that $P^{\trans}AP$ is […]
• Any Automorphism of the Field of Real Numbers Must be the Identity Map Prove that any field automorphism of the field of real numbers $\R$ must be the identity automorphism.   Proof. We prove the problem by proving the following sequence of claims. Let $\phi:\R \to \R$ be an automorphism of the field of real numbers […]