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• Find a Condition that a Vector be a Linear Combination Let \[\mathbf{v}=\begin{bmatrix} a \\ b \\ c \end{bmatrix}, \qquad \mathbf{v}_1=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 2 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, \qquad \mathbf{v}_2=\begin{bmatrix} 2 \\ -1 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix}.\] Find the necessary and […]
• All Linear Transformations that Take the Line $y=x$ to the Line $y=-x$ Determine all linear transformations of the $2$-dimensional $x$-$y$ plane $\R^2$ that take the line $y=x$ to the line $y=-x$.   Solution. Let $T:\R^2 \to \R^2$ be a linear transformation that maps the line $y=x$ to the line $y=-x$. Note that the linear […]
• Extension Degree of Maximal Real Subfield of Cyclotomic Field Let $n$ be an integer greater than $2$ and let $\zeta=e^{2\pi i/n}$ be a primitive $n$-th root of unity. Determine the degree of the extension of $\Q(\zeta)$ over $\Q(\zeta+\zeta^{-1})$. The subfield $\Q(\zeta+\zeta^{-1})$ is called maximal real subfield.   Proof. […]
• Questions About the Trace of a Matrix Let $A=(a_{i j})$ and $B=(b_{i j})$ be $n\times n$ real matrices for some $n \in \N$. Then answer the following questions about the trace of a matrix. (a) Express $\tr(AB^{\trans})$ in terms of the entries of the matrices $A$ and $B$. Here $B^{\trans}$ is the transpose matrix of […]
• A Group with a Prime Power Order Elements Has Order a Power of the Prime. Let $p$ be a prime number. Suppose that the order of each element of a finite group $G$ is a power of $p$. Then prove that $G$ is a $p$-group. Namely, the order of $G$ is a power of $p$. Hint. You may use Sylow's theorem. For a review of Sylow's theorem, please check out […]
• For Which Choices of $x$ is the Given Matrix Invertible? Determine the values of $x$ so that the matrix \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & x \\ 1 &x &x \\ x & x & x \end{bmatrix}\] is invertible. For those values of $x$, find the inverse matrix $A^{-1}$.   Solution. We use the fact that a matrix is invertible […]
• Diagonalize the 3 by 3 Matrix if it is Diagonalizable Determine whether the matrix \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 \\ -1 &0 &0 \\ 0 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}\] is diagonalizable. If it is diagonalizable, then find the invertible matrix $S$ and a diagonal matrix $D$ such that $S^{-1}AS=D$.   How to […]
• All the Eigenvectors of a Matrix Are Eigenvectors of Another Matrix Let $A$ and $B$ be an $n \times n$ matrices. Suppose that all the eigenvalues of $A$ are distinct and the matrices $A$ and $B$ commute, that is $AB=BA$. Then prove that each eigenvector of $A$ is an eigenvector of $B$. (It could be that each eigenvector is an eigenvector for […]