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• Determine When the Given Matrix Invertible For which choice(s) of the constant $k$ is the following matrix invertible? \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 &2 &k \\ 1 & 4 & k^2 \end{bmatrix}.\]   (Johns Hopkins University, Linear Algebra Exam)   Hint. An $n\times n$ matrix is […]
• True or False. The Intersection of Bases is a Basis of the Intersection of Subspaces Determine whether the following is true or false. If it is true, then give a proof. If it is false, then give a counterexample. Let $W_1$ and $W_2$ be subspaces of the vector space $\R^n$. If $B_1$ and $B_2$ are bases for $W_1$ and $W_2$, respectively, then $B_1\cap B_2$ is a […]
• Nilpotent Ideal and Surjective Module Homomorphisms Let $R$ be a commutative ring and let $I$ be a nilpotent ideal of $R$. Let $M$ and $N$ be $R$-modules and let $\phi:M\to N$ be an $R$-module homomorphism. Prove that if the induced homomorphism $\bar{\phi}: M/IM \to N/IN$ is surjective, then $\phi$ is surjective.   […]
• If the Quotient by the Center is Cyclic, then the Group is Abelian Let $Z(G)$ be the center of a group $G$. Show that if $G/Z(G)$ is a cyclic group, then $G$ is abelian. Steps. Write $G/Z(G)=\langle \bar{g} \rangle$ for some $g \in G$. Any element $x\in G$ can be written as $x=g^a z$ for some $z \in Z(G)$ and $a \in \Z$. Using […]
• Determine the Quotient Ring $\Z[\sqrt{10}]/(2, \sqrt{10})$ Let \[P=(2, \sqrt{10})=\{a+b\sqrt{10} \mid a, b \in \Z, 2|a\}\] be an ideal of the ring \[\Z[\sqrt{10}]=\{a+b\sqrt{10} \mid a, b \in \Z\}.\] Then determine the quotient ring $\Z[\sqrt{10}]/P$. Is $P$ a prime ideal? Is $P$ a maximal ideal?   Solution. We […]
• Eigenvalues of a Matrix and its Transpose are the Same Let $A$ be a square matrix. Prove that the eigenvalues of the transpose $A^{\trans}$ are the same as the eigenvalues of $A$.   Proof. Recall that the eigenvalues of a matrix are roots of its characteristic polynomial. Hence if the matrices $A$ and $A^{\trans}$ […]
• Explicit Field Isomorphism of Finite Fields (a) Let $f_1(x)$ and $f_2(x)$ be irreducible polynomials over a finite field $\F_p$, where $p$ is a prime number. Suppose that $f_1(x)$ and $f_2(x)$ have the same degrees. Then show that fields $\F_p[x]/(f_1(x))$ and $\F_p[x]/(f_2(x))$ are isomorphic. (b) Show that the polynomials […]
• The Product of a Subgroup and a Normal Subgroup is a Subgroup Let $G$ be a group. Let $H$ be a subgroup of $G$ and let $N$ be a normal subgroup of $G$. The product of $H$ and $N$ is defined to be the subset \[H\cdot N=\{hn\in G\mid h \in H, n\in N\}.\] Prove that the product $H\cdot N$ is a subgroup of […]