# Tagged: matrix equation

## Problem 656

Suppose that an $n \times m$ matrix $M$ is composed of the column vectors $\mathbf{b}_1 , \cdots , \mathbf{b}_m$.

Prove that a vector $\mathbf{v} \in \R^n$ can be written as a linear combination of the column vectors if and only if there is a vector $\mathbf{x}$ which solves the equation $M \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{v}$.

## Problem 561

Let $A$ be a singular $n\times n$ matrix.
Let
$\mathbf{e}_1=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ \vdots \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, \mathbf{e}_2=\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ \vdots \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}, \dots, \mathbf{e}_n=\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ \vdots \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}$ be unit vectors in $\R^n$.

Prove that at least one of the following matrix equations
$A\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{e}_i$ for $i=1,2,\dots, n$, must have no solution $\mathbf{x}\in \R^n$.

## Problem 102

Determine whether the following systems of equations (or matrix equations) described below has no solution, one unique solution or infinitely many solutions and justify your answer.

(a) $\left\{ \begin{array}{c} ax+by=c \\ dx+ey=f, \end{array} \right.$ where $a,b,c, d$ are scalars satisfying $a/d=b/e=c/f$.

(b) $A \mathbf{x}=\mathbf{0}$, where $A$ is a singular matrix.

(c) A homogeneous system of $3$ equations in $4$ unknowns.

(d) $A\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{b}$, where the row-reduced echelon form of the augmented matrix $[A|\mathbf{b}]$ looks as follows:
$\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 0 &1 & 2 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix}.$ (The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Exam)