Important Short Questions of LA

Q1. What is Characteristic equation and one of its major advantages?

Ans: The characteristic equation is the equation which is solved to find a
matrix's eigenvalues. If A is an n x n matrix, then λ is an eigenvalue of A if it
satisfies the equation.
det (A - λI) = 0
This is called the characteristic equation of A.
Advantage: For finding eigen values we use characteristic equation.
Q2. Define Eigen Vector and Eigen Value?

Ans:

Eigen Vector Eigen Value

Let A be an n × n matrix. An Let A be an n × n matrix. An
eigenvector of A is a nonzero vector v eigenvalue of A is a scalar λ such that
in Rn such that Av = λ v , for some the equation Av = λ v has a nontrivial
scalar λ . solution.
If Av = λ v for v ≠ 0, we say that λ is the eigenvalue for v , and that v is an
eigenvector for λ .

Q3. Define similar matrices?

Ans: If A and B are square matrices, we say that B is similar to A if there is an

invertible matrix P such that B = P-1AP. Where P is a non-singular n × n matrix.
Q4. Define linearly independent vectors with example?
Ans: The vectors v1, ..., vn are called linearly independent if there are no non-
trivial combination of these vectors equal to the zero vector. That is, the vector
V1, ..., Vn are linearly independent if K1V1 + ... + KnVn = 0 if and only if K1 = 0, ...,
Kn = 0.
Q5. Define linearly dependent vectors with example?
Ans: The vectors v1, ..., vn are called linearly dependent if there exists a non-
trivial combination of these vectors is equal to the zero vector.

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Q6. What is meant by echelon form and reduced echelon form of matrix?

Ans: A matrix is in row echelon form when it satisfies the following conditions.

 The first non-zero element in each row, called the leading entry, is 1.
 Each leading entry is in a column to the right of the leading entry in
the previous row.
 Rows with all zero elements, if any, are below rows having a non-zero
element.

A matrix is in reduced row echelon form when it satisfies the following

conditions.

 The matrix is in row echelon form (i.e., it satisfies the three

conditions listed above).
 The leading entry in each row is the only non-zero entry in its column.

Q7. Give example of augmented matrix?

Ans:

Q8. Differentiate between singular matrix and non-singular matrix?

Ans: A square matrix A is called singular, if det(A) = 0.
If det(A) ≠ 0 then it is a non-singular matrix.

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Q9. Define Hermitian and skew Hermitian matrix?

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Q10. What is trace of a matrix?

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Q11. What is L-U decomposition?
Ans: LU decomposition of a matrix is the factorization of the given square
matrix into two triangular matrices, one upper triangular matrix and one lower
triangular matrix, such that the product of these two matrices gives the
original matrix.
Q12. Define linear span?
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Q13. Define symmetric and skew symmetric matrix?

Ans: A square matrix A is called a symmetric matrix, if AT = A.
A square matrix A is called a skew – symmetric matrix, if AT = -A.

Q14. Write two application areas of Eigen vectors?

Ans: Many applications of matrices in both engineering and science utilize
eigenvalues and, sometimes, eigenvectors. Control theory, vibration analysis,
electric circuits, advanced dynamics and quantum mechanics are just a few of
the application areas.

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Q15. Define Row equivalent matrices?
Ans: Matrices A and B are said to be row equivalent if each can be obtained
from the other by a sequence of elementary row operations.
Q16. If A and B are invertible matrices with the same size then show
(AB)-1 = B-1 A-1?
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Q17. Find vector P1 P2 when P1 (2, -1, 4) and P2 (7, 5, -8)?

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Q18. Define orthogonal vector? show that u = (-2, 3, 1, 4) and v = (1, 2, 0, -1)
are orthogonal vectors?
Ans:

Q19. Define subspace of a vector space?

Ans: A subset W of a vector space V is called a subspace of V if W is itself a
vector space under the addition and scalar multiplication defined on V.
Q20. Define Zero vector space and subspace?
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Q21. Write standard basis of Rn?
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Q22. What is meant by X = Xp+ Xh?

Ans: General form of solution sets. If Xp is any particular solution to the linear
system AX = b, then any other solutions to AX = b may be written in the form
X = Xp + Xh ,
where Xh is some solution to AX = 0.
Q23. What is meant by diagonalization?
Ans: Diagonalization is the process of transforming a matrix into diagonal form.

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Q24. Define the fourier series?
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Q25. What do you mean by the diagonal matrix?

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Q26. Define basis of a vector space?

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Q27. Define linear equation by writing its standard form?

Ans: An equation between two variables that gives a straight line when plotted
on a graph is called linear equation. The standard form of a linear equation in
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one variable is represented as ax + b = 0 where, a ≠ 0 and x is the variable.
The standard form of a linear equation in two variables is represented as
ax + by + c = 0, where, a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0 , x and y are the variables.

Q28. what is meant by positive definite matrix?

Ans: A square matrix is positive definite if pre-multiplying and post-multiplying

it by the same vector always gives a positive number as a result, independently
of how we choose the vector. Positive definite symmetric matrices have the
property that all their eigenvalues are positive.

Q29. Write the standard basis for R3?

Ans: The standard basis for R3 is following:

Q30. Define linear equation in xy-plane?

Ans:

this equation is called linear equation.

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Q31. What do you mean by the linear combination of a vector space?
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Q32. Define dimension of vector space and subspace?

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Q33. Differentiate between Eigen space and Eigen basis?

Ans:
Eigen space Eigen basis
The set of all solutions to A basis for a vector space consisting
entirely of eigenvectors is called
or equivalently
eigen basis.
is called the eigen
space of "A" corresponding to "l".

Q34. Define Laplace Expansion?

Ans: The Laplace expansion is a formula that allows to express the determinant
of a matrix as a linear combination of determinants of smaller matrices, called
minors. The Laplace expansion also allows to write the inverse of a matrix in
terms of its signed minors, called cofactors.

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Q35. Differentiate between Hermitian and unitary Matrices?
Ans: A matrix ‘A’ is called Hermitian matrix if transpose of conjugate of matrix
A is equal to A. A matrix ‘A’ is called Unitary matrix if transpose of conjugate of
matrix A is equal to inverse of A.

Q36. Define cofactor Expansion of Matrices?

Ans:

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Q37. Define complex vector space?
Ans: A complex vector space is one in which the scalars are complex numbers.
Thus, if v1, v2, … , vm are vectors in a complex vector space, then linear
combination is of the form
c1 v1 + c2 v2 + …. + cm vm
where the scalars c1 , c2 , … , cm are complex numbers.
Q38. Define Orthogonal projecton?
Ans: If u and a are vectors in Rn , and of a ≠ 0, then u can be expressed in
exactly one way in the form u = w1 + w2, where w1 is a scalar multiple of a and
w2 is orhtogonal to a. The w1 is called the orthogonal projection of u on a, and
the vector w2 is called the vector component of u orthogonal to a.

Q39. Define upper and lower triangular matrices?

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Q40. Define the determinant of the transpose?
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Q41. Define the properties of the Determinants?

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Q42. Define the column space, row space and null space?
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Q43. Show that a finite set that contains 0 is linearly dependent?
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Q44. Explain why the following form linearly dependent set of vectors.
u1 = (-1, 2, 4) and u2 = (5, -10, -20)?
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Q45. What is relation between rank, nullity and dimension of vector space?
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Q46. Find eigen values of following matrix ?

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Q47. Define unit vector?

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Q48. If u and v are orthogonal vectors in a real inner product space, then

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Q49. Check whether A is singular or not?

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Q50. Find C21 , if

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Q51. Find the angle between u and v, u = (1, -5, 1), v = (0, 0, -1)?
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Q52. If u = (5, -1, 2), find norm of u?
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Q53. Let A be the matrix

find P(A) where P(x) = x3 -2x + 4?

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Q54. Is given matrix symmetric?

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Q55. Find P(A) for P(x) = x2 -2x -3 and

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Q56. Find inverse of

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Q57. Find ‘a’ and ‘b’ if

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Q58. Find AB & BA

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Q59. Prove (AB)T = BT AT

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Q60. What is linear programming?
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Q61. Is (5, 11) a linear combination of (1, 0) and (0, 1)

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Q62. Express the matrix equation as a system of linear equation

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Q63. Find M12 , M22 , M32 for the matrix

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Q64. Check given matrix is Hermitian or not

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Ans:

Q65. Define Vector Space?

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Q66. Compute u + v and ku for u = (-1, 2), v = (3, 4) and k=3?

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Q67. Find the cosine of the angle between the vectors w.r.t the Euclidean
inner product u = (1, -3), v = (2, 4)
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Q68. Determine whether the vectors are orthogonal w.r.t the Euclidean inner
product u = (-1, 3, 2), v = (4, 2, -1)?

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Ans:

Q69. What do you mean by linear algebra?

Ans: Linear algebra is a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of
linear combinations. It is the study of vector spaces, lines and planes, and some
mappings that are required to perform the linear transformations. It includes
vectors, matrices and linear functions. It is the study of linear sets of equations
and its transformation properties.
Q70. Differentiate between scalar and vector quantities?
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Q71. Differentiate between dot product and length?

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Q72. What do you mean by Matrix?
Ans: Matrix is an arrangement of numbers into rows and columns.

Q73. Give a short description on discrete transformation?

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Q74. What do you mean by Markov matrices?
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Q75. What do you mean by a solution?

Ans: A solution to a linear system is an assignment of values to the variables
such that all the equations are simultaneously satisfied. For example the
system given below

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5x + y = 3
2x – y = 4
has the solution x = 1, y = -2.
Q76. Define a complex vector?
Ans: An imaginary vector is defined as a sum of two real vectors of which one
has been multiplied by the imaginary scalar or unit imaginary . An
imaginary vector A is then defined as
A = a+ib.

Q78. What do mean by orthonormal and orthogonal bases?

Ans:

Q79. What do you mean by the elimination in matrices?

Ans: Gaussian elimination, also known as row reduction, is an algorithm for
solving systems of linear equations. It consists of a sequence of operations
performed on the corresponding matrix of coefficients. This method can also
be used to compute the rank of a matrix, the determinant of a square matrix,
and the inverse of an invertible matrix.
Q80. Determine whether the given matrix is elementary or not

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Q81. Find inverse of given matrix if exists.

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Q82. Find the value of k for which the matrix is invertible

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Q83. Let v = (0 , 5) and w = (-1 , 4) find the components of v+w?
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Q84. Let v = (-2, 3, 0, 6), find all scalars k such that ||kv|| = 5?
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Q85. Is the vector v = (2, 1, 1) a linear combination of u = (1, 1, 1) and v =

(1,0,1).
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Q86. Determine whether u and v are orthogonal vectors or not u = (1, 2, -1)
v=(0, 1, 1)?
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Q87. State Cauchy Schwarz Inequality?
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Q89. Find ū, Re(u), Im(u) and ||u|| if u = (2 - i, 4i , 1 + i)?

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Q90. Show that the given set form a basis for R2 {(2, 1)(3, 0)}?
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Written By
M.UZAIR

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