T HE U NIVERSITY OF S YDNEY

P URE M ATHEMATICS

Linear Mathematics Intensive January Session 2024

Tutorial 2 — Solutions

1. Vectors v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , v5 , v6 are the vectors:

     −4       
0 0 1 2 0
v1 = 0 v2 = 5 v3 = 4 v4 = 1 v5 = 0 v6 = 2
0 2 0 1 1 1

Write each of the vectors v1 , v2 and v3 as a linear combination of the three vectors {v4 , v5 , v6 },
if possible.
Solution To express a vector v ∈ R3 as a linear combination of {v 5 , v6 }, we have to find
4 , v
x
scalars a, b, c ∈ R such that av4 + bv5 + cv6 = v. Writing v = yz , this is equivalent to
solving the following system of linear equations

a +2b = x,
a +2c = y,
a +b +c = z.
 
0
When v = v1 = 0 no calculation is necessary because 0 = 0v4 + 0v5 + 0v6 . (The zero
0
vector can always be written as a linear combination of any set of vectors.)
We now solve the two cases where v = v2 and v = v3 simultaneously by computing with a
“doubly augmented” matrix:
1 2 0 0 −4
!
1 0 2 5 4 ,
1 1 1 2 0
where the last two columns are the vectors v2 and v3 , respectively. Using Gaussian elimination
we find that:
1 2 0 0 −4 ! 1 2 0 0 −4 !
R2 :=R2 −R1
1 0 2 5 4 −−−−−−−→ 0 −2 2 5 8
1 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 2 0
1 2 0 0 −4
!
R :=R −R
−−3−−−3−−→
1
0 −2 2 5 8
0 −1 1 2 4
R2 ←→R3 1 2 0 0 −4 !
R2 :=R2 ×−1
−−−−−−−→ 0 1 −1 −2 −4
0 −2 2 5 8
1 2 0 0 −4
!
R :=R +2R
3 3 2
−− −−− −−→ 0 1 −1 −2 −4
0 0 0 1 0

The first column of the augmented matrix (or column 4 of the matrix), corresponds to v = v2 .
This system of equations is inconsistent, so there is no solution. That is, v2 cannot be written
as a linear combination of v4 , v5 and v6 .
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 2 — Solutions Page 2

The second column of the augmented matrix (or column 5 of the matrix), corresponds to
v = v3 . This system of equations has a solution; in fact, c is a free variable and there are
an infinite number of solutions. Set c = t, a parameter. By back substitution, b = t − 4 and
a = −2b − 4 = 8 − 2t − 4 = 4 − 2t. Hence, v3 = (4 − 2t)v4 + (t − 4)v5 + tv6 , for any t ∈ R.
In particular, taking t = 0, we see that v3 = 4(v4 − v5 ).

 
2. Let A = 1 2 3
.
2 5 4
a) Determine Null(A) and interpret it geometrically.
b) Show that Col(A) = R2 .    
c) Write each of the vectors 10 and 01 as a linear combination of the columns of A.
Solution  
1 2 3
a) The matrix A reduces to 0 1 −2 .
n  −7  o
Hence Null(A) = t 2 | t ∈ R ; this corresponds to a line in R3 .
1 a    
b) Col(A) = R if there is a solution to A cb = xy for any xy . The augmented matrix
2

for this system of equations reduces as follows:

! !
1 2 3 x 1 2 3 x
2 5 4 y
−→ 0 1 −2 y − 2x
 
So, for any xy , there are infinitely many solutions for a, b, c, namely c = t,
b = 2t + y − 2x, a = −7t + 5x − 2y, where t ∈ R.   
c) There are infinitely many ways to write the vectors 0 and 01 as a linear combination
1

of the columns of A. We give two examples for each (using t = 0 and t = 1 in the
formulas for a, b and c found in part b)).
               
1 = 5 1 −2 2 +0 3 ; 1 = −2 1 +0 2 +1 3
0 2 5 4 0 2 5 4
               
0 = −2 12 + 1 25 + 0 34 ; 0 = −9 12 + 3 25 + 1 34
1 1

3. Recall that F is the vector space of functions from R to R, with the usual operations of addition
and scalar multiplication of functions. For each of the following subsets of F, write down two
functions that belong to the subset, and determine whether or not the subset is a vector subspace
of F.
a) The set of polynomials of degree equal to 3.
b) The set { f : R −→ R | f (1) = 1 }.
c) The set { f : R −→ R | f (−x) = −f (x) for all x ∈ R }.
Solution
a) Both a and b, where a(x) = x3 and b(x) = −x3 , belong to this set.
However, a(x) + b(x) = 0, so a + b does not belong to the set. Hence this set is not closed
under addition and so is not a vector subspace of F.
b) Both a and b, where a(x) = 1 and b(x) = x, belong to this set.
However, a(x) + b(x) = x + 1, so (a + b)(1) = 2, showing that a + b does not belong to
this subset of F. Hence, the set is not closed under addition and so not a vector subspace
of F.
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 2 — Solutions Page 3

c) This is the set of all odd functions. Let F− be the set of odd functions. Then F− is clearly
non-empty. (The zero function is an odd function, as is f (x) = x, for example.)
If f and g are two functions in F− then
(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = −f (x) − g(x) = −(f + g)(x).
−
Hence, F is closed under addition. Also, if r ∈ R then
(rf )(−x) = r · f (−x) = −r · f (x) = −(rf )(x),
so r · f ∈ F− . Therefore, F− is a vector subspace of F.
n 1   o
2
4. Let X = 1
−2
, 3 . Span(X) can be interpreted as a plane in 3 dimensional space. Find
5
the equation of this plane.
x
Solution The vector yz ∈ Span(X) if and only if
 1    x
2
a −21 + b 3 = yz ,
5

for some a, b ∈ R. Applying Gaussian elimination we get

1 2 x ! R2 :=R2 −R1 1 2 x !
R3 :=R3 +2R1
1 3 y −−−−−−−→ 0 1 y−x
−2 5 z 0 9 2x + z

1 2 x
!
R3 :=R3 −9R2
−−−−−−−→ 0 1 y−x
0 0 11x − 9y + z
x
Hence, yz ∈ Span(X) if and only if 11x−9y+z = 0. Therefore, Span(X) can be interpreted
geometrically as the plane 11x − 9y + z = 0.

5. For each of the sets of vectors X ⊂ R3 below, explicitly describe all of the vectors in the
subspace Span(X) of R3 . (Use set notation to describe Span(X), and/or give a geometric
interpretation.) n   o
1 1
a) X = {0}. d) X = 1 , 0 .
n   0   o
1
n o
1
b) X = 1 . 1 1 1
n 1   o e) X = 1 , 0 , 1 .
1 2 1 0 0
c) X = 1 , 2 .
1 2
Solution n o n o
0 0
a) Span 0 = 0 .
n o n 0r 
0 o
1
b) Span 1 = r
r
r ∈ R . We can interpret this set geometrically as the straight
1
linein 3-dimensional
  space
n passing
  o through thenorigin
oandnthe rpoint(1,
 1, o
1).
2 1 1 2 1
c) As 2 = 2 1 , Span 1 , 2 = Span 1 = r
r
r∈R .
2 1 1 2 1
d)
n   o n     o
1 1 1 1
Span 1 , 0 = r 1 + s 0 r, s ∈ R
1 0
n 1  0
o
r+s
= r r, s ∈ R
r
nx o
3
= y
z
∈ R y = z .
We can also describe Span(X) geometrically as the plane in R3 with equation y = z.
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 2 — Solutions Page 4

n     o n  r+s+t  o
1 1 1
e) Span 1 , 0 , 1 = r+t r, s, t ∈ R . We can analyze Span(X) alge-
1 0  0x  r

braically. A vector z ∈ Span(X) if and only if

y

x      
1 1 1
y
z
= a 1 +b 0 +c 1 ,
1 0 0

for some a, b, c ∈ R. Using Gaussian elimination we can simplify this to

1 1 1 x
! R2 :=R2 −R1 1 1 1 x
!
R3 :=R3 −R1
1 0 1 y −−−−−−−→ 0 −1 0 y−x
1 0 0 z 0 −1 −1 z − x
R2 :=R2 ×−1 1 1 1 x !
R :=R +R
−−3−−−3−−→
2
0 1 0 x−y
0 0 −1 z − y

Hence,c =
x
 y − z, b = x − y and a = x − (x − y) − (y − z) = z. In particular, for any
vector yz we can always find suitable a, b, c ∈ R, so Span(X) = R3 .
Note that we now have given two quite different “explicit” descriptions of Span(X):
n  r+s+t  o
r+t r, s, t ∈ R = Span(X) = R3 .
r

(A priori, it is not obvious that the left hand side of this equation gives R3 .)

6. The vector space P2 consists of all polynomials of degree less than or equal to 2.
Let X = {p1 , p2 , p3 } ⊂ P2 , where p1 (x) = x + 2, p2 (x) = 3 − x, p3 (x) = x2 − x, for all
x ∈ R.
a) Show that X spans P2 . (That is, show that Span(X) = P2 .)
b) Let p4 (x) = 2x2 − x − 3. Show that {p2 , p3 , p4 } does not span P2 .
Solution
a) We must show that every vector in P2 can be written as a linear combination of p1 , p2 , p3 .
That is, if p is an arbitrary element of P2 , such that p(x) = α + βx + γx2 say, then we
have to show that p(x) = ap1 (x) + bp2 (x) + cp3 (x), for some a, b, c ∈ R. Expanding this
equation we see that we require that
a(x + 2) + b(3 − x) + c(x2 − x) = α + βx + γx2 .
Looking at the constant term and the coefficients of x and x2 we obtain the following three
equations:
2a + 3b =α
a − b − c =β
c =γ
To solve for a, b and c we apply Gaussian elimination to the augmented matrix:
2 3 0 α ! 1 −1 −1 β !
R1 ←→R2
1 −1 −1 β −−−−−→ 2 3 0 α
0 0 1 γ 0 0 1 γ
1 −1 −1 β !
R2 :=R2 −2R1
−−−−−−−→ 0 5 2 α − 2β
0 0 1 γ

Hence, c
= γ, b = 15 α − 2β − 2c = 15 α − 2β − 2γ and a = β + b + c = β + 15 α −

2β − 2γ + γ = 15 α + 35 γ + 35 β. In particular, we can always solve for a, b and c, so

Span(X) = P2 as required.
 Linear Mathematics Tutorial 2 — Solutions Page 5

b) To show that Span{p2 , p3 , p4 } 6= P2 we need to find an element of P2 which is not a linear

combination of these three polynomials. Once again, let p be an arbitrary element of P2 ,
where p(x) = α + βx + γx2 . Then p belongs to Span{p2 , p3 , p4 } if and only if we can
find a, b, c ∈ R such that ap2 (x) + bp3 (x) + cp4 (x) = p(x); that is

a(3 − x) + b(x2 − x) + c(2x2 − x − 3) = α + βx + γx2 .

Looking at the constant term and the coefficients of x and x2 gives us the following three
equations:
3a − 3c = α
−a − b − c = β
b + 2c = γ
We again reduce the associated augmented matrix to row echelon form:

3 0 −3 α
! R1 ←→R2 1 1 1 −β
!
R1 :=R1 ×−1
−1 −1 −1 β −−−−−−−→ 3 0 −3 α
0 1 2 γ 0 1 2 γ
1 1 1 −β !
R2 :=R2 −3R1
−−−−−−−→ 0 −3 −6 α + 3β
0 1 2 γ
1 1 1 1 −β !
R2 :=− R2
3
−−−−−−→ 0 1 2 − 13 α − β
0 1 2 γ
1 1 1 −β !
R :=R −R
−−3−−−3−−→
2
0 1 2 1
−3α − β
0 0 0 13 α + β + γ

Therefore, p belongs to the span of {p2 , p3 , p4 } if and only if 13 α +β +γ = 0. In particular,

if we take p such that p(x) = 1 (or 1 − 3x2 , or 1 + 5x + 7x2 , or . . . ) then p does not belong
to Span{p2 , p3 , p4 }.
Notice that p4 (x) = 2x2 − x − 3 = 2(x2 − x) + (x − 3) = 2p3 (x) − p2 (x). We will see
later why this means that Span{p2 , p3 , p4 } 6= P2 .

7. Suppose that V is a vector space and that v ∈ V . Use the vector space axioms to show that:
a) 0 × v = 0. b) −1 × v is the negative of v.
Solution
a) Using the vector space axioms we have

0×v =0+0×v by A4,

= −v + v + 0 × v by A5,
= −v + (1 + 0) × v by S3,
= −v + 1 × v
= −v + v by S5,
=0 by A5.
Linear Mathematics Tutorial 2 — Solutions Page 6

b) Using the vector space axioms,

v + (−1) × v = 1 × v + (−1) × v, by S5,

= (1 − 1) × v by S3,
=0×v
=0 by part (a).

Therefore, −1 × v is the negative of v.