Department of Mathematics, IIT Madras

MA2101 Linear Algebra via Matrices

Assignment 1

1. For each of the following system of linear equations, find the number of solutions geometrically:
(a) 𝑥 1 + 2𝑥 2 = 4, −2𝑥 1 − 4𝑥2 = 4
(b) −𝑥 1 + 2𝑥 2 = 3, 2𝑥 1 − 4𝑥2 = −6
(c) 𝑥 1 + 2𝑥 2 = 1, 𝑥1 − 2𝑥 2 = 1, −𝑥 1 + 6𝑥2 = 3
Answer: (a) No solution, (b) Infinite solutions, (c) Unique solution.

2. Show that the system of linear equations 𝑎 1 𝑥 1 + 𝑥 2 = 𝑏 1 , 𝑎 2 𝑥 1 + 𝑥 2 = 𝑏 2 has a unique solution if 𝑎 1 ≠ 𝑎 2 .

Is the converse true? Answer: Converse is true.
2 2
3. Compute 𝐴𝐵, 𝐶 𝐴, 𝐷𝐶, 𝐷𝐶 𝐴𝐵, 𝐴 , 𝐷 and 𝐴 𝐵 , where 3 2

    −1 2 3 2 1
2 3 4 −1    
𝐴= , 𝐵= , 𝐶 =  2 −1 , 𝐷 = 4 −6 0 .
1 2 4 0  1 3 1 −2 −2
   
  0 1  2 7   124 −11
20 −2    
Answer: 𝐴𝐵 = , 𝐶 𝐴 = 3 4 , 𝐷𝐶 = −16 14  , 𝐷𝐶 𝐴𝐵 =
   −152 18  ,
12 −1 5 9  −7 −2

−164
     16 
   18 − 8 1   
7 12   1032 −284
𝐴2 = , 𝐷 2 = −12 44 4 , 𝐴3 𝐵2 =
4 7  −7 596 −164
 18 5 

2×2 with 𝑎
 𝐴 = [𝑎 𝑖 𝑗 ] ∈ F
4. Let 11 ≠ 0. Let 𝑏 = 𝑎 21 /𝑎 11 . Show that there exists 𝑐 ∈ F such that 𝐴 =
1 0 𝑎 11 𝑎 12
. What could be 𝑐? Answer: 𝑐 = (𝑎 11 𝑎 22 − 𝑎 12 𝑎 21 )/𝑎 11
𝑏 1 0 𝑐
5. Let 𝐴 ∈ F𝑚×𝑛 and let 𝐵 ∈ F𝑛×𝑘 . For 1 ≤ 𝑖 ≤ 𝑚, 1 ≤ 𝑗 ≤ 𝑘, show that
(a) ( 𝐴𝐵)𝑖★ = 𝐴𝑖★ 𝐵 (b) ( 𝐴𝐵)★ 𝑗 = 𝐴 𝐵★ 𝑗
6. Construct two 3 × 3 matrices 𝐴 and 𝐵 such that 𝐴𝐵 = 0 but 𝐵𝐴 ≠ 0.
0 0 0 0 1 0
   
Answer: Consider the following 3 × 3 matrices: 𝐴 = 0 0 1 , 𝐵 = 0 0 0 .
 
0 0 0 0 0 0
   

7. Can you construct invertible 2 × 2 matrices 𝐴 and 𝐵 such that 𝐴𝐵 = 0? Answer: Not Possible.
8. Let 𝐴, 𝐵 ∈ F 𝑛×𝑛 be such that 𝐴𝐵 = 0. Then which of the following is/are true, and why?
(a) At least one of 𝐴 or 𝐵 is the zero matrix.
(b) At least one of 𝐴 or 𝐵 is invertible.
(c) At least one of 𝐴 or 𝐵 is non-invertible.
(d) If 𝐴 ≠ 0 and 𝐵 ≠ 0, then neither is invertible. Answer: (a) False, (b) False, (c) True, (d) True
9. Let 𝐴 be the 4 × 4 matrix whose super diagonal entries are all 1, and all other entries 0. Show that 𝐴𝑛 = 0
for 𝑛 ≥ 4.
10. Let 𝐴 be the 4 × 4 matrix with each diagonal entry as 21 , and each non-diagonal entry as − 12 . Compute 𝐴𝑛
for 𝑛 ∈ N. Answer: 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴 (if 𝑛 is odd), and 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐼 (if 𝑛 is even)

1
11. Determine 𝐴𝑡 , 𝐴, 𝐴∗ , 𝐴∗ 𝐴 and 𝐴𝐴∗ , where
 1 −2 + 𝑖 3 − 𝑖 
 −1 2 3 1   
   𝑖 −1 − 𝑖 2𝑖 
(a) 𝐴 =  2 −1 0 3 
  (b) 𝐴 = 
 0 −1 −3 1   1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖 −3 
   −2 0 −𝑖 

Answer:
 −1 2 0   5 −4 −3 5 
    15 −1 −10
 2 −1 −1  −4 6 9 −2  
(a) 𝐴 = 
𝑡 , 𝐴 = 𝐴, 𝐴∗ = 𝐴𝑡 , 𝐴∗ 𝐴 =   ∗
 −3 9 18 0  , 𝐴𝐴 =  −1 14 4  .
 
 3 0 −3   −10 4 11 
 1 3 1   5 −2 0 11   
  
(b) 𝐴𝑡 , 𝐴, 𝐴∗ are trivial. Now,
 16 −1 − 10𝑖 −9 − 2𝑖 −1 + 3𝑖 
 16 −6 + 𝑖 2 + 10𝑖  
−1 + 10𝑖
∗ 7 4 − 6𝑖 −2 − 2𝑖 
𝐴𝐴∗ = 

𝐴 𝐴 =  −6 − 𝑖
 8 −9 − 6𝑖  and .
2 − 10𝑖 −9 + 6𝑖 24   −9 + 2𝑖 4 + 6𝑖 20 −2 − 9𝑖 
  −1 − 3𝑖 −2 + 2𝑖 −2 + 9𝑖 5 


12. Let 𝐴 ∈ C𝑚×𝑛 . Suppose 𝐴𝐴∗ = 𝐼𝑚 . Does it follow that 𝐴∗ 𝐴 = 𝐼𝑛 ?

13. Show the following:
(a) 𝐸 𝑖 𝑗 𝐸 𝑗𝑚 = 𝐸 𝑖𝑚 ; and if 𝑗 ≠ 𝑘, then 𝐸 𝑖 𝑗 𝐸 𝑘𝑚 = 0.
Í𝑛 Í𝑛
(b) Each 𝐴 = [𝑎 𝑖 𝑗 ] ∈ F𝑛×𝑛 can be written as 𝐴 = 𝑖=1 𝑗=1 𝑎 𝑖 𝑗 𝐸 𝑖 𝑗 .
14. Compute 𝐸 [2, 3] 𝐴, 𝐸 𝑖 [2] 𝐴, 𝐸 −1/2 [1, 3] 𝐴 and 𝐸 𝑖 [1, 2] 𝐴, where
 1 −2 + 𝑖 3 − 𝑖 
 −1 2 3 1   
   𝑖 −1 − 𝑖 2𝑖 
(a) 𝐴 =  2 −1 0 3 
  (b) 𝐴 =  
 0 −1 −3 1   1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖 −3 
   −2 0 −𝑖 

Answer:
−1 2 3 1 −1 2 3 1 
   
(a) 𝐸 [2, 3] 𝐴 =  0 −1 −3 1 , 𝐸 𝑖 [2] 𝐴 =  2𝑖 −𝑖 0 3𝑖 
 
 2 −1 0 3  0 −1 −3 1 
   
−1 2.5 4.5 0.5 −1 + 2𝑖 2 − 𝑖 3 1 + 3𝑖 
   
𝐸 −1/2 [1, 3] 𝐴 =  2 −1 0 3  , 𝐸 𝑖 [1, 2] 𝐴 =  2 −1 0 3 
 0 −1 −3 1   0 −1 −3 1 
  
 1 −2 + 𝑖 3 − 𝑖   1 −2 + 𝑖 3 − 𝑖 
   
1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖 −3   −1 1 − 𝑖 −2 
(b) 𝐸 [2, 3] 𝐴 = 
 , 𝐸 𝑖 [2] 𝐴 = 1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖
 
 𝑖 −1 − 𝑖 2𝑖   −3 

 −2 −𝑖 
0  −2 0 −𝑖 
 

0.5 − 1.5𝑖 −2 + 1.5𝑖 4.5 − 𝑖  1+𝑖 −1 1 − 𝑖 
  
 𝑖 −1 − 𝑖 2𝑖   𝑖 −1 − 𝑖 2𝑖 
𝐸 −1/2 [1, 3] 𝐴 =  , 𝐸 𝑖 [1, 2] 𝐴 = 
 1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖 −3  1 + 3𝑖 −𝑖 −3 

 −2 −𝑖 
0  −2 0 −𝑖 
 


15. Let 𝛼 be a nonzero scalar. Show the following:

(a) (𝐸 [𝑖, 𝑗]) 𝑡 = 𝐸 [𝑖, 𝑗], (𝐸 𝛼 [𝑖]) 𝑡 = 𝐸 𝛼 [𝑖], (𝐸 𝛼 [𝑖, 𝑗]) 𝑡 = 𝐸 [ 𝑗, 𝑖].
(b) (𝐸 [𝑖, 𝑗]) −1 = 𝐸 [𝑖, 𝑗], (𝐸 𝛼 [𝑖]) −1 = 𝐸 1/𝛼 [𝑖], (𝐸 𝛼 [𝑖, 𝑗]) −1 = 𝐸 − 𝛼 [𝑖, 𝑗].
16. For each of the following pairs of matrices, find an elementary matrix 𝐸 such that 𝐵 = 𝐸 𝐴.

2
  2 1 3   2 1 3
  
(a) 𝐴 =  3 1 4  , 𝐵 =  −2 4 5 
 −2 4 5   1 5 9
  
 4 −23   3 −2 1 
  
(b) 𝐴 =  1 0 2  , 𝐵 =  1 0 2 
0 3 5  0 3 5
  
1 0 0 1 −1 0
  
Answer: (a) 𝐸 = 0 0 1 , (b) 𝐸 = 0 1 0

0 1 1 0 0 1
  

17. For each of the following pairs of matrices, find an elementary matrix 𝐸 such that 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐸 . [Hint: The
requirement is 𝐵𝑡 = 𝐸 𝑡 𝐴𝑡 .]
3 1 4 4 1 3
   
(a) 𝐴 =  4 1 2  , 𝐵 =  2 1 4 
 
2 3 1 1 3 2
   
 2 −2 3   4 −2 3 
   
(b) 𝐴 =  −1 4 2  , 𝐵 =  −2 4 2 
 3 1 −2   6 1 −2 
   
0 0 1 2 0 0
   
Answer: (a) 𝐸 = 0 1 0 , (b) 𝐸 = 0 1 0
 
1 0 0 0 0 1
   

18. Which of the following matrices are in RREF, and which are not?
1 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1
     
(a)  0 0 1 3  (b)  0 0 1 3  (c)  0 1 0 1  . Answer: (a) No (b) Yes (c) Yes
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
     
19. Compute the RREF of the following matrices:
 1 2 1 −1 
0 0 1  2 −1 −1 0   
    0 2 3 3
(a)  0 1 0  (b)  1 0 1 −4  (c)  
 1 −1 −3 −4 

1 0 0  0 1 −1 −4 
     1 1 5 −2 
 
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 0 0 −3  
    0 1 0 0
Answer: (𝑎) 0 1 0 , (𝑏) 0 1 0 −5 , (𝑐)  .
0 0 1 0

0 0 1 0 0 1 −1
    0 0 0 1
 

 1 2 0 3 1 −2 
 
0 0 1 2 4 5
20. Suppose the RREF of a matrix 𝐴 is equal to  .
0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0
 
If 𝐴★1 = [1, 1, 3, 4] 𝑡 and 𝐴★3 = [2, −1, 1, 3] 𝑡 , then determine 𝐴★6 . Answer: 𝐴★6 = [8, −7, 1, 7] 𝑡
21. Consider the row vectors 𝑣 1 = [1, 2, 3, 4], 𝑣 2 = [2, 0, 1, 1], 𝑣 3 = [−3, 2, 1, 2], and 𝑣 4 = [1, −2, −2, −3].
Construct a row vector 𝑣 ∈ R4×1 which is not expressible as 𝑎𝑣 1 + 𝑏𝑣 2 + 𝑐𝑣 3 + 𝑑𝑣 4 for any 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 ∈ R.
[Hint: Compute the RREF of 𝐴 = [𝑣 1𝑡 𝑣 2𝑡 𝑣 3𝑡 𝑣 4𝑡 ]. ]
22. For each 𝑛 > 2, construct an 𝑛 × 𝑛 nonzero matrix where no row is a scalar multiple of another row but
its determinant is 0.

3
  1 0 0 1 

−1
 −1 1 0 1 
23. Compute 𝐴 using adj( 𝐴), where 𝐴 =  .
 −1 −1 1 1 
 −1 −1 −1 1 

1/2 −1/4 −1/8 −1/8
 
 0 1/2 −1/4 −1/4
Answer: 𝐴 −1 =
 .
 0 0 1/2 −1/2 

1/2 1/4 1/8 1/8 
 

24. Let 𝐴, 𝐵 ∈ F3×3 with det( 𝐴) = 2 and det(𝐵) = 3. Determine

(a) det(4𝐴) (b) det( 𝐴𝐵) (c) det(5𝐴𝐵) (d) det(2𝐴 −1 𝐵)
Answer: (a) 128 (b) 6 (c) 750 (d) 12

25. Let 𝐴, 𝐵 ∈ F2×2 and let 𝐸 = [𝑒 𝑖 𝑗 ] with 𝑒 11 = 𝑒 22 = 0, 𝑒 12 = 𝑒 21 = 1. Show that if 𝐵 = 𝐸 𝐴, then

det( 𝐴 + 𝐵) = det( 𝐴) + det(𝐵).
26. Give examples of 𝐴 and 𝐵 in R2×2 so that det( 𝐴 + 𝐵) ≠ det( 𝐴) + det(𝐵).
   
1 0 2 1
Answer: Take 𝐴 = and 𝐵 =
0 1 0 1

27. Compute the inverses of the following matrices, if possible:

 3 1 1 2
 2 1 2  1 4 −6   
     1 2 0 1
(a)  1 3 1 
  (b)  −1 −1 3 
  (c) 
 
 −1 1 2   1 −2 3   1 1 2 −1 

     −2 1 −1 3 
 
7 5 −2 −1 
 2 4 −1 1 0 2

36
 −2 36 9 4 
 51 15 3  32 3 5 1
2 1

9 9 9 0 
Answer: (a) − 5 5 0  (b)  3 1 3  (c)  5 −17 5 1 
 11 −1 1  1 2 1  36 36 9 4 
 15 3  3 3 3  1 −1 0 1 
4 4 4 

 
2 1
28. Let 𝐴 = . Express 𝐴 and 𝐴 −1 as products of elementary matrices.
6 4
     
−1 1/2 0 1 0 1 −1/2
Answer: (a) 𝐴 = 𝐸 1 𝐸 2 𝐸 3 , (b) 𝐴 = 𝐸 3 𝐸 2 𝐸 1 , where 𝐸 1 = , 𝐸2 = , 𝐸3 =
0 1 −6 1 0 1

   
5 2 3 4
29. Given matrices 𝐴 = and 𝐵 = , find matrices 𝑋 and 𝑌 such that 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐵 and 𝑌 𝐴 = 𝐵. [Hint:
3 1 1 2
Both 𝐴 and 𝐵 are invertible.]
   
−1 0 9 −14
Answer: 𝑋 = , 𝑌=
4 2 5 −8

30. Show that if 𝐴 is an upper triangular invertible matrix, then so is 𝐴 −1 .

31. Show that if 𝐴 is a lower triangular invertible matrix, then so is 𝐴 −1 .
32. Can every square matrix be written as a sum of two invertible matrices? Answer: Yes (over R and C)
33. Can every invertible matrix be written as a sum of two non-invertible matrices? Answer: Yes