MAT 1341 Midterm Test #2 Solution

Winter 2014
March 22nd, 10.00-11.20h
(1) [1 point] Which of the following is not a subspace of R
3
?
(a) {(x, y, z)|x = y and x = z}
(b) {(x, y, z)|x = y and y z}
(c) {(x, y, z)|(x, y, z) (1, 1, 1) = 0}
(d) {t(1, 0, 5)|t R}
(e) {(x, y, z)|x + y + z = 0}.
Solution. (a) is the intersection of the planes x = y and x = z; since these are
not parallel this is a line through the origin, hence a subspace. (Alternatively, its
the set of solutions to a homogeneous system.)
(b) is not a subspace because its not closed under scalar multiplication, e.g.,
(0, 0, 1) is in the set but 1(0, 0, 1) is not.
(c) is a plane through the origin with normal (1, 1, 1).
(d) is a line through the origin.
(e) is a plane through the origin (same plane as in (c)).
(2) [1 point] Suppose A and B are 3x3 matrices with det(A) = 2, det(B) = 3. What
is the determinant of 2A
3
B
T
(A
2
B)
1
?
(a) 16
(b) 16
(c) 48
(d) 48
(e) 4
(f) 4
(g) None of the above.
Solution. Use |(A
2
B)
1
| =
1
|A
2
B|
=
1
|A|
2
|B|
, so that
| 2A
3
B
T
(A
2
B)
1
| = (2)
3
|A|
|
B|
1
|A|
2
1
|B|
= 8|A| = 16.
(3) [1 point] What is the adjacency matrix of the graph 1
//

3
//
4
?
(a)

0 0 0 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1
0 1 1 0

(b)

0 1 0 0
1 0 0 1
0 1 0 0
1 0 1 0

(c)

0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
1 1 0 0
1 1 1 0

(d)

0 1 1 0
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 1
1 0 1 0

Solution. The adjacency matrix has a 1 as its (j,i)-entry when node i is connected
to node j, and a 0 otherwise. Since node 1 connects to nodes 2,3,4, this means that
the rst column of the matrix has entries 0,1,1,1. And so forth, giving (c) as correct
answer.
1
(4) [1 point] Consider the vectors

1
0
1

0
1
1

and

1
a
0

, where a is a real number. For

which value(s) of a are these vectors linearly independent?
(a) a = 1
(b) a = 1
(c) a = 2
(d) a = 2
(e) a = 1
(f) a = 1
(g) None of the above.
Solution. Form the matrix

1 0 1
0 1 a
1 1 0

1 0 1
0 1 a
0 1 1

. We see that it has rank 3

precisely when a = 1.
(5) [1 point] Suppose A =

a b c
d e f
g h i

and det(A) = 2. What is the determinant of

2a g 2b h 2c i
3g 3h 3i
d e f

?
(a) 3
(b) 12
(c) 3
(d) 12
(e) 11
(f) 11
(g) None of the above
Solution. Use the eect of row operations on the determinant. First, we multiply
the rst row by 2. Then we subtract the third row from the rst. Next, swap
rows 2 and 3. Finally multiply row 2 by 3. The net eect is a determinant of
2 1 3 det(A) = 12.
(6) Give an example of each of the following. You dont have to explain your answers.
(a) [1 point] A 3x3 matrix with rank 1 which is diagonalizable.
(b) [1 point] A subset U of R
2
which is closed under scalar multiplication but not
under addition.
(c) [1 point] Vectors x, y, z R
3
such that each of {x, y}, {x, z} and {y, z} are
linearly independent, but {x, y, z} is linearly dependent.
Solution.
(a) [1 point] Simply take a diagonal matrix with rank 1, e.g.

5 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0

.
(b) [1 point] Take e.g. {(x, y)|x = y or x = y}.
(c) [1 point] For example (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), (1, 1, 0).
(7) True or False? If true, explain why (you may refer to facts you learned in class or
in the book). If false, give a counterexample.
(a) [2 points] If a square matrix A is invertible, then it is diagonalizable.
(b) [2 points] If the REF of a 2x2 matrix has a row of zeros, then it is not
diagonalizable.
(c) [2 points] If Span{x} = Span{x, y}, then {x, y} is linearly dependent.
Solution.
(a) [2 points] False, take for example a rotation matrix such as

0 1
1 0

.
(b) [2 points] False, consider the zero matrix (which has a row of zeros and is
diagonalizable).
(c) [2 points] True; if Span{x} = Span{x, y}, then every vector of the form tx+sy
can be written as rx for some r. In particular we can write y = rx, showing
that y is a scalar multiple of x.
(8) Consider the matrix A =

0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0

.
(a) [2 points] Find the characteristic polynomial of A, and use this to show that
the eigenvalues of A are 2 and 1.
(b) [2 points] For each eigenvalue of A, nd the corresponding eigenvectors.
(c) [1 point] Give an invertible matrix P and a diagonal matrix D such that
A = P
1
DP.
Solution.
(a) [2 points] Calculate
det

1 1
1 1
1 1

= (
2
1) 1( 1) + (1 + ) =
3
+ 3 + 2.
By plugging in = 1 and = 2, it is easily seen that these are roots.
(b) [2 points] For = 1, the system
A(1)I =

1 1 1
1 1 1
1 1 1

1 1 1
0 0 0
0 0 0

has solutions z = t, y = s, x = s t, i.e. (x, y, z) = t(1, 0, 1) + s(1, 1, 0).

For = 2, the system
A2I =

2 1 1
1 2 1
1 1 2

1 1 2
0 3 3
0 3 3

1 1 2
0 1 1
0 0 0

has solutions z = t, y = t, x = t + 2t = t, i.e. (x, y, z) = t(1, 1, 1).

(c) [1 point] Take D =

2 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 1

and P =

1 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0

.
(9) Let T : R
2
R
2
be the linear transformation which rst performs a rotation by

4
counterclockwise and then a reection in the x-axis.
(a) [2 points] Find the standard matrix A for T.
(b) [1 point] What is T

4
3

?
Solution. Test T on (1, 0) and (0, 1):
T

1
0

1
2

1
2

; T

0
1

1
2

1
2

These form the columns of A =

1
2

1 1
1 1

.
To nd T

4
3

calculate
T

4
3

= A

4
3

=
1
2

1 1
1 1

4
3

=
1
2

7
1

.
[Bonus] Mayonnaise is a very popular topping for french fries in Holland. Sometimes, it is
combined with another topping to form a combination which is referred to as War
fries. Which topping is that?
Solution. Peanut sauce.