In Class Assignment 1 Solutions

1. Let t1 , t2 , . . . be distinct real numbers. Find the LU factorization of the following Vandermonde matrices


1 1
A=
t1 t2

1
B = t1
t21
Solution: See in class assignment 1 solutions.

1
t2
t22

1
t3
t23

2. Suppose A = LU is a regular matrix. Write down the LU factorization of AT . Prove that

AT is also regular, and its pivots are the same as the pivots of A.
Proof. Let A be a regular matrix. By theorem 1.29, A can be factored uniquely as A =
LDV . Using the fact that
AT = (LDV )T = V T DT LT = V T DLT ,
along with the observations that V T is a special lower triangle matrix and LT is a special
upper triangular matrix. If we call V T = L0 , DLT = U 0 and LT = V 0 , this yields the
following decomposition
AT = L0 DV 0 = L0 U 0 .
Since this is an LDV decomposition (and LU factorization) of AT , we can use theorem 1.29
again to conclude that AT is regular. Next, observe that the pivots of a matrix are the
nonzero entries on the diagonal of D in the LDV decomposition. Using this, we see that A
and AT have the same pivots.


3. Find the LDV factorization of the following matrix

1
2
0

1
3
2

1
1
1

Solutions: Doing the regular LU factorization of the above matrix, we have:

1
1
1

1
3
2

1
1
2 = 1
0
1

0
1
1
2

1
0
0 0
1
0

1
2
0

1
1
32

Breaking U into a DV decomposition gives

1
1
1

1
3
2

1
1
2 = 1
0
1

0
1
1
2

1
0
0 0
1
0

0
2
0

0
1
0 0
0
32

1
1
0

1
2

4. Two matrices A and B are said to be similar, written A B if there exists and invertible
matrix S such that B = S 1 AS. Prove the following
(a) A A
(b) If A B, then B A
(c) If A B and B C, then A C
(d) If A B, then det A = det B.
Solution:
(a) Let S = I. Then we see that A = I 1 AI.
(b) Let A B, then there is an invertible matrix S such that B = S 1 AS. Define
S 0 = S 1 . Then A = S 01 BS
(c) Let A B and B C, then there exists invertible matrices S1 and S2 such that
B = S11 AS and C = S21 BS2 . Next define S 0 = S1 S2 . Then
C = S21 BS2 = S21 S11 AS1 S2 = S 01 AS 0 .
Therefore A C.
(d) Let A B with B = S 1 AS. Then
det(B) = det(S 1 AS)
= det(S 1 ) det(A) det(S)
= det(A) det(S 1 ) det(S)
= det(A) det(S 1 S)
= det(A) det(I)
= det(A)