Solutions to Math 51 Second Exam May 12, 2016

1. (10 points) Suppose S : R2 R2 and T : R2 R2 are the following linear transformations:

S rotates a vector v by 60" degrees
# counterclockwise and then multiplies the x-coordinate by 2.
 
1 1
(For example, S = 3 .)
0 2
1
T takes each vector v to v and then multiplies the x-coordinate by .
2
(a) Write down the matrix of S.
The matrix for counter clockwise rotation by 60 degrees is given by
 " 1 #
cos 60 sin 60 3

2 2
= .
sin 60 cos 60 3 1
2 2

The matrix for the transformation that multiplies the x-coordinate of a vector by 2 is given by
 
2 0
.
0 1

Hence the matrix of S is given by

" # " #
3
2 0 21 3

2
1

3 1
= 3 1 .
0 1 2 2
2 2

(b) Let M denote the matrix of T S. Find M .

   
1 0
Let e1 = and e2 = be the standard basis vectors in R2 . By definition of T we have
0 1

21
   
0
T (e1 ) = ; T (e2 ) = .
0 1

Hence the matrix of T is given by

21
 
0
.
0 1
Using the matrix of S obtained in part (a) we obtain
" # " #
3
 1
2 0
1 3 12 2
M= 3 1 = .
0 1 2 2 23 12

(c) Find M 6 ; simplify your answer as much as possible. (Hint: interpret the linear transformation
T S geometrically; what happens if you keep applying it successively 2, 3, 4, etc., times?)
Observe that T S is a rotation by 240 degrees counterclockwise. This can verified geometrically
by checking T S rotates both e1 and e2 counterclockwise by 240 degrees or simply by observing

cos 240 sin 240

 
M=
sin 240 cos 240

It follows that (T S), applied 6 times in succession, rotates every point in the plane by 1440
(= 360 4) degrees counterclockwise, which amounts to four full rotations. Hence T S, applied
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 2 of 14

six times in succession, is the identity transformation whose matrix M 6 is given by

 
6 1 0
M = .
0 1
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 3 of 14

2 3 2
2. (10 points) Let A be a 3 3 matrix satisfying: A 0 = e1 , A 2 = e1 + e2 , A 0 = e1 + e3 .
0 0 3
h1i
(Recall that e1 , e2 , e3 are the standard basis vectors in R3 ; that is, e1 = 0 , and so on.)
0
(a) Find A1 .
(Hint: you do not need to compute A to do this; suppose v2 is the second column
1
of A . What do you know about Av2 ?)
Do note that A is indeed invertible. This is so because its column space must contain e1 , e1 + e2 ,
e1 + e3 , and span(e1 , e1 + e2 , e1 + e3 ) = R3 , so A has full rank: 3.

2 2 2
Now, A 0 = e1 implies A1 e1 = 0. Hence the first column of A1 is 0.
0 0 0

3 3
Similarly A 2 = e1 + e2 implies A1 e1 + A1 e2 = 2, so
0 0

3 3 2 1
A1 e2 = 2 A1 e1 = 2 0 = 2 .
0 0 0 0

1
Thus, the second column of A1 is 2.
0

2 2
Finally A 0 = e1 + e3 implies A1 e1 + A1 e3 = 0, so
3 3

2 2 2 0
1 1
A e3 = 0 A e1 = 0 0 = 0 .

3 3 0 3

0
Therefore the third column of A1 is 0. All in all we obtain

3

2 1 0
A1 = 0 2 0 .
0 0 3

7
(b) Solve for x in the following equation: Ax = 4 .

2
We have
7 2 1 0 7 18
1
x=A 4 = 0 2 0
4 = 8 .

2 0 0 3 2 6

(c) Find det(A).

Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 4 of 14

Note that A1 is a diagonal matrix and det(A1 ) = 2 2 3 = 12. Hence

1 1
det(A) = = .
det(A1 ) 12
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 5 of 14

3. (10 points) Let C be the curve in R2 defined by x2 + 4xy + 5y 2 = 2.

(a) Find the equation of the line tangent to C at (1, 1).
Let f (x, y) = x2 + 4xy + 5y 2 . Then C is the level set given by f (x, y) = 2. We compute the
partial derivatives of f :

f f
= 2x + 4y = 4x + 10y,
x y
so
f f
(1, 1) = 2 (1) + 4 1 = 2 (1, 1) = 4 (1) + 10 1 = 6,
x y
The equation for the tangent line to C at (1, 1) is

f f
(1, 1)(x + 1) + (1, 1)(y 1) = 0,
x y
i.e.
2(x + 1) + 6(y 1) = 0.
 
1 4
(b) Let T : R2 R2 be the linear transformation whose matrix is given by A = . Show that
2 3
the image of the curve C under T is the circle x2 + y 2 = 10.
Note that the matrix A is invertible, so every point in R2 can be written in the form
      
x 1 4 x x + 4y
A = =
y 2 3 y 2x + 3y
 
x + 4y
in exactly one way. Now we see that a point of this form lies on the circle with
2x + 3y
equation x2 + y 2 = 10 precisely when

(x + 4y)2 + (2x + 3y)2 = 10.

This equation is the same as

x2 + 8xy + 16y 2 + 4x2 + 12xy + 9y 2 = 10,

i.e.
5x2 + 20xy + 25y 2 = 10
and dividing by 5 yields
x2 + 4xy + 5y 2 = 2.
This is precisely the equation of the curve
  C. Hence have
 shown that
 a point is on the given
x x + 4y x
circle if and only if it is of the form A = for a point on the curve C. This
y 2x + 3y y
means that the circle with equation x2 + y 2 = 10 is the image of the curve C under the linear
transformation T .
(c) The curve C is an ellipse in R2 (this follows from part (b), but you may assume this without
proof). Find the area enclosed by C. (Hint: use determinants and the result of part (b).)
Since the circle x2 + y 2 = 10 is the image of the curve C under the linear transformation given
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 6 of 14

by the matrix A, we know

(Area enclosed by circle x2 + y 2 = 10) = | det(A)| (Area enclosed by ellipse C).

2
The circle x2 + y 2 = 10 has radius 10 and area 10 = 10. The matrix A has determinant
det(A) = 1 3 4 2 = 3 8 = 5. Thus, | det(A)| = 5. Plugging these values in, we get

10 = 5 (Area enclosed by ellipse C),

so the area enclosed by the ellipse C is 2.

Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 7 of 14

4. (10 points) Below is a collection of level sets of a function f : R2 R at whole-number values. You
may assume that f and its first and second derivatives are continuous, and the length scales in the
x- and y-directions are equal.
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 8 of 14

Please refer to the level-set diagram of the function f : R2 R, as well as the stated assumptions
on f , as given on the facing page. For the questions below, you do not need to justify your answers.

(a) Sketch, on the plot, the direction of the gradient vector f at B.

At B, the gradient vector points downwards.

(b) Sketch, on the plot, the direction of the gradient vector f at F.

At F, the gradient vector points upwards and slightly to the left.

Note: In both (a) and (b) the gradient vector is in the direction of greatest increase, and
should be perpendicular to the nearest level sets.
f
(c) (Circle one) at A is: NEGATIVE ZERO POSITIVE
y
 
1
1
(d) (Circle one) Let v = ; then Dv f at C is: NEGATIVE ZERO POSITIVE
21
 
1 1
(e) (Circle one) Let v = 2 ; then Dv f at D is: NEGATIVE ZERO POSITIVE
1
 
1 1
(f) (Circle one) Let v = 2 ; then Dv f at E is: NEGATIVE ZERO POSITIVE
1
Note: In each of (c), (d), (e), (f), start at the point in question, and take a small step in the
relevant direction. Does the function increase, decrease or stay the same?
2f
(g) (Circle one) at E is: NEGATIVE POSITIVE
x2
2f
(h) (Circle one) at E is: NEGATIVE POSITIVE
y 2
2f
(i) (Circle one) at A is: NEGATIVE POSITIVE
xy
To examine a second derivative, look at the first derivative, take a small step in an appropriate
direction, and look at the first derivative again. How has it changed?
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 9 of 14

5. (8 points) Let G : R2 R2 be defined by

G(x, y) = (x2 y 2 4x + 4, 2xy 4y).

(a) Compute DG(1, 0); show your steps.

The matrix of partial derivatives DG is
 
2x 4 2y
DG(x, y) = .
2y 2x 4

At the point (1, 0), this is  

2 0
DG(1, 0) = .
0 2

(b) Let H : R2 R2 be defined by H(x, y) = G(G(G(x, y))). Show that H(1, 0) = (1, 0).
We calculate that
G(1, 0) = (1 0 4 + 4, 0 0) = (1, 0).
Thus G fixes the point (1, 0), so G applied three times to (1, 0) is (1, 0).

(c) Use linear approximation to estimate H(0.95, 0.03); simplify your answer as much as possible.
We calculate as follows, using the chain rule:
 
0.95 1
H(0.95, 0.03) H(1, 0) + DH(1, 0)
0.03 0
   
1 0.05
= + DG(G(G(1, 0)))DG(G(1, 0))DG(1, 0)
0 0.03
   3  
1 2 0 0.05
= +
0 0 2 0.03
    
1 8 0 0.05
= +
0 0 8 0.03
   
1 0.40
= +
0 0.24
 
1.4
= .
0.24
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 10 of 14

6. (10 points) Suppose that f : R2 R is a differentiable function with the following properties:
f (1, 2) = 5
 
The derivative of f at the point a = (1, 2) is Df (1, 2) = 1 3 .
 
3 2
The Hessian of f at the point a = (1, 2) is Hf (1, 2) = .
2 1
(a) Give a unit vector u in R2 for which moving away from the point a = (1, 2) in the direction u
initially leads to approximately no change in the value of f .
We want to find a unit vector u R2 such that Du f = 0. Since Du f = f u, we want to find
a unit vector u such that f u = 0, i.e. such that u is orthogonal to f . Now
 
1
f = Df T = ,
3
   
1 x
so we need to find a vector orthogonal to . That is, we want to find a vector x = such
3 y
that    
1 x
= x + 3y = 0.
3 y
 
2 1
This yields a line in R , so there are two directions orthogonal to , which we find by setting
3
   
3 3
y = 1: and . In order to make these unit vectors, we divide by their length, which
1 1
p
is 32 + 12 = (3)2 + (1)2 = 10. Thus, the two unit vectors in directions along which f
doesnt change are
3
" # " #
3
u= 10 , 10 .
1 1

10 10

(b) Use linear approximation to estimate f (1.02, 2.03); show all your steps, and simplify your final
answer as much as possible.
We first compute the linear approximation L(x, y) to f at the point (1, 2). We have
   
x1   x1
L(x, y) = f (1, 2) + Df (1, 2) = 5 + 1 3 = 5 (x 1) + 3(y + 2).
y+2 y+2

So we have

f (1.02, 2.03) L(1.02, 2.03) = 5 (1.02 1) + 3(2.03 + 2) = 4.89.

(c) Use a second-order Taylor polynomial (i.e., quadratic approximation) to estimate f (1.1, 1.9);
show all your steps, and simplify your final answer as much as possible.
We first compute the second-order Taylor polynomial p2 (x, y) of f at the point (1, 2). We have
   
x1 1  x1
p2 (x, y) = f (1, 2) + Df (1, 2) + x 1 y + 2 Hf (1, 2)
y+2 2 y+2
    
  x1 1  3 2 x1
= 5 + 1 3 + x1 y+2
y+2 2 2 1 y+2
3 1
= 5 (x 1) + 3(y + 2) + (x 1)2 + 2(x 1)(y + 2) + (y + 2)2 .
2 2
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 11 of 14

So we have
f (1.1, 1.9) p2 (1.1, 1.9)
3 1
= 5 (1.1 1) + 3(1.9 + 2) + (1.1 1)2 + 2(1.1 1)(1.9 + 2) + (1.9 + 2)2 = 5.24.
2 2
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 12 of 14

7. (10 points) Let g(x, y, z) = x2 + 4xy + 2y 2 z 2 .

(a) Let S be the surface in R3 defined by g(x, y, z) = 6. Find the equation of the tangent plane to S
at the point (1, 3, 1).

2x + 4y 10
g = 4x + 4y , therefore g(1, 3, 1) = 8 . The equation of the tangent plane is then
2z 2

x (1) 10 x+1
g(1, 3, 1) y 3 = 0 8 y 3 = 0
z1 2 z1

10(x + 1) + 8(y 3) 2(z 1) = 0 10x + 8y 2z = 12

(b) Find a 3 3 symmetric matrix A for which the quadratic form associated to A is given by g, i.e.,
  hxi
for which g(x, y, z) = x y z A yz .

1 2 0
A = 2 2 0
0 0 1

(c) Is the matrix A (or equivalently the quadratic form g) positive definite, negative definite, indefinite,
or none of these? Justify your answer.
Notice that g(1, 0, 0) = 1 > 0 and g(0, 0, 1) = 1 < 0. Therefore A is indefinite.
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 13 of 14

8. (8 points) Each of the statements below is either always true (T), or always false (F), or sometimes
true and sometimes false, depending on the situation (MAYBE). For each part, decide which and
circle the appropriate choice; you do not need to justify your answers.
(a) Given two n n matrices A, B, then AB = BA. T F MAYBE
Example, where AB = BA holds:

1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 3 0 = 0 3 0 = 0 3 0 0 1 0
0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 1

Example, where AB = BA does not hold:

         
1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
= , but = .
0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

(b) Given a 5 4 matrix C and a 4 5 matrix D, then CD is invertible. T F MAYBE

Both the matrix C and the matrix D have rank at most 4. Therefore the rank of CD is at most
4 (because rank(CD) rank(C) and rank(CD) rank(D)). But CD is a 5 5-matrix. Hence
CD is not invertible.
(c) Given a 5 4 matrix C and a 4 5 matrix D, then DC is invertible. T F MAYBE
Example, where DC is invertible:

1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0 =
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 0

and the matrix on the RHS is invertible.

Example, where DC is not invertible:

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

0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 =
0

0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

and the matrix on the RHS is not invertible.

(d) Given two invertible n n matrices A, B, then AB is invertible. T F MAYBE
If A and B are invertible, then det(A) 6= 0 and det(B) 6= 0 and therefore det(AB) = det(A) det(B) 6=
0. Hence AB is invertible.
(e) Given an invertible 4 4 matrix A, then swapping the first two rows of A T F MAYBE
produces a matrix B satisfying det(B) = det(A).
Swapping two rows multiplies the determinant by 1. Hence det(B) = det(A). Since A is
invertible, we have det(A) 6= 0, so det(B) = det(A) 6= det(A).

(f) Given an mn matrix M and a vector b Rm , the function f : Rn Rm T F MAYBE

defined by f (x) = M x + b has derivative Df (a) = M at every point
a Rn .
Math 51, Spring 2016 Solutions to Second Exam May 12, 2016 Page 14 of 14

See homework problem 17 on homework 4 (the constant term +b has no influence on the partial
derivatives).

(g) Given a function f : Rn R with continuous second derivatives at T F MAYBE

a Rn satisfying fxx (a) 0 and fyy (a) 0, then fxy (a) 0 as well.
Example, where fxy (a) 0: Consider f : R2 R given by f (x, y) = x2 + xy + y 2 . Then for
every point a R2 we have fxx (a) = 2 0 and fyy (a) = 2 0. We also have fxy (a) = 1 0
for every point a R2 .
Example, where fxy (a) < 0: Consider f : R2 R given by f (x, y) = x2 xy + y 2 . Then for
every point a R2 we have fxx (a) = 2 0 and fyy (a) = 2 0. But we have fxy (a) = 1 < 0
for every point a R2 .

(h) Given an n n symmetric matrix A whose entries are all positive, then T F MAYBE
A is positive definite.
Example, where A is positive definite: The matrix
 
2 1
1 2

has only positive entries and the corresponding quadratic form is

2x2 + 2xy + 2y 2 = x2 + y 2 + (x + y)2 .

This is positive definite.

Example, where A is not positive definite: The matrix
 
1 100
100 1

has only positive entries and the corresponding quadratic form is

Q(x, y) = x2 + 200xy + y 2

Since Q(1, 1) = 202 > 0 and Q(1, 1) = 198 < 0, this is indefinite. Hence A is indefinite and
therefore not positive definite.
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