Honors Linear Algebra-Homework 3

Yuanqing Cai
ycai7@jhu.edu

1 1.4 Linear Combinations and Systems of Lin-

ear Equations
3.For each of the following lists of vectors in R3 , determine whether the first
vector can be expressed as a linear combination of the other two.
(c)(3, 4, 1), (1, 2, 1), (2, 1, 1).

Suppose (3, 4, 1) can be expressed as linear combinations of (1, 2, 1) and

(2, 1, 1). Then there exists a, b R such that (3, 4, 1) = a(1, 2, 1) +
b(2, 1, 1), i.e. a 2b = 3, 2a b = 4, a + b = 1. From the last two e-
quations, we can solve a = 5, b = 6. But this cannot fit in the first equation.
Hence (3, 4, 1) cannot be expressed as the linear combinations of (1, 2, 1) and
(2, 1, 1).

4.For each list of polynomials in P3 (R), determine whether the first polyno-
mial can be expressed as a linear combination of the other two.
(d)x3 + x2 + 2x + 13, 2x3 3x2 + 4x + 1, x3 x2 + 2x + 3.

Suppose so, as in 3(c), then there exists a, b R such that x3 +x2 +2x+13 =
a(2x3 3x2 + 4x + 1) + b(x3 x2 + 2x + 3), i.e. 2a + b = 1, 3a b = 1, 4a + 2b =
2, a + 3b = 13. From the first two equations we can get a = 2, b = 5. This
solution also fit the last two equations. Hence x3 +x2 +2x+13 can be expressed
as 2(2x3 3x2 + 4x + 1) + 5(x3 x2 + 2x + 3).

12.Show that a subset W of a vector space V is a subspace of V if and only

if span(W ) = W .

Proof. . From the definition of span, we have W span(W ), and any

vector space of V contains W must also contain span(W )(Theorem 1.5). So if
W is a vector space, W W span(W ) W . Hence span(W ) = W .
. span(W ) is a subspace of V , hence W = span(W ) is a subspace of V .

15.Let S1 and S2 be subsets of a vector space V . Prove that span(S1

S2 ) span(S1 ) spac(S2 ). Give an example in which span(S1 S2 ) and

1
span(S1 ) span(S2 ) are equal and on in which they are unequal.

Proof. S1 S2 S1 span(S1 ). That means span(S1 ) is a subspace

containing S1 S2 . So we have span(S1 S2 ) span(S1 ). Similarly, span(S1
S2 ) span(S2 ). Hence span(S1 S2 ) span(S1 ) spac(S2 ).
We can simply take S1 = S2 , then S1 S2 = S1 = S2 , and span(S1 S2 ) =
span(S1 ) = span(S1 ) span(S2 ).
For an example such that span(S1 S2 ) = span(S1 ) spac(S2 ), we can take
V = R and S1 = {1} and S2 = {2}. Then S1 S2 = , so span(S1 S2 ) = {0}.
But span(S1 ) = span(S2 ) = R, hence span(S1 ) span(S2 ) = R.

2 1.5 Linear Dependence and Linear Indepen-

dence
3.In M32 (F ), prove that the set

1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
0 0 , 1 1 , 0 0 , 1 0 , 0 1

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1

is linearly dependent.

Proof. We have

1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 + 1 1 + 0 0 1 0 0 1 = 0 0 .
0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0

Hence they are linearly dependent.

6.In Mmn (F ), let E ij denote the matrix whose only nonzero entry is 1 in
the ith row and jth column. Prove that {E ij : 1 i m, 1 j n} is linearly
independent.

Proof.Suppose there exists {aij |aij F 1 i m, 1 j n} such that

m n
aij E ij = 0. Left hand side is a matrix whose entry in ith row and jth
i=1 j=1
column is aij . Right hand side is the zero matrix. They are equal if and only if
aij = 0, 1 i m, 1 j n. Hence {E ij : 1 i m, 1 j n} is linearly
independent.

8.Let S = {(1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1)} be a subset of the vector space F 3 .
(a)Prove that if F = R, then S is linearly independent.
(b)Prove that if F has characteristic 2, then S is linearly dependent.

2
 Proof.(a)Suppose a, b, c R such that a(1, 1, 0) + b(1, 0, 1) + c(0, 1, 1) =
(0, 0, 0), i.e.a + b = 0, a + c = 0, b + c = 0. We can get a = b = c = 0, hence they
are linearly independent.
(b)If F has characteristic 2, then (1, 1, 0) + (1, 0, 1) + (0, 1, 1) = (2, 2, 2) =
(0, 0, 0), hence S is linearly dependent.

10.Give an example of three linearly dependent vectors in R3 such that none

of the three is a multiple of another.

There are many choices. Like (1, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1), (1, 1, 1).

3 1.6 Bases and Dimension

4.Does the polynomials x3 2x2 + 1, 4x2 x + 3, and 3x 2 generate P3 (R)?
Justify your answer.

No. Because dimR P3 (R) = 4. There should be at least 4 polynomials to

generate P3 (R).

13.The set of solutions to the system of linear equations

x1 2x2 + x3 = 0
2x1 3x2 + x3 = 0

is a subspace of R3 . Find a basis for this subspace.

We use the second equation to subtract the first one. We get x1 = x2 .

Plugging to the first equation, we get x1 = x2 = x3 . The solution set of the
system of linear equations is {(t, t, t)|t R}. A basis for this subspace is (1, 1, 1).