Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 1 of 7 10/15/19

1. Find a condition on b1 , b2 , b3 such that the following system is solvable?

 1 4 2   x1   b1 
2 8 4   x2  = b2 

 −1 −4 −2   x3   b3 

SOLUTION:

 1 4 2 b1 
 
Argument Matrix :  2 8 4 b2 
 −1 −4 −2 b3 

1 4 2 b1 
2  
l21 = = 2  R2 → R2 − 2 R1  0 0 0 b2 − 2b1 
1
 −1 −4 −2 b3 

1 4 2 b1 
1  
l31 = − = −1  R3 → R3 + R1 0 0 0 b2 − 2b1 
1
0 0 0 b3 + b1 

So the given system will be solvable if b2 − 2b1 = 0 and b3 + b1 = 0

2. Describe the column spaces (lines or planes) of these particular matrices.

1 2
a). A =  0 0 
 0 0 

SOLUTION:

Matrix A is spanned by the single vector 1 because v 2 can be written as 2v1 A set
spanned by a single vector is a line.
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 2 of 7 10/15/19

1 2
b). B =  0 0 
 0 0 

SOLUTION:

Matrix B is forms a linearly independent set Ax = 0 has only trivial solution. Therefore, the
 
basis of B is spanned by set the v 1 , v 2 . For clarity let say v1 horizontally is  x y z  and

v2  x y z  . The matrix spans the region between c1  v1  + c2  v 2  = V So we have

c1 ( x ) + c2 ( y ) = V . Picture 2 vectors through the origin 1 going +1 in the x -direction, and 1
going +2 in the y -direction. These vectors form a parallelogram in which their multiplies are
contained i.e A plane.

1 0
c). C =  2 0 
 0 0 

SOLUTION:

Matrix C forms a linear independent set Ax = 0 has only 1 trivial solution. However, every
line formed by c1  v1  + c2  v 2  = V can also be written as c1  v1  = V . Therefore, the set is

 
spanned by the single vector v 1 and is therefore a line.
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 3 of 7 10/15/19

 2 4 −2 1
3. Let  −2 −5 7 3  If the column space of A is a subspace of k
, what is k ?
 3 7 −8 6 

SOLUTION:

Column Space of a Matrix: The column space of a matrix is the space by the columns of
the matrix is the space by the columns of the matrix. In other words, the column space of a
matrix is the set containing all of the linear combination of the columns of the matrix.

 2 4 −2 1
Here A =  −2 −5 7 3  Column Space of A
 3 7 −8 6 

 2   4  −2   1 
       
Span  −2  , 5,  7 ,  3 
 3  7  −8   6 
       

Since the column of the matrix A are elements of 3 , therefore the space spanned by the
columns of matrix A is also a subspace of 3 . Hence, k = 3
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 4 of 7 10/15/19

a  
  
4. Let W =  b : a − 3b − c = 0  . Show that W is a subspace of 3
.
 
 c  
  
SOLUTION:

a  
  
Given W =   b  : a − 3b − c = 0  We have to show that W is a subspace of 3

 c  
  

0
Since 0 W  w0
 
0 

a   a 
Now, Let x, y  W where x =  b  , y =  b 
 c   c 

Since x W  a − 3b − c = 0
y W  a − 3b − c = 0

 a   a   a + a 
Now, x + y =  b  +  b  =  b + b 
 c   c   c + c 

 ( a + a ) − 3 ( b + b ) − ( c + c ) = ( a − 3b − c ) + ( a − 3b − c )
= 0+0 = 0
 ( a + a  ) − 3 ( b + b ) − ( c + c  ) = 0
 x + y W
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 5 of 7 10/15/19

Now,  a − 3 ( b ) − 2 =  ( a − 3b − c )
=  0 = 0
  a − 3 ( b ) −  c = 0
this shows that  x W
Since x, y  W  x + y  W and x W   x W
 W is a subspace of 3

 7 −3 5  2 7
 
5. Let A =  −4 1 −5  , v =  1  , w =  6  , suppose you know that the equations Ax = v
 
 −5 2 −4   −2   −3
and Ax = w are both consistent. What can you say about the equation Ax = v + w ?

SOLUTION:

Ax = v Ax = w are both consistent

let x1 be the solution of Av then: Ax1 = v (1)
let x 2 be the solution of Ax 2 = w ( 2)
As both Ax consistent Add (1) & ( 2 )
( )
Ax1 + Ax 2 = v + w  A x1 + x 2 = v + w ;let x1 + x 2 = y then: Ay = v + w

 y is the solution of A ( x 1 +x )= v+w

2

 Ax = v + w is always consistent
 Ax = v & Ax = 0 Ax consistent

1  3 −5 −3
6. Determine if W =  3  is in Nul A , where A =  6 −2 0 
 
 −4   −8 4 1 
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 6 of 7 10/15/19

SOLUTION:

 3 −5 −3  1   3 (1) − 5 ( 3) − 3 ( −4 )   3 − 15 + 12  0 
 
Using Aw = 0   6 −2 0    3  =  6 (1) − 2 ( 3) + 0 ( −4 )  =  6 − 6 − 0  = 0 
 −8 4 1   −4   −8 (1) + 4 ( 3) + 1( −4 )   −8 + 12 − 4 0

1 5 −4 −3 1
7. Find an explicit description of the Nul A given A =  0 1 −2 1 0 
 0 0 0 0 0 
SOLUTION:

First find the solution Ax = 0 in terms of the free variables. Now we need to reduce into the
row-echelon form. Begin to write the matrix as an Argument Matrix  A 0 
1 5 −4 −3 1 0
 A 0 =  0 1 −2 1 0 0

  
 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1 0 6 −8 1 0
 
R1 → R1 − 5 R2  0 1 −2 1 0 0 2 pivots = Rank = 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 


Free Variable : x3 , x4 , x5 three special solutions

Let x3 = 1, x4 = x5 = 0

x1 + 6 x3 − 8 x4 + x5 = 0  x1 + 6 (1) − 8 ( 0 ) + 0 = 0  x1 = 6
x2 − 2 x3 + x4 = 0  x2 − 2 (1) + 0 = 0  x2 = 2
Math 3311 Homework Assignment # 6 Solution– Page 7 of 7 10/15/19

Let x4 = 1, x3 = x5 = 0

x1 6 x3 − 8 x4 + x5 = 0  x1 + 6 ( 0 ) − 8 (1) + 0 = 0  x1 = 8
x2 − 2 x3 + x4 = 0  x2 − 2 ( 0 ) + 1 = 0  x2 = −1

Let x5 = 1, x3 = x4 = 0

x1 6 x3 − 8 x4 + x5 = 0  x1 + 6 ( 0 ) − 8 ( 0 ) + 1 = 0  x1 = −1
x2 − 2 x3 + x4 = 0  x2 − 2 ( 0 ) + 0 = 0  x2 = 0

 x1   −6  8  −1
x  2  −1 0
 2      
x =  x3  = x3  1  + x4  0  + x5  0 
       
 x4  0 1 0
 x5   0   0   1 

  −6   8   −1 
      
  2   −1  0  
Therefore a spanning set for Nul A is   1  ,  0  ,  0  
 0   1   0  
      
  0   0   1  