MAT1503/101/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2023

Linear Algebra 1
MAT1503

Year Module

Department of Mathematical Sciences

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tutorial letter contains Assignment 2 (Assessment 2), please activate
your myLife e-mail account and make sure that you have regular
access to the myUnisa module website, MAT1503-Y-23, as well as your
group website.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 ASSIGNMENT 02
Due date: Saturday, 20 May 2023
Total Marks: 100

ONLY FOR YEAR MODULE

This assignment covers chapter 1 of the prescribed book as well as the study
guide, it is specifically based on Study Units 1.3 - 1.5

Question 1: 3 Marks

Suppose that A, B, C, and D are matrices with the following sizes:

A B C D
(4 × 1), (4 × 5), (3 × 3), (3 × 5)

In each of the following cases, we need to determine whether the given matrix expression is defined. If it
is, then we should provide the size of the resulting matrix. If it is not defined, we need to clearly state the
reasons why.
Notation: In this context, X t represents the transpose of the matrix X .
(i) B t (A + D t ),
(ii) A(DB t ) + 2D t B,
(iii) (CD)B t − λAC, where λ is a real number.

Question 2: 9 Marks

(2.1) Solve for X in the matrix equation below (2)

t
B(X t − I)−1 A + B = At ,

where At represents the transpose of a matrix A.

(2.2) Solve for X in the matrix equation below (2)

t
B(X −1 − I)A + B = At .

where At represents the transpose of a matrix A.

(2.3) Let X be an n by n matrix satisfying the matrix equation. (1)

X 2 = −5X + 2I.

Find if possible the expression for X −1 .

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(2.4) Prove that if X is an invertible matrix then X + Y and (In + YX −1 ) are both invertible or not (2)
invertible.

(2.5) Prove that if X , Y and X + Y are invertible matrices of the same size, then (2)

X (X −1 + Y −1 )Y (X + Y )−1 = I.

Question 3: 2 Marks

Let A be a square matrix. Prove that At satisfy the given matrix equation
A3 + 4A2 − 2A + 7I = 0,
where I is the corresponding identity matrix.

Question 4: 2 Marks

Find the inverse of the matrix A:

1 1
e−x ) e−x )

(ex − (ex +

A= 2 2
1 1
2
(ex + e−x ) 2
(ex − e−x )

Question 5: 15 Marks

Consider the matrices

     
3 1 2 −2 1 1 1 0 1
A =  1 −1 1  , B =  0 1 −1  , C =  2 1 −1  .
−2 1 0 −1 1 2 1 −1 0
Verify the following expressions (where possible and give reasons)

(5.1) A + (B − C) = (A + B) − C. (3)

(5.2) (AB)C = A(BC) (4)

(5.3) (a + b)C = aC + bC, where a = −3, b = 2 . (2)

(5.4) a(B + C) = aB + aC, where a = −3, b = 2 . (2)

(5.5) (−At )t = −A and (A − B)t = At − B t . (4)

Question 6: 10 Marks

(6.1) Find the value (s) for λ (if possible) for which the matrix C is singular (1)
 
λ λ+1
C=
λ λ−1

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(6.2) Use the co-factor expansion to determine (3)

4 0 0 0
−1 1 2 0
2 −3 0 2
1 2 0 −2

(6.3) Consider the matrix  

1 4
A= .
2 3

(a) Compute A−1 . (3)

(b) Find det(A−1 ). (2)
(c) Deduce a relation between det(A) and det(A−1 ). (1)

Question 7: 7 Marks

Let    
1 −1 1 8 −3 −5
A= 0 2 −1  , and B =  0 1 2 .
−2 1 3 4 −7 6
Compute A−1 , (B T )−1 and B −1 A−1 . What do you observe about

(7.1) (A−1 )−1 in relation to A. (2)

(7.2) ((B T )−1 )T in relation to B −1 . (2)

(7.3) (AB)−1 in relation to B −1 A−1 . (3)

Question 8: 11 Marks

(8.1) Use the given information to find the matrix X (2)

 
−1 −1 3
(I2 + 2X ) = .
4 5

(8.2) Solve for the matrix B in the matrix equation below (4)
 
−1 0 1  
1 2 1
B 1 1 0 =
−3 1 1
3 1 −1

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(8.3) Solve for the matrix B such that (5)

    
1 0 −1 −1 2
−I3 +  1 −2 0  B t =  3 1 
−1 0 0 0 −1

Question 9: 6 Marks

Consider the given matrix  

0 0 1
B =  1 1 1 .
1 1 0
Find det B and use it to determine whether B is invertible, and if so, then use the matrix equation BX = I to
find B −1 .

Question 10: 3 Marks

Consider the following augmented matrix

 
1 −1 2 1
 3 −1 5 −2  .
2
−4 2 k − 8 k + 2

Determine the values of k for which the system has

(i) no solution,

(ii) exactly one solution,

(iii) infinitely many solutions.

Question 11: 5 Marks

Assume that A and B are matrix of the same size. Prove or Disprove that (A + B)2 is a symmetric, skew-
symmetric or neither.

Question 12: 4 Marks

Consider the matrices

     
−2 7 1 8 1 5 −2 7 1
A =  8 1 5 ,B =  3 4 1 ,C =  3 4 1 .
3 4 1 −2 7 1 2 −7 3

Find elementary matrices E0 , E1 , E2 and E3 such that

(12.1) E0 A = B, (1)

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(12.2) E1 B = A, (1)

(12.3) E2 A = C, (1)

(12.4) E3 C = A. (1)

Question 13: 13 Marks

(13.1) Find the values of x, y and z such the matrix below is skew symmetric. (3)
 
0 x 3
 2 y −1  .
z 1 0

(13.2) Prove that A−2 is symmetric whenever A is skew symmetric (2)

(13.3) Prove that every n by n matrix A can be written as the sum of a symmetric and a skew- (4)
symmetric matrices.

(13.4) Determine an expression for det(A) in terms of det(AT ) if A is a square skew symmetric. (2)

(13.5) Assume that A is an odd order skew symmetric matrix. Prove that det(A) is an odd function (2)
in this case.

Question 14: 6 Marks

Compute all the minors and co-factors of

 
1 2 −2
 −1 0 1 .
2 −2 −1

Question 15: 4 Marks

Use Cramer’s rule to solve for y without solving for x, z and w in the system

 2w + x + y + z = 3

−8w − 7x − 3y + 5z = −3




 w + 4x + y + z = 6

w + 3x + 7y − z = 1