A0 Linear Algebra

Michaelmas 2022
Example sheet 1

In Q1-7 you can assume the vector spaces are finite-dimensional.

1. Let F be a field and f (x) an irreducible polynomial in F [x]. Show that the quotient
ring F [x]/hf (x)i is a field
2. A rational function over a field F is a quotient fg(t)
(t)
where f, g are polynomials over F
and g is not identically zero. (Obviously we identify g1 and fg22 if f1 g2 = f2 g1 as polynomials).
f1

Show that the set F (t) of rational functions form a field and use this to produce an
example of an infinite field of positive characteristic.
3. Show that Z is a principal ideal domain, ie. every ideal is of the form hmi = mZ for
some m ∈ Z.
Discuss how to prove this result for F [x], the ring of polynomials with coefficients in a
field F .
4. Let P : V → V be a projection, that is, P 2 = P .
Show that V = imP⊕ker P , and deduce that there is a basis in which P is a block matrix
 
Ir 0
P =
0 0

where r is the rank of P .

What are the minimum and characteristic polynomials of P ?
5. Show that a block triangular matrix
 
A B
X=
0 D

has determinant
det X = det A det D
(One way to do this is to look for a factorisation X = X1 X2 X3 where X2 is block triangular
and X1 , X3 are block diagonal, and some of the diagonal blocks are the identity).
Deduce the equality of charatceristic polynomials

χX (t) = χA (t)χD (t).

6. Prove that T : V → V is invertible if and only if x does not divide the minimal
polynomial mT (x).
7. Let T : V → V be a linear transformation. Assume that v, T v, T 2 v, . . . span V for
some v ∈ V . Show that

1
 (i) there exists a k such that v, T v, . . . , T k−1 v are linearly independent and for some ai

T k v = a0 v + a1 T v + . . . + ak−1 T k−1 v

(ii) the set v, T v, . . . , T k−1 v forms a basis for V ;

(iii) its minimal polynomial is given by mT (x) = xk − ak−1 xk−1 − . . . − a0 . What is the
characteristic polynomial χT (x)?
8. Let P = F [x] be the vector space of polynomials over the field F . Determine whether
or not P/M is finite dimensional when M is
(i) the subspace Pn of polynomial of degree less or equal n;
(ii) the subspace E of even polynomials;
(iii) the subspace xn P of all polynomials divisible by xn .
9. Let L : P → P be given by

L : f (x) 7→ x2 f (x)

In each of the examples of the preceding question, decide whether L induces a map of
quotients L̄ : P/M → P/M. When it does, find a matrix representation of L̄ with respect
to a convenient basis of the quotient space.