MATH10212 Linear Algebra • Examples 1

Evgeny Khukhro
Evgeny.Khukhro@manchester.ac.uk

Students are advised to acquire a copy of the Textbook:

D. Poole, Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction. Thompson, 2006. ISBN 0-534-40596-7.
Many of homework assignments will consist of odd numbered exercises from the sections
of the Textbook covered in the lectures on the previous week. The Textbook contains
answers to most odd numbered exercises. (Note that the textbook changes notation: in
Section 2.1, solutions of systems of linear equations are written as row vectors, in Section
2.2 as column vectors; for this sheet either is OK, although later it may be important to
use columns, say.) The lecturer will supply solutions to exercises in due course.
Submit to your supervisor (according to the arrangements agreed with your supervisor)
for marking the “starred” questions 3(c), 6, 7(b,c,d), 8, 9, 10 to be discussed in week 2
(9/2–13/2).

Systems of Linear Equations [2.1.24]

x − 3y + z = 5
Sections 2.1, 2.2 of the Textbook.
y − 2z = −1

1. Write down the general solution (find the solu- 3. For each of the following pairs of matrices, find
tion set) to each of the following linear equations (guess) the elementary row operation which trans-
in the unknowns x, y and z, indicating leading and forms the first matrix to the second, and the reverse
free variables. row operation which transforms the second to the
first.
(i) 2x − 3y + 4z = 2.    
1 3 −1 1 3 −1
(ii) −2y + 4z = 3.
(a) 0 2 −4 and 0 1 −2
0 −3 4 0 −3 4
2. Solve the system by back substitution:
[2.1.21]1    
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
x−y+z = 0 (b) 0 1 2 3 and 0 1 2 3
0 2 2 7 0 0 −2 1
2y − z = 0
3z = −1    
0 1 2 3 1 3 5 7
[2.1.23] (c)* 1 3 5 7 and 0 1 2 3
2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8
x1 + x2 − x3 − x4 = 1
x2 + x3 + x4 = 0    
1 −2 0 3 1 −2 0 3
x3 − x4 = 0 (d) 0 3 5 1 and 0 3 5 1
x4 = 1 3 −4 7 2 0 2 7 −7
1 Exercise
numbers in square brackets refer to the Text-
book: D. Poole, Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction.
Thompson, 2006. ISBN 0-534-40596-7.

1
E. I. Khukhro • MATH10212 • Linear Algebra • Examples 1 2

4 [2.1.31] Find a system of linear equations which (c)* [2.2.29]

has the given matrix as its augmented matrix
2r + s = 3
 ¯ 
0 1 1¯¯ 1 4r + s = 7
1 −1 0¯¯ 1 2r + 5s = −1
2 −1 1¯ 1

(d)* [2.2.33]

5. [2.2.1–2.2.8] Determine whether the given ma- w + x + 2y + z = 1

trix is in row echelon form. If it is, state whether w−x−y+z = 0
it is also in reduced row echelon form. x+y = −1
   
1 0 1 7 0 1 0 w+x+z = 2
(a) 0 0 3 (b) 0 1 −1 4
0 1 0 0 0 0 0
8*. Solve the linear system by reducing the aug-
· ¸ · ¸
0 1 3 0 0 0 mented matrix to reduced row echelon form indi-
(c) (d) cating the elementary row operations used
0 0 0 1 0 0
    at each step:
1 0 3 −4 0 0 0 1
(e) 0 0 0 0 0 (f) 0 1 0
0 1 5 0 1 1 0 0
2x3 + 4x4 = 2
   
1 2 3 2 1 3 5 x1 + 2x2 + x3 + x4 = 0
1 0 0 0 0 1 −1
(g) 0 1 1
 (h) 
0 0 0 3 
 3x1 + 6x2 + 6x3 + 9x4 = 3
0 0 1 0 0 0 0

9*. [2.2.19] What is wrong with the following

6*. For each of the matrices (b), (c), (h) in Q6,
assuming that this is the augmented matrix of a
linear system in corresponding number of variables
x1 , x2 , . . ., determine if the system is consistent or
not; if consistent, indicate leading and free variables
and find a general solution.
“proof” that every matrix with at least two rows is
row equivalent to a matrix with a zero row?
Perform R2 + R1 and R1 + R2 . Now rows
1 and 2 are identical so R2 − R1 gives a
row of zeros in the second row.

7. Solve the systems of linear equations by reduc-

10*. [2.2.20] What is the net effect of performing
ing the augmented matrix to row echelon form (or
of the following sequence of elementary row opera-
reduced row echelon form), indicating leading and
tions on a matrix?
free variables:
(a) [2.2.25] R2 + R1 , R1 − R2 , R2 + R1 , −R1

x1 + 2x2 − 3x3 = 9
2x1 − x2 + x3 = 0
4x1 − x2 + x3 = 4

(b)* [2.2.27]

x1 − 3x2 − 2x3 = 0
−x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 0
2x1 + 4x2 + 6x3 = 0