MATH 2107 - Fall 2012

Linear Algebra II
Practice Problems for the Final Exam

Practice Problems
1. Let P2 denote the vector space of polynomials of degree at most 2, and let
U = {p (x) P2 | p (x) = 0}. Either show that U is a subspace of P2 , or give a
reason why U is not a subspace of P2 .
2. Let P2 denote the vector space of polynomials of degree at most 2, and let
U = {p (x) P2 | p (x) = 1}. Either show that U is a subspace of P2 , or give a
reason why U is not a subspace of P2 .
3. Let R22 denote the
matrices with real entries, let v = (1, 0)
 vector space 22
R2 , and let U = A R22 | Av = 0 . Either show that U is a subspace of
R22 , or give a reason why U is not a subspace of R22 .
4. Let C22 denote the vector space
let
2 2 matrices with complex entries, and
22
22
U = AC
| A is unitary . Either show that U is a subspace of C , or
give a reason why U is not a subspace of C22 .
5. Let P2 and P3 denote the vector spaces of polynomials of degree at most 2
and degree at most 3 respectively. Define T : P2 P3 by T (p (x)) = xp (x).
Either show that T is a linear transformation, or give a reason why T is not a
linear transformation.
6. Let R22 denote the vector space 2 2 matrices with real entries. Define
T : R22 R22 by T (A) = A2 . Either show that T is a linear transformation,
or give a reason why T is not a linear transformation.


7. Determine the values of c R such that the set of polynomials 5 x, 1 x + 3x2 , cx2
is linearly independent.
8. Let P2 and P1 denote the vector spaces of polynomials of degree at most 2 and


degree at most 1 respectively. Define T : P2 P1 by T a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 =
a2 + a1 x.
(a) Find
the matrix representation of T with respect to the standard bases

1, x, x2 of P2 and {1, x} of P1 .
(b) Use part (a) to compute the rank and nullity of T .
1

9. Find the coordinate vector [p(x)]S for

p (x) = 4 3x + 15x2 P2 with respect

to the standard basis S = 1, x, x2 for P2 .


10. Let B = 1 + x, 1 + x + x2 , x2 . You may assume that B is a basis for P2 .
Suppose that the coordinate vector for p (x) P2 is [p(x)]B = (1, 2, 3)T . Find
p (x).
n
o
11. Let S denote the standard basis of R3 , and let B = (1, 1, 0)T , (1, 1, 1)T , (0, 0, 1)T .
You may assume that B is a basis for R3 . Find the change-of-basis matrix
[I]SB from B to S, and the change-of-basis matrix [I]BS from S to B.
12. Let

3
1
2
1

u1 =
0 , u2 = 1
0
1

, u3 = 3 R4 .

0
5

Find an orthogonal basis for the subspace of R4 spanned by {u1 , u2 , u3 }.

13. Suppose that U Cnn is a matrix that is both unitary and Hermitian, and
let u, v Cn be vectors such that hu, vi = 10 10i. Calculate hU v, U ui.
14. Let

1
1 + 2i
.
i
u = i , v =
2
1+i

Compute the lengths of u and v, and compute the inner product hu, vi.
15. Suppose that A and B are similar matrices in Cnn . Suppose that A5 = I.
Show that B 5 = I.
16. Suppose that A and B are similar matrices in Cnn . Suppose that A is
invertible. Show that B is invertible.
17. Let


A=

2 1
1 2

C22 .

Find an orthogonal matrix U (i.e. a unitary matrix with real entries) and a
diagonal matrix D such that D = U AU .
18. Let

2 1
1
A = 1 2 1 C33 .
1 1 2

Find an orthogonal matrix U (i.e. a unitary matrix with real entries) and a
diagonal matrix D such that D = U AU .
2

From the Textbook

Chapter 1 - Linear Equations in Linear Algebra
Questions 1-22
Chapter 2 - Matrix Algebra
Questions 1-5, 7-10, 16-18
Chapter 3 - Determinants
Questions 1-6
Chapter 4 - Vector Spaces
Questions 1-2, 4-15
Chapter 5 - Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Questions 1-3, 6-8
Chapter 6 - Orthogonality and Least Squares
Questions 1-2, 4-6, 8