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Examination in the School of Mathematical Sciences

Semester One, 2011
019786

Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

MATHS 1011

Total time for completing both booklets: 120 minutes (with 10 minutes reading time)

Question

Marks

Algebra
1

Total

35

Instructions to Candidates:
1. Attempt all questions and write your answers in the space provided below that question.
2. If there is insufficient space below a question, use the space to
the left of that question, indicating clearly which question you
are answering.
3. If necessary, you may also use the blank pages at the end of the
booklet. If you use these, make sure you indicate clearly which
question you are answering.
4. Only work written in this answer booklet will be marked.
5. Make sure you hand in this booklet.
6. Examination materials must not be removed from the examination room.
7. Calculators without symbolic algebra or remote communications
capabilities are permitted.

DO NOT COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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1. Consider the system of equations:

x1 + 2x2 + x3 = 7
2x1 3x2 + 3x3 = 16
4x1 + 9x2 + 9x3 = a
(a) Use elementary row operations to put the system of equations in row reduced echelon
form.

marks:

(b) State the value of a so that the system has a solution. Find the solution set in this
case.

marks:

Please turn over for pages 4 and 5

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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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(c) Is the solution set a subspace of R3 ? Give reasons for your answer.

marks:
2
TOTAL MARKS:
7

Please turn over for pages 6 and 7

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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

2. Let

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1 1 1
A = 0 1 1
0 0 1



(a) Use elementary row operations on the augmented matrix A|I3 to find the inverse of
A. (I3 denotes the 3 3 identity matrix.)
Show your row operations explicitly.

marks:

(b) Write the inverse A1 as a product of elementary matrices.

marks:

TOTAL MARKS:
5

Please turn over for pages 8 and 9

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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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3. Let A, B, C, X be n n matrices such that 2A + X, B and C all have inverses.

These matrices satisfy the equation
C 1 (2A + X)1 B = In
where In denotes the n n identity matrix.
(a) Find an expression for X.

marks:

(b) If det C = 4 and det(2A + X) = 2 determine det B.

marks:

TOTAL MARKS:
4
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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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4. Consider the following optimization problem:

Maximize f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = x1 + 3x2 + 4x3 subject to the constraints:
x1 + 2x2 + 3x3 12
x1 x2 + 2x3 4
x1 0, x2 0, x3 0
(a) Add non-negative slack variables x4 and x5 to put the system in standard form.
Choosing x4 and x5 as basic variables find the initial basic solution and state whether
it is feasible.

marks:

(b) Perform one pivot operation to find a second basic solution with x1 and x5 as basic
variables. Show that this leads to a vertex and give its coordinates.

marks:

TOTAL MARKS:
6
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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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5. (a) State whether each of the following sets of vectors is linearly independent, or linearly
dependent. Give reasons for your answers.
(i) {(1, 2, 2), (2, 4, 3), (3, 2, 5), (2, 1, 6)}
(ii) {(1, 1, 0, 2, 4), (1, 0, 5, 3, 2), (0, 0, 0, 0, 0), (1, 2, 1, 3, 2)}
(iii) {(1, 2, 3, 4), (1, 2, 2, 5), (0, 1, 0, 3)}

marks:

(b) Find a basis for the subspace W = {(x, y, z) R3 | x + y 2z = 0} of R3 .

marks:
3
TOTAL MARKS:
6
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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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6. Consider the matrix


A=


(a) Show that the vector v =

1
1

1/3 2/5
2/3 3/5


is an eigenvector for A and find its corresponding

eigenvalue.

marks:

(b) Use the trace of A to find the second eigenvalue for A. Show your working.

marks:

(c) Find a basis for the eigenspace corresponding to .

marks:

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Mathematics IA: Algebra Paper

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(d) Find a matrix P and diagonal matrix D such that P 1 AP = D.

marks:

TOTAL MARKS:
7

Final page of questions