MTH 201: Linear Algebra

Problem Sheet 3
August 20, 2014
1. Let T be the linear operator on R3 defined by
T (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (3x1 , x1 x2 , 2x1 + x2 + x3 ).
Is T invertible? If so, find the matrix for T 1 .
2. Find 2 2 matrices A and B such that AB 6= BA.


2 3
3. (a) For which values of the constant k is the matrix
invertible?
5 k

1
2 3
(b) For which values of the constant k are all entries
integers?
5 k
4. The cross product of two vectors in R3 is given by

a1
b1
a2 b3 a3 b2
a2 b2 = a3 b1 a1 b3 .
a3
b3
a1 b2 a2 b1
Consider any arbitrary vector ~v in R3 . Is the transformation T (~x) = ~v ~x
from R3 to R3 linear? If so, find its matrix in terms of the components of
the vector ~v .

0

 a b c
5. Compute 0 0 1 d e f 4 .
7
g h k
6. Find all matrices X that satisfy the given matrix equation:

1
2
3

1
4
5 X = 0
0
6

0
1
0

0
0 .
1

7. Show that if a square matrix A has two equal columns, then A is not
invertible.
8. Let p be a prime. Consider the set Z/pZ of integers modulo p and define
addition and multiplication modulo p.
(a) For p = 2, 3, 5, 7 write down the addition and multiplication table for
this set.
(b) Check in these cases that Z/pZ with these operations forms a field.
This field is often denoted by Fp . Observe that these fields have only
finitely many elements.