MA 102: Problem Sheet 4: Orthogonalization

1. Find orthonormal bases for the subspaces spanned by the vectors:

(a) (1, 1, 1) and (1, 0, 1)

(c) (1, 2, 1, 0) and (1, 2, 3, 1)

(b) (2, 1, 1) and (1, 3, 1)

(d) (1, 1, 0, 0), (1, 1, 1, 1), and (1, 0, 2, 1)

2. Find an orthogonal basis for the space of solutions of the following equations:
(a) 2x + y z = 0 and y + z = 0

(c) 4x + 7y z = 0 and 2x y + z = 0

(b) x y + z = 0

(d) x + y + z = 0, x y = 0, and y + z = 0

3. Let V beR the Euclidean space of continuous functions f : [0, ] R with innner product

hx, yi = 0 x(t)y(t)dt. Let xn (t) = cos(nt) for n = 0, 1, 2, . . . . Compute the orthonormal basis
corresponding to set {x0 , x1 , }.
R
4. Let V be the Euclidean space of polynomials with inner product hu, vi = 0 w(x)u(x)v(x)dx
where w(x) = ex . With un (x) = xn , n = 0, 1, 2, . . ., determine the first three members of the
corresponding orthonormal basis (the elements of this basis are called Laguerre polynoials).
R
5. Let V be the Euclidean space of polynomials with inner product hu, vi = 0 w(x)u(x)v(x)dx
where w(x) = xex . With un (x) = xn , n = 0, 1, 2, . . ., determine the first three members of
the corresponding orthonormal basis.
R
6. Let V be the Euclidean space of polynomials with inner product hu, vi = w(x)u(x)v(x)dx
2
where w(x) = ex . Show that the set {1, 2x, 4x2 2} is an orthogonal set (the Hermite
polynoials).
7. RLet V be the linear space of continuous functions f : [1, 3] R with inner product hf, gi =
3
f (x)g(x)dx. Let f (x) = x1 and show that the constant polynomial g nearest to f is
1
g = 12 log(3). Compute kf gk2 fo this g.
8. RLet V be the linear space of continuous functions f : [0, 2] R with inner product hf, gi =
2
f (x)g(x)dx. Let f (x) = ex and show that the constant polynomial g nearest to f is
0
g = 12 (e2 1). Compute kf gk2 fo this g.
9. RLet V be the linear space of continuous functions f : [1, 1] R with inner product hf, gi =
1
f (x)g(x)dx. Let f (x) = ex and find the linear polynomial g nearest to f .
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10. RLet V be the linear space of continuous functions f : [0, 2] R with inner product hf, gi =
2
f (x)g(x)dx. Let f (x) = x. In the subspace spanned by u0 (x) = 1, u1 (x) = cos(x),
0
u2 (x) = sin(x) find the element g nearest to f .
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