MATH 141: Linear Analysis I Extra Homework Problems on Eigen-Theory Fall 2017

Due electronically before 12pm on Monday, October 23, 2017

1. Let T : R2 R2 be the linear transformation that reflects the entire R2 across the x-axis.
(a) Without calculating a matrix A for the transformation T , determine what the eigenvectors and eigen-
values would be, if any. In other words, does the transformation have any stretch directions and
associated stretch factors? Justify your answer.
(b) Find a matrix A to represent the transformation T . Calculate its eigenvectors and associated eigen-
values for the matrix A, and verify your answers to part (a).

1
2. A transformation T : R3 R3 has an eigenvector 0 associated with eigenvalue 1/4 and two eigen-
2
0 1
vectors 1 and 1 both associated with eigenvalue 3.
5 9

3 3
(a) Without finding the matrix for T , explain why T 5 = 3 5.
37 37
(b) Still without finding the matrix, describe what happens to the following vectors under the transfor-
mation T . Be sure to justify your conclusions.

3 1/2 1 1
(i) 0 (ii) 1/2 (iii) 2 (iv) 0
6 9/2 6 0

1 1 1
3. Let A = 1 1 1.
1 1 1

(a) (Strang 5.2 #3) Without solving det(A I) = 0, use observation to find all eigenvalues of A and then
find associated eigenvectors. (Hint: 1. What can you say about the rank of A and what does that tell
you about the nullspace? What does nullspace have to do with eigen-theory? 2. Notice that the rows
of A add up to the same number 3, which would lead you to another eigenvector-eigenvalue pair.)
(b) Compute A100 by diagonalizing A.

Due electronically before 12pm on Monday, October 30, 2017

1 0 1
1. Find all eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the matrix B = 0 4 0. Write 1-3 sentences that interpret
12 2 2
these geometricallyin other words, what do the eigenvectors and eigenvalues tell you about the trans-
formation geometrically (in terms of stretch factors and stretch directions)?
2. ((a-c) is Strang 5.1 #18) Suppose a 33 matrix A has eigenvalues 0, 3, and 5 with associated eigenvectors
~u, ~v , and w
~ respectively.
(a) Since the eigenvalues of A are all distinct, the set {~u, ~v , w}
~ is .
(b) Write down a basis for the nullspace N (A) and the column space C(A).
(c) Find one particular solution to A~x = ~v + w.
~ Find all solutions to A~x = ~v + w.
~
MATH 141: Linear Analysis I Extra Homework Problems on Eigen-Theory Fall 2017

(d) Explain why A~x = ~u does not have a solution. (Hint: If there is a solution, then is in C(A).
Explain why that is impossible.)
(e) Is A invertible? Why or why not?