Homework 1, Due 11:59 p.m.

, Jan 14
CAPP 30271

Reading
The reading corresponding to this homework is Sections 1.1–1.5 from “Linear algebra and its
applications” by David C. Lay, Steven R. Lay, and Judi J. McDonald, 5th edition. We will not
cover material from Sections 1.3 and 1.4 explicitly in class, so please read it on you own and
please ask if you face any difficulties.

Practice Problems; do not submit

• Lay, §1.2: pg 22: 21, 23; pg 23: 29, 31, 33, 34 [Use numpy.linalg]

• Lay, §1.3: pg 33: 23, 25; pg 34: 33.

• Lay, §1.4: pg 41: 23, 35.

• Lay, §1.5: pg 48: 6, 16, 23.

• Suppose that A is the coefficient matrix for a system of four equations in six unknowns
and suppose that A has at least one nonzero row. (i) Determine the fewest number of free
variables that are possible. (ii) Determine the maximum number of free variables that are
possible.

• Let the unique solution to a system of n linear equations in n unknowns, Ax = b, be

(x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) = (a1 , a2 , . . . , an ), where the xi ’s are the unknowns and the ai ’s the so-
lution values. What will be the solution if A’s column i, ai , is replaced by ai + αaj , in
which aj is A’s column j. [Work with a few small matricies to discover the pattern in the
change.]

• For the system—

2x + y + z = 1
6x + 2y + z = −1
−2x + 2y + αz = β.

Determine the range of values of α and β such that—

1. The system is inconsistent.

2. The system has a unique solution.
3. The system has exactly two distinct solutions.
4. The system has infinitely many solutions.

1
Required Problems; submit
Please show your work clearly.

1. Lay, §1.2: pg 22: 16.

2. Among all solutions that satisfy the system

x + 2y + z = 0,
2x + 4y + z = 0,
x + 2y − z = 0,

determine those that also satisfy the nonlinear constraint y − xy = 2z.

3. Find the general solution for the following:

x1 + 2x2 + x3 + 2x4 = 3,
2x1 + 4x2 + x3 + 3x4 = 4,
3x1 + 6x2 + x3 + 4x4 = 5.

4. Suppose the matrix A is such that two columns are the same: a3 = a4 . Argue why the
Gauss-Jordan procedure will find at least one nonbasic column in A.

5. Find the equation for a parabola, which has the form y = α+βx+γx2 that passes through
(0, 1), (1, 9), (2, 31) and (3, 63), if it is possible. Explain your answer.

6. Construct a system of three equations in four unknowns that has

     
1 −3 −5
0 1 0
  + c1   + c2  
0 0 1
0 0 2

as its general solution, in which c1 , c2 ∈ < can be any real numbers.