University of Birmingham

School of Mathematics
Vectors, Geometry and Linear Algebra
VGLA

Problem Sheet 3

Remember that there are practise questions under the materials section for each week.

 
1 i 0
SUM Q1. (i) Let A =  i −1 1 + i ∈ M33 (C). Write A−1 as a product of elementary matrices (write
1−i 0 2
down explicitly each elementary matrix you use).
(ii) Prove that A ∈ Mnn (F) is invertible if and only if AT is invertible. If A is invertible, then prove
(AT )−1 = (A−1 )T .
(iii) Let  
λ a b c
a λ b c
A=
a b λ
.
c
a b c λ
For which values of λ is det A = 0?
(iv) Suppose that n ≥ 1 and A ∈ Mnn (R). Assume that A has less than n non-zero entries. Show that
det(A) = 0.

1
 2

SUM Q2. Group the following matrices in M4,4 (C) into sets which have the same determinant. In this λ ∈ C is
the same in each matrix. Explain your answer.
 
1 2 3 λ
 5 8 6 3
• A= −3 2 3 5 .


 1 2 4 6 
−1 −2 −3 λ
−5 −8 −6 3 
• B=  3 −2 −3 −5.


−1 −2 −4 −6
 
5 8 6 3
 1 2 3 λ
• C= −3 2 3 5 .


1 2 4 6
 
1 2 3 λ
 5 8 6 3
• D= −3 2 3 5 .


 2 4 8 12 
5 8 6 3
1 2 3 λ 
• E= −4 0 0 5 − λ.


1 2 4 6
 
2 10 9 8
1 2 3 λ
• F= −3 2 3 5 .


1 2 4 6
1 2 3 λ
 2 10 9 8 
• G= −3 2 3 5 .


1 2 4 6
 
1i 2i 3i iλ
2i 10i 9i 8i 
• H=  3 −2 −3 −5.


 1 2 4 6 
1 2 −3 1
 −2 −10 −2 −2
• I=  −3 −9 −3 −4


−λ −8 −5 −6