LA Opti Assignment 50

Back to the basics

Some definitions ad proofs
1. What is a vector space?.
Ans: Let V be a set of vectors. It is a vector space if x1 , x2 V implies
c1 x1  c2 x2  V ; c1 , c2  R . This means V is closed under vector addition.

In mathematics, it is called closure property of set V

Corollary:
0 vector is necessarily an element of vector space V
2. Prove the following constitute a vector space (associated with matrix A)
a. Right null space
Let x1 , x2  N ( A)
x1 , x2  N ( A)  Ax1  0; Ax2  0;
We have to show that c1 x1  c2 x2  N ( A)
It is true since A(c1 x1  c2 x2 )  c1 Ax1  c2 Ax2  0  0  0
This proves c1 x1  c2 x2  N ( A)
Therefore, right null space is a vector space.
b. Row space
Usually a vector is always assumed as column vector in any
derivations.
Let x1 , x2  Rowspace( A)
|
This imply x1  AT y1  linear combination of rows of A
|

Elements of y1 vector are coefficients of linear combination

|
Similarly, x2  AT y2  linear combination of rows of A
|

We have to show that given c1 , c2  R ,

vector c1 x1  c2 x2 is linear combination of rows of A .
It can be readily proved as follows.
c1 x1  c2 x2  c1 AT y1  c2 AT y2  AT c1 y1  AT c2 y2  AT  c1 y1  c2 y2 

coefficient vector

 c1 x1  c2 x2 is linear combination of rows of A

 rowspace is a vector space
 c. Column space
Let x1 , x2  columnspace( A)
|
This imply x1  Ay1  linear combination of columns of A
|

Elements of y1 vector are coefficients of linear combination

|
Similarly, x2  Ay2  linear combination of columns of A
|

We have to show that given c1 , c2  R ,

c1 x1  c2 x2 vector is linear combination of columns of A
It can be readily proved as follows.
c1 x1  c2 x2  c1 Ay1  c2 Ay2  Ac1 y1  Ac2 y2  A  c1 y1  c2 y2 

coefficient vector

 c1 x1  c2 x2 is linear combination of columns of A

 columnspace is a vector space
d. Left null space
3. Prove that the following constitute a vector space
a) Set of 2x2 symmetric matrices
 a b e f
Hint: Let A    ; B  f ; proceed to prove
b c  g 

b) Set of 2x2 Upper triangular matrices

 a b e f 
Hint : Let A    ; B   0 g  ; proceed to prove
0 c  
c) Set of 2x2 lower triangular matrices
4. If A and B are two nxn positive definite matrices then A+B is positive
definite
Proof
Let A and B be two positive definite matrices
it imply xT Ax  0 & xT Bx  0 x
We need to show A  B is positive definite
xT  A  B  x  xT Ax  xT Bx  0

Hence positive definite

 5. What are the required properties of a ‘basis set’ of vector spaces
a) The set of Vectors in the basis set should be independent
b) It should completely span the space. No more, no less.

6. Prove that mapping of a non-singular matrix A is unique

We have to show that there is no
x2  x1 such that Ax1  y & Ax2  y

(this is answer to a question raised in last assignment)

Let A be the matrix. Since matrix A is non-singular, null space is 0
vector
Let Ax1  y . We have to show that there is no x2  x1 such that Ax2  y

Suppose Ax2  y
Then Ax1  Ax2  y  y  0  A  x1  x2   0
But null space of A is a 0 vector
This imply x1  x2  0  x1  x2
This contradict our assumption.
Hence if Square matrix is full rank(non-singular), then no two vectors
will be mapped to a same vector.
This allows us to have unique inverse mapping from y to x.
Assignment Questions from Strang’s book.
I hope you are grown enough to answer questions by Gilbert strang.
7. Find a basis for the plane x-2y+3z=0 in R 3 . Also find basis set for the
line perpendicular to the plane
Hint: x-2y+3z=0 define a plane passing through origin and hence is a
vector space. So we have find two independent (x,y,z) vectors that satisfy
the relation
(1 2 3)  x 
 y  0.
 
z
 
Required vectors are the right null-space basis set of the matrix
1 2 3
 1
Vector  2  is perpendicular to the plane.
 3
 
8. Find a basis set for each of the subspaces of R4.
a) All vectors whose components are equal
b) All vectors whose components add to zero
c) All vectors that are perpendicular to (1 1 0 0) and (1 0 1 1)
9. If A is 64 by 17 matrix of rank 11, how many independent vectors satisfy
Ax=0?. How many independent vectors satisfy ATy=0
Hint: dimension of right null space and left null space.