UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

October/November 2021

STA3710

Mathematical Techniques in Statistics

100 Marks
Duration: 2 Hours

EXAMINERS:
FIRST: Prof PM Njuho
SECOND: Prof P Ndlovu
EXTERNAL: Prof T Zewotir, UKZN

This paper consists of 6 pages including this one.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This is an OPEN BOOK examination. You may use your textbook, your course material

or any other printed material to answer the questions.

2. You must UPLOAD your answers in one PDF file.

3. Answer ALL the questions.

4. Marks denote percentages.

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ADDITIONAL STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Students must upload their answer scripts in a single PDF file (answer scripts must not be password
protected or uploaded as read only files)

2. NO emailed scripts will be accepted.

3. Students are advised to preview submissions (answer scripts) to ensure legibility and that the correct
answer script file has been uploaded.

4. Students are permitted to resubmit their answer scripts should their initial submission be unsatisfac-
tory.

5. Incorrect file format and uncollated answer scripts will not be considered.

6. Incorrect answer scripts and/or submissions made on unofficial examinations platforms will not be
marked and no opportunity will be granted for resubmission.

7. Mark awarded for incomplete submission will be the students final mark. No opportunity for resub-
mission will be granted.

8. Mark awarded for illegible scanned submission will be the students final mark. No opportunity for
resubmission will be granted.

9. Submissions will only be accepted from registered student accounts.

10. Students who have not utilised invigilation or proctoring tools will be subjected to disciplinary pro-
cesses.

11. Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to disciplinary
processes. UNISA has a zero tolerance for plagiarism and/or any other forms of academic dishonesty.

12. Students are provided one hour to submit their answer scripts after the official examination time.
Submissions made after the official examination time will be rejected by the examination regulations
and will not be marked.

13. Students experiencing network or load shedding challenges are advised to apply together with sup-
porting evidence for an Aegrotat within 3 days of the examination session.

14. Students experiencing technical challenges, contact the SCSC 080 000 1870 or email
Examenquiries@unisa.ac.za or refer to Get-Help for the list of additional contact numbers. Commu-
nication received from your myLife account will be considered.

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QUESTION 1 [29 Marks]

1 1 b b
1.1 Let A = ( ) . Find a matrix B = ( 11 12 ) such that AB = BA.
1 2 b21 b22
(6)

1.2 For each of the following statements involving matrices (say in general A and B) and vectors (say a
and b), indicate whether it is true or false.

1.2.1 If AB = BA then we say A and B commute.

1.2.2 Multiplying a matrix by an identity matrix leaves a matrix changed.

√
1.2.3 Matrix A is idempotent if A = A.

1.2.4 Multiplying a vector with an n x m matrix results to a column vector.

1.2.5 For two normal vectors a and b of the same order, if aT b = 0, then the two vectors are said to be
orthonormal vectors.

1.2.6 A matrix may contain orthonormal vectors and yet not be orthogonal.
(1+1+1+1+1+1=6)

1.3 Consider the following matrices:

√ 1
⎛ 1 3⎞ √
3 √1 ⎛−1⎞ ⎛1⎞ ⎛3⎞
1
A= 2⎜ √ 0 1
0 ⎟,B = 2 ( ),x = √1 ⎜ 0 ⎟ , y = ⎜ 2 ⎟ , z = ⎜ 1 ⎟ .
3
⎝− 3 1 ⎠ −1 3 2
⎝1⎠ ⎝−1⎠ ⎝1⎠
3
Compute:

1.3.1 AT A.

1.3.2 AAT .

1.3.4 AB.

1.3.5 xT y.
(2+2+2+2=8)

1.4 Using the matrices given in part (1.2), state whether each of the following statements is true or false
and why.

1.4.1 A and B are orthogonal matrices.

1.4.2 A is orthogonal to B.

1.4.3 x and z are normal vectors.

1.4.4 x and y are orthonormal vectors.

(2+2+3+2=9)

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QUESTION 2 [26 Marks]

2.1 Let A be n x m idempotent matrix. Show that:

2.1.1 Im − A is idempotent.

2.1.2 BAB−1 is idempotent, where B is any m x m nonsingular matrix.

(2+2=4)

2.2 When fully stocked, an automatic vending machine takes 50 cans of juice, 25 cans of mineral water,
and 25 pints of milk. At the end of every day, the owner of the machine refills it to its capacity and
empties the coin box. The drinks are sold for 75 cents per can of juice, 50 cents per can of mineral
water, and 75 cents per pint of milk. During a given day, 40 cans of soda, 20 cans of mineral water,
and 22 pints of milk were sold.

2.2.1 Create a vector c containing the machine capacity of each drink, a vector s containing the units sold
for each drink, and a vector p containing the price per each drink (consider the price to be in Rands).
Use the vectors you generated in part (2.2.1), and others if necessary, to answer the following ques-
tions:

2.2.2 What is the total value (selling price) of the drinks in the machine when fully stocked?

2.2.3 Compute the vector representing the inventory left in the machine at the end of the day.

2.2.4 How much money does the owner expect to find in the coin box at the end of the day?
(3+3+2+2=10)

1 −1 5 3 −1
2.3 Use A = ( ) and B = ( ) to demonstrate that A ⊗ B = (A ⊗ I2 )(I3 ⊗ B).
0 2 1 1 5
(7)

2.4 Which of the following sets of vectors are linearly dependent:

2.4.1 {(1, −1, 2)T , (3, 1, 1, )T }.

2.4.2 {(4, −1, 2)T , (3, 2, 3)T , (2, 5, 4)T }.

(2+3=5)

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QUESTION 3 [24 Marks]

a a
3.1 Consider the general 2 x 2 matrix A = ( 11 12 ) .
a21 a22

3.1.1 Find the characteristic equation of A.

3.1.2 Obtain expressions for the two eigenvalues of A in terms of the elements of A.

3.1.3 When will these eigenvalues be real?

(4+3+2=9)

3.2 Let A be the 3 x 3 matrix given by

⎛ 9 −3 −4⎞
A = ⎜12 −4 −6⎟ .
⎝ 8 −3 −3⎠

3.2.1 Find the eigenvalues of A.

3.2.2 Find a normalised eigenvector corresponding to the highest eigenvalue of A.

(4+4=8)

3.3 Find the generalised inverse of the following:

⎛2 2 4 ⎞
3.3.1 a 3 x 3 matrix A = ⎜4 −2 2 ⎟ .
⎝2 −4 −2⎠

2
3.3.2 a vector c = ( ) . (4+3=7)
4

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QUESTION 4 [21 Marks]

⎛ 1 1 1 2 ⎞
⎜ 1 −1 1 0 ⎟
4.1 Let X = ⎜ ⎟ be a data matrix.
⎜ −1 0 1 −1 ⎟
⎝ −1 0 1 −1 ⎠

4.1.1 Calculate the mean vector.

4.1.2 Calculate the centred matrix.

4.1.3 Calculate the variance-covariance matrix.

(3+4+4=11)

4.2 Let X be a random variable with probability density function (pdf)

x
f (x) = { 15 , x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
.
0, otherwise
Use the moment generating function (mgf) and differentiation to determine:

4.2.1 the mean

4.2.2 the variance.

(3+3=6)
x+1
4.3 Let y = 2x−1 .
dy
Find dx .
(4)