M/MT132: Linear Algebra

TMA Fall 24/25

Cut-Off Date: Based on the Published Deadline.

Total Marks: …. marks turned to 15 marks

Contents
Warnings and Declaration…………………………………….………………………………......1
Question 1 ……………….…………………………………. ………………………………...…..2
Question 2 ………………………………………………………………………………….…..…..3
Question 3 ………………………………………………………………………………….…..…..4
Question 4 ………………………………………………………………………………….…..…..5
Marking Criteria ...…………..………………………………………………………….………..…6

Plagiarism Warning:
As per AOU rules and regulations, all students are required to submit their own TMA
work and avoid plagiarism. The AOU has implemented sophisticated techniques for
plagiarism detection. You must provide all references in case you use and quote another
person's work in your TMA. You will be penalized for any act of plagiarism as per the
AOU's rules and regulations.

Declaration of No Plagiarism by Student (to be signed and submitted by student with

TMA work):

I hereby declare that this submitted TMA work is a result of my own efforts and I have not
plagiarized any other person's work. I have provided all references of information that I
have used and quoted in my TMA work.
Name of Student:……………………………..
Signature:…………………………………………...
Date:…………………………………………………
a)

Answers: True
Justification
For any square matrix AAA, it can always be expressed as the sum of a symmetric matrix
SSS and a skew-symmetric matrix PPP. We use the following formulas:

T T
A+ A A−A
S= , P=
2 2

Substitute A= [ 20 −11 ]
1.Compute AT
T
A =
[21 −10 ]
2.Calculate S and P:
S= ([
1 2 1
2 0 −1 1 −1
+
][
2 0
=
]) [
2 0.5
0.5 −1 ]
P= ([
1 2 1
2 0 −1
−
2 0
1 −1 ][
=
0
]) [
0.5
−0.5 0 ]
Verify: S+P=A

Thus, the statement is true.

Since, A= S+P, therefore it is true

b) The vector u=( 2 ,−1 ,3 ) is a linear combination of the vectors v 1=(1 ,−3 ,7) and
v 2=(−2 , 0 , 3).

Answer: False
Justification:
To check if u is a linear combination of v1 and v2 solve the equation:

c 1 v 1 +c 2 v 2=u

Expanding, we get:
 [ ] [ ][ ]
1 −2 2
c1 −3 + c2 0 = −1
7 3 3

This results in the system:

c1−2c2 = 2 (i)
-3c1 = -1 (ii)
7c1+3c2=3 (iii)

1
From (ii): c1=
3

1
Substitute c1= into (i)
3

– 2c2 = 2 ⟹ c2 = - -
1 5
3 6

Substitute c1 and c2 into (iii) to check consistency:

1 5 7 15 7 5
7⋅ + 3⋅(- ) = - = − ≠ 3
3 6 3 6 3 2

The system is inconsistent, so u is not a linear combination. The statement is false.

c) The linear system {24x=12−3

x− y=10
y
has infinitely many solutions.

Answer: False
Justification:
Rewrite the system in standard form:
4x−y=10 (i)
2x+3y=12 (ii)

To solve, eliminate y by multiplying (i) by 3 and adding it to (ii):

3(4x−y)+(2x+3y)=3(10)+12
12x−3y+2x+3y=30+12⟹14x=42⟹x=3
Substitute x=3x into (i):
 4(3)−y=10⟹y=2

The system has a unique solution (x=3,y=2). Since there is only one solution, the statement is
false.

d) If A∧B are symmetric square matrices then, AB−BA is symmetric.

Answer: False
Justification:
For symmetric matrices A and B, compute the transpose of AB−BA:
(AB−BA)T=(AB)T−(BA)T=BTAT−ATBT
Since AT=A and BT=B, this simplifies to:
(AB−BA)T=BA−AB= − (AB−BA)

This shows AB−BA is skew-symmetric, not symmetric. Hence, the statement is false.

e) If AB≠ I then, BA ≠ I .
Answer: True
Justification:
Matrix multiplication is generally not commutative (AB≠BA). If AB≠I then BA cannot
equal I because for two matrices to be inverses, both AB=I and BA =I must hold
simultaneously. Therefore, if AB≠I, it is impossible for BA =I. Hence, the statement is true.
Q−2:

{
4 x+ 3 y=4
Consider the linear system 2 x +2 y−2 z=0 ,
5 x +3 y + z=−2

a) Find the values of a , b ,∧c if the augmented matrix of the linear system is in row

[ |]
1 1 1a
equivalence to the matrix 0 1 1 b .
0 0 1c

Answer:
We start with the given augmented matrix of the system:

[ |]
4 −1 2 a
2 −3 1 b
5 1 −2 c

The row-equivalent matrix is given as:

[ ]
−1 1
1

|
4 2 1
−1 −4
0 −1
2 −1
0 0 1

To find a,b,c we apply row-reduction (Gaussian elimination):

1. Normalize Row 1: Divide the first row by 4:

[ |]
−1 1 a
R1 R1⟹
1
1 4 2 4
4 2 −3 1 b
5 1 ¿2 c
Eliminate the first column in Rows 2 and 3: Subtract 2×R1 from R2 and 5×R1 from
R3:

R2=R2−2R1 , R3=R3−5R1
Result:
 [ |]
−1 1 a
1
4 2 4
−11 2a
0 0 b−
4 4
9 9 c5a
0 ¿
4 2 4

9
Eliminate the second column in Row 3: Subtract ×R2 from R3:
4
9
R3=R3− R2
4
Result:

[ |]
−1 1
1 a
4 2
4
1
0 1 ¿ ¿4
2
¿1
0 0 1
From this, we compare the last column to find a,b,c:
a=1,b=−4,c=−1

b) Solve the linear system.

The reduced row-echelon form of the matrix is:

[ ]
−1 1
1

|
4 2 1
1 ¿4
0 1 ¿
2 ¿1
0 0 1
Convert back to equations:
1 1
x− y+ z=1 (1)
4 2

1
y− z=−4 (2)
2

z= −1 (3)

From (3): z = −1

Substitute z= −1 into (2)

1 1 9
y− (−1)= −4⟹y+ = −4⟹y= − :
2 2 2

9
Substitute y= − and z= −1 into (1)
2
 1 9 1
x− (− )+ (−1) =1
4 2 2
Simplify:

9 1 9 4 3
x+ − =1⟹ x=1− + =
8 2 8 8 8
Solution:
3 9
x= ,y = − , z = −1
8 2

c) Is the columns of coefficient matrix A dependent? Explain.

The coefficient matrix is:

[ ]
4 −1 2
A= 2 −3 1
5 1 −2

To check dependency, compute the determinant of A:

3 1 2 1 2 3
Det (A)= 4− − (−1) +2 −
1 −2 5 −2 5 1
Compute minors:

[−31 −21 ]=(−3 )(−2) −( 1)( 1) =6−1=5

[ 25 −21 ]=(2) (−2) − (1) (5) = −4−5= −9
[ 25 −31 ]= (2) (1) − (−3) (5) =2+15=17
Substitute into determinant formula:
Det (A ) = 4(5) −(−1)(−9)+2(17)=20−9+34=45
Since det (A) ≠0 the columns of A are linearly independent.

Find |2 A−1 ( A2 ) |.
T
d)
Answer:

Step 1: Compute A2

Given:

[ ]
4 3 0
2 −2 −2
5 3 1

[ ][ ]
4 3 0 4 3 0
Multiply A by itself to find A2:A2=A×A= 2 −2 −2 2 −2 −2
5 3 1 5 3 1

Result:

[ ]
22 18 −6
A2= 18 16 −6
27 24 −5

Step 2: Compute (A2)T

The transpose of A2:

[ ]
22 18 27
(A ) = 18 16 24
2 T

−6 −6 −5

Step 3: Compute A−1

The inverse of A is found using the cofactor and determinant method. After calculations:

[ ]
−3 −3
1
4 2
−5
A−1= 1 −1
2
1 1 1
4 4 2

Step 4: Compute 2A-1(A2)T

Multiply A−1by (A2)T, then scale the result by 2:

 ([ ] )
−3 −3
1

[ ]
4 2
22 18 27
−5
2A−1(A2)T=2× 1 −1 18 16 24
2
−6 −6 −5
1 1 1
4 4 2

After performing the matrix multiplication:

[ ]
−1 −6 3
2A (A ) = −22 −26 −11
−1 2 T

−3 −5 −3.5

Step 5: Compute the Determinant

Find the determinant of 2A−1(A2)T :

[
∣2A (A ) ∣ =det −22 −26 −11
]
−1 −6 3
−1 2 T

−3 −5 −3.5

Using cofactor expansion:

∣2A−1(A2)T∣= −1⋅det [−26 ] [ ] [ ]

−11 −22 −11 −22 −26
+6⋅det +3⋅det
−5 −3.5 −3 −3.5 −3 −5

Sub-Determinants:

1.Det [−26
−5 −3.5 ]
−11
=(−26)(−3.5) −(−11)(−5)=91−55=36

Det [
−3 −3.5 ]
−22 −11
2. =(−22)(−3.5)−(−11)(−3)=77−33=44

Det[
−3 −5 ]
−22 −26
3. =(−22 )(−5 ) −(−26 ) (−3 )=110−78=32

Final Calculation:

∣2A−1(A2)T∣= −1(36)+6(44)+3(32)

∣2A−1(A2)T∣= −36+264+96=755

Final Answer:

∣2A−1(A2)T∣=755
 Q−3:

{
x− y−3 z=3
Consider the linear system 2 x + z=0 ,
2 y +7 z=c

i) For what value of c does the system have a solution?

ANSWER

The given linear system is:

x−y−3z =3 (1)
2x + z =0 (2)
2y+7z =c (3)
1. From Equation (2):
z
Solve for x: x = − (4)
2
z
2. Substitute x = − into Equation (1):
2
z
− −y−3z=3
2
Simplify:
7z
y= − −3 (5)
2

7z
3. Substitute y= − −3 into Equation (3):
2
7z
2(− −3)+7z =c
2
Simplify:

−7z−6+7z=c
c= −6

Result:
The system has a solution when c = −6.

ii) Solve the system at the value of c from part (i)?

ANSWER
Given c= −6, the system becomes:
x−y−3z=3 (1)
2x+ z= 0 (2)
2y+7z= −6 (3)
1. From Equation (2):
Solve for x:
−z
x= (4)
2
−z
2. Substitute x= into Equation (1):
2

−z
− y−3z= 3
2

Simplify:

−7 z
y= −3 (5)
2

−7 z
3. Substitute y= −3 into Equation (3):
2

−7 z
2( −3)+7z=−6
2

Simplify:

−7z−6+7z = − 6

−6= −6

Since this equation is always true, z can take any real value. Therefore:

−7 z z
z = z, y= −3, x= −
2 2

Result:

The system has infinitely many solutions, parameterized as:

z −7 z
x= − , y= −3 , z = z
2 2

where z is any real number.

(a) Find c and d such that A2= − I2.

Given:

[ ]
1
1
A= 3
c d
Compute A2 :

[ ][ ]
1 1
1 1
A2=A⋅A= 3 3
c d c d

Simplify:

Equate A2= −I2:

[−10 −10 ]
This gives the following equations:

c
1+ = −1 (i)
3

1 3
+ =0 (ii)
3 d

c +cd =0 (iii)

c
+ d2= −1 (iv)
3

Solve the equations:

 From (i):
c = −6
 From (ii):
d = −1
 Verify with (iii):
−6+(−6)(−1) = 0True
 Verify with (iv):

−6
+(−1)2= −1
3

−2+1= −1True

Result:
 c= −6,d= −1

(b) Find f(t) and p.

Given the determinant:

| |
2 3
1 t t t
t 1 t t2
Det 2
t t 1 t
3 2
t t t 1
1. Expand the determinant (using cofactor expansion):
After simplifications:
Det =1−t2+t4−t6
2. Factorize the determinant:
Det =(1−t2)3
Result:
f(t)= t2,p =3

Q−4:

a) Is the following set of vectors in R4 linearly dependent, if yes, write the first vector as a
linear combination of the other vectors.

ANSWER
The given set of vectors is:
S= { ( 1 ,2 ,−3 ,1 ) , ( 3 ,7 ,1 ,−2 ) , ( 1 ,3 , 7 ,−4 ) }

1. To check linear dependence, express:

c1v1 + c2v2 + c3v3 = 0
where:
v1 =(1,2,−3,1), v2 =(3,7,1,−2), v3 =(1,3,7,−4)
Expand:

[ ] [ ] [ ][]
1 3 1 0
2 7 3 0
c1 + c2 + c3 =
−3 1 7 0
1 −2 −4 0

This gives the system of equations:

c1 + 3c2 + c3 = 0(1)

2c1 + 7c2 + 3c3= 0(2)

−3c1 + c2 + 7c3=0(3)

c1 − 2c2 − 4c3 = 0(4)

2. Write the system in augmented matrix form:
 [ |]
1 3 1 0
2 7 3 0
−3 1 7 0
1 −2 −4 0

3. Perform row reduction to find dependencies:

Eliminate the first column entries in rows 2, 3, and 4:

R2→R2−2R1,R3→R3+3R1,R4→R4−R1

Result:

[ |]
1 3 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 10 10 0
0 −5 −5 0

Eliminate the second column entries in rows 3 and 4:

R3→R3−10R2,R4→R4+5R2

Result:

[ |]
1 3 1 0
0 1 1 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

4. Interpretation: Since the last two rows are zero, the system has a free variable, indicating

linear dependence. Solve for c1,c2,c3:

From row 2:

c2+c3= 0⟹c2= −c3

From row 1:
c1+3(−c3)+c3=0⟹c1−2c3=0⟹c1=2c3
5. Express v1 as a linear combination of v2 and v3 :
v1= −2v2 + v3
Result:
The set is linearly dependent, and:
v1= − 2v2+v3
b) Let S= { 1 2 3 } be a linearly independent set of the vectors in Rn and T ={ u1 , u2 ,u3 }. Prove
v , v , v
that T is linearly independent set.

ANSWER
Given:
u1=v 1+ v 2 + v3 , u2=v 2+ v 3 ,∧u3 =v 3

1. Assume c1u1+c2u2+c3u3 =0 Substitute:

c1(v1+v2+v3)+c2(v2+v3)+c3v3=0

Expand:
c1v1+(c1+c2)v2+(c1+c2+c3)v3=0
2. Since {v1,v2,v3} is linearly independent, each coefficient must be zero:
 For v1 :
c1=0
 For v2 :
c1+c2=0⟹c2=0
 For v3 :
c1+c2+c3=0⟹c3=0

3. All coefficients are zero:

c1=c2=c3=0

Result:

Since the only solution is c1=c2=c3=0, the set T={u1,u2,u3} is linearly independent.