1

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

Math1250-2 Test 1 (80 minutes)
October 24, 2024

     
2 0 8
1. Let ~u =  3 , ~v =  5 , and w
~ =  −3 .
−2 −6 10

(a) (2 marks) Compute 3~u + 2~v .

(b) (3 marks) Find ~u · ~v and a unit vector in the direction of ~u.
(c) (2 marks) Find c and d such that c ~u + d ~v = w.
~

     
6 0 6
Solution. (a) 3~u + 2~v =  9  +  10  =  19 .
−6 −12 −18

(b) ~u · ~v = 0 + 15 + 12 = 27.

A unit vector in the direction of ~u is

   √ 
2 2/√17
1 1
~u = √  3  =  3/ √17 
k~uk 17 −2 −2/ 17

   
2c 8
~ we have  3c + 5d  =  −3 .
(c) From c~u + d~v = w,
−2c − 6d 10

Then 2c = 8, 3c + 5d = −3 and −2c − 6d = 10.

So c = 4 and d = −3.

2. (3 marks) Let ~u and ~v be vectors in R3 with ~u · ~v = 3 and ~v · ~v = 7. Find a number c

such that ~u − c ~v is perpendicular to ~v .

Solution. Since ~u − c ~v is perpendicular to ~v , we have (~u − c ~v ) · ~v = 0.

Then ~u · ~v − c(~v · ~v ) = 0. Then 3 − 7c = 0. So c = 3/7.

 2

 
1 2 a | 3
3. (3 marks) If the augmented matrix [A| ~b ] =  0 1 4 | b ,
0 0 a+5 | b−7
determine all values of a and b such that the system of linear equations

(i) has a unique solution;

(ii) has no solution;

(iii) has infinitely many solutions.

Solution. (i). If a + 5 6= 0 and b ∈ R, that is a 6= −5 and b ∈ R, then the system has

a unique solution.

(ii). If a + 5 = 0 and b − 7 6= 0, that is a = −5 and b 6= 7, then the system has no

solution.

(iii). If a + 5 = 0 and b − 7 = 0, that is a = −5 and b = 7, then the system has

infinitely many solutions.

4. (6 marks) You are given that the reduced row echelon form of the augmented matrix
[A| ~b ] of the system of linear equations A~x = ~b is
 
1 6 0 0 3 | 1
 0 0 1 0 −2 | 4 
0 0 0 1 5 | 7

Find the general solution of the system A~x = ~b in vector form.

Solution. The general solution of the system is given by

        

 x1 = 1 −6x2 −3x5 x1 1 −6 −3

        
 x2 = x2  x2   0   1   0 
x3 = 4 +2x5 So  x3 = 4  + x2  0  + x5  2 
        

 x = 7 −5x5  x4   7   0   −5 

 4
x5 = x5 x5 0 0 1

where x2 , x5 ∈ R are free variables.

 3

 
· ¸ 2 4
1 2 1
5. (6 marks) Let A = and B =  0 1 . Compute AT , AT +B and AB.
0 −3 2
1 −2
       
1 0 1 0 2 4 3 4
Solution. AT =  2 −3  , AT + B =  2 −3  +  0 1  =  2 −2 ,
1 2 1 2 1 −2 2 0

 
· ¸ 2 4 · ¸
1 2 1  0 1 = 3 4
AB = .
0 −3 2 2 −7
1 −2

6. (4 marks) Given that AX = C, where

· ¸ · ¸
2 3 1 3
A= , C= .
2 4 2 3

Find the matrix X.

· ¸ · ¸
−1 1 4 −3 2 − 32
Solution. A = = .
8−6 −2 2 −1 1

· ¸· ¸ · ¸
−1 2 − 32 1 3 −1 32
X=A C= = .
−1 1 2 3 1 0
 4

 
1 2 4
7. (6 marks) For the matrix A =  2 5 6 , find its inverse A−1 .
1 2 3
   
£ ¤ 1 2 4 | 1 0 0 1 2 4 | 1 0 0

Solution. A | I3 = 2 5 6 | 0 1 0  R2 −2R1 
→ 0 1 −2 | −2 1 0 
R3 −R1
1 2 3 | 0 0 1 0 0 −1 | −1 0 1
   
1 2 0 | −3 0 4 1 0 0 | −3 −2 8
R1 +4R3
→  0 1 0 | 0 1 −2  R1 −2R2 →  0 1 0 | 0 1 −2 
R2 −2R3
0 0 −1 | −1 0 1 0 0 −1 | −1 0 1
 
1 0 0 | −3 −2 8
(−1)R3 
→ 0 1 0 | 0 1 −2 
0 0 1 | 1 0 −1
 
−3 −2 8
−1
So A =  0 1 −2 .
1 0 −1