MAT1503/101/0/2024

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2024

Linear Algebra I
MAT1503

Year Module

Department of Mathematical Sciences

This tutorial letter contains important information about Assignment 3.

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 ASSIGNMENT 03
Due date: Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Total Marks: 60

ONLY FOR YEAR MODULE

This assignment covers chapters 1 & 2 of the prescribed book as well as the study
guide, Note that this assignment will close on 26 June 2023 at 2:00 PM

Question 1: 13 Marks

(1.1) Let the points (x, y), (a, b) and (c, d) be collinear points with (a, b) and (c, d) two distinct (3)
points. Prove that
x y 1
a b 1 =0
c d 1
| · | stands for det(·), the determinant.

(1.2) Given that (4)

a b c
d e f = −3
g h i
Evaluate det(A) and det(B) for
   
−a −b −c a a + b a + 2b
A =  2d 2e 2f  and B =  a + b a + 2b a .
3g 3h 3i a + 2b a a+b
Find whenever possible, the value(s) of a and b such that |B| = −27b2

(1.3) Use the the elementary row operations and the co-factor expansion to evaluate (6)

2 −1 1 1
−1 1 2 −1
2 −1 1 2
1 2 −1 −2

Question 2: 9 Marks

(2.1) Use the reduced row echelon form to verify that det(−2A) = det(−2AT ). (4)
 
3 1 −2
A =  2 1 −1  .
−1 0 −2

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 MAT1503/101/0/2024

(2.2) Use inspection to find (Without calculating the determinant) (2)

1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 3

(2.3) Use inspection to find (Without calculating the determinant) (3)

1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 0 1
0 0 − 12 0

Question 3: 10 Marks

(3.1) Assume that A is a 3 by 3 matrix such that det(At ) = − 24

3
. Let B be a matrix obtained from A (4)
using the following elementary row operations:

R3 + 5R1 → R3 ,
4
− R1 → R1 ,
5
2
− R2 → R2
3
R2 ↔ R3 .

Find the determinant of −3B obtained from the resulting operations, i.e., det(−3B).

(3.2) Use the elementary row operations to determine for which value (s) of k will the matrix below (6)
be singular.  
2 2 1 −k
 −1 1 2 1 
A=  1 −2

k 0 
0 1 −1 1

Question 4: 12 Marks

(4.1) Find the area of the triangle with the given vertices A(1, 3), B(−3, 5), and C with C = 2A. (3)

(4.2) Use the data above to find the coordinates of the point D such that the quadrilateral ABCD is (3)
a parallelogram.

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(4.3) Sketch the triangle with vertices A(1, 2), B(3, 5), and C(2, 4) and the points D(0, 2), E(0, 5) (6)
and F (0, 4) on the same xy -plane. Use the determinant to find the area of the triangle.

(4.4) Consider the points (1, 3, −1) and (2, 1, −5). Evaluate the distance between the two points.

Question 5: 3 Marks

Consider the vectors ⃗u =< −2, 2, −3 >, ⃗v =< −1, 3, −4 >, w

⃗ =< 2, −6, 2 > .

Evaluate

(5.1) || − (2⃗u − 3⃗v ) + 21 w

⃗ ||. (1)

(5.2) ⃗.
The unit vector in the direction of w (2)

Question 6: 2 Marks

We assume given a plane U passing by the tip of the vectors ⃗u =< −1, 1, 2 >, ⃗v =< 2, −1, 0 > and
⃗ =< 1, 1, 3 >.
w

(6.1) Find the dot products ⃗u · ⃗v and w

⃗ · ⃗v (1)

(6.2) Determine whether or not there is a vector ⃗n that is perpendicular to U. If yes, then find the (1)
vector ⃗n. Otherwise explain why such a vector does not exist?

Question 7: 3 Marks

Prove that the dot product between two vectors in 3-D is commutative and not associative

Question 8: 4 Marks

Determine whether ⃗u and ⃗v are orthogonal vectors, make an acute or obtuse angle:

(8.1) ⃗u =< 1, 3, −2 >, ⃗v =< −5, 3, 2 >. (2)

(8.2) ⃗u =< 1, −2, 4 >, ⃗v =< 5, 3, 7 >. (2)

Question 9: 4 Marks

Determine proj⃗a⃗u the orthogonal projection of ⃗u on ⃗a and deduce ||proj⃗a⃗u || for

(9.1) ⃗u =< −2, 1, −3 >, ⃗a =< −2, 1, 2 >.

Also find orthogonal complement and the orthogonal component of ⃗u along ⃗a.

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