The University of Sydney

MATH1002 Linear Algebra

Semester 1 Preparatory Exercises for Week 2 2021

There are thirteen teaching weeks. There will be a set of preparatory exercises and a set of tutorial exercises each
week except for Week 1. Each set of exercises covers the material from the lectures in the previous week. This
is the first set of preparatory exercises; it is based on the lectures from Week 1. Preparatory exercises should be
attempted before attending the tutorial. Answers are provided below.
Important Ideas and Useful Facts:
(i) A vector v is a directed line segment that corresponds to a displacement from a point A to a point B. The
−−→
vector from A to B is denoted AB, with A the initial point or tail and B the terminal point or head.
(ii) The set of all points in n-dimensional space corresponds to the set of all vectors with tails at the origin O.
−→
To each point A, there corresponds the vector OA, called the position vector of A.
−→
(iii) If A is the point in the plane with coordinates (a1 , a2 ), then OA = [a1 , a2 ]. The entries a1 and a2 are the
−→ a1
components of the vector OA. We often use the column vector rather than the row vector [a1 , a2 ].
a2
−→
Similarly if A is the point  in n-dimensional space with coordinates (a1 , a2 , . . . , an ), then the vector OA is
a1
 a2 
[a1 , a2 , . . . , an ] or  . , and this vector has ith component ai .
 
 .. 
an
(iv) Two vectors are equal if and only if their corresponding components are equal. Geometrically, two vectors
are equal if and only if they have the same length and the same direction, equivalently, we could translate
one on to the other. A vector with its tail at the origin is in standard position.
(v) The set of all vectors with n components is denoted Rn . This is the same as the set of all ordered n-tuples,
written as row or column vectors.
(vi) If u = [u1 , u2 ] and v = [v1 , v2 ] then their sum u + v is the vector u + v = [u1 + v1 , u2 + v2 ]. Similarly in
Rn , if u = [u1 , u2 , . . . , un ] and v = [v1 , v2 , . . . , vn ], then

u + v = [u1 + v1 , u2 + v2 , . . . , un + vn ].

(vii) Head-to-Tail Rule for Vector Addition: Translate v so its tail is at the head of u. Then u + v is the vector
from the tail of u to the head of v.
(viii) Parallelogram Rule: If u and v are in standard position, then u + v is the vector in standard position along
the diagonal of the parallelogram determined by u and v.
−−→
(ix) The zero vector in Rn is 0 = [0, 0, . . . , 0] = OO. This vector has length 0 and its direction is not defined.
For all vectors u in Rn , u + 0 = u.
(x) A scalar is a real number. Given a scalar c and a vector v, the scalar multiple cv is the vector obtained
by multiplying each component of v by c. So if v = [v1 , v2 ] then cv = [cv1 , cv2 ]. Similarly in Rn , if
v = [v1 , v2 , . . . , vn ] then cv = [cv1 , cv2 , . . . , cvn ]. For all vectors v, 0v = 0 and 1v = v, and for all scalars
c and d, c(dv) = (cd)v. Geometrically, cv points in the same direction as v if c > 0 and the opposite
direction if c < 0, and cv has length |c| times the length of v. Two vectors are scalar multiples of each
other if and only if they are parallel.
(xi) The negative of a vector v is the vector (−1)v = −v. This has the same length as v but points in the
−−→ −−→
opposite direction. For all vectors v, v + (−v) = 0. If A and B are points then AB = −BA.
(xii) We define vector subtraction by u − v = u + (−v).
−−→ −−→ −−→
(xiii) If P and Q are points in Rn then P Q = OQ − OP .

1
(xiv) Commutative Law of Addition: For all vectors u and v in Rn , u + v = v + u.
(xv) Associative Law of Addition: For all vectors u, v and w in Rn , (u + v) + w = u + (v + w).

(xvi) Distributive Laws: For all scalars c and d and all vectors u and v in Rn , c(u + v) = cu + cv and
(c + d)u = cu + du.

Preparatory Exercises:

1. Let u = [3, 1] and v = [−1, 1] be vectors in R2 . On the same diagram, draw and label the vectors u, v,
u + v and −2v in standard position.
−−→ −−→ −−→ −−→
2. The edges of the square ABCD are marked by vectors AB, BC, AD and DC, as shown.

A B

D C

True or false:
−−→ −−→
1. AB = BC
−−→ −−→
2. AB = CD
−−→ −−→
3. AD = BC
−→ −−→ −−→
4. AC = BC + DC
3. Simplify the following vector expressions, where a, b, w, z and v are vectors in Rn .
1. 3a + 2b − 4(b + 21 a)
2. −(w − 6z) − 2w + v − 2z

2
Answers to Preparatory Exercises

1. The diagram is:

u+v

v u

−2v

2. (i) false (ii) false (iii) true (iv) true

3. (i) a − 2b (ii) v − 3w + 4z

Copyright © Some of these tutorial exercises have been adapted from A First Course in Linear Algebra by David Easdown and from
Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction, 4th Edition by David Poole.