Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total

The Australian National University

Semester Examination - June 2010
MATH1014 - Mathematics and its Applications II.

Book B - Linear Algebra

Questions 1 - 4

Student No.: ...........................................................

Important notes:

• One A4 sheet handwritten both sides permitted. No calculators or books permitted.

• Answer all questions. Calculus in Book A, Linear Algebra in Book B.

• Questions have different weights, the value of each is shown. The maximum grade
in each section is 50.

• Place your answers in the space provided on the test sheet. If you need more space,
use the back of the pages.

• A good strategy is not to spend too much time on any question. Read them through
first and attack them in the order that allows you to make the most progress.

• You must justify your answers. Please be neat.

• You have 15 minutes reading time.

• You have 3 hours to complete the exam.

MATH1014 - Book B, Page 1 of 13

 Question: 1 (Linear Algebra) 9P.

(a) Consider the matrices

   
2 1 0 3 2 −5
A = 0 −2 1 and B = 1 2 −1 .
0 0 1 2 2 −4

(i) Find the eigenvalues for the matrix A.

(ii) Show B has the same eigenvalues as A.
(iii) Explain why A and B are both diagonalisable.
(iv) Since A and B are both diagonalisable with the same eigenvalues there is a
diagonal matrix D and invertible matrices P and Q such that

A = P DP −1 and B = QDQ−1 .

Write the matrix A as a product of the matrices P, P −1 , Q, Q−1 and B.

(v) Explain why A and B are similar matrices.

You do not need to find the matrices P and Q for this question.

(1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 2 of 13

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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 3 of 13

 Question: 2 (Linear Algebra) 15P.
 
5 −5
(a) Consider the matrix B = .
1 1

(i) Find the characteristic equation and eigenvalues of B.

(ii) Find the eigenvectors of B.
(iii) Classify the origin as a spiral attractor, spiral repeller or orbital centre.

(3 + 3 + 1P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 4 of 13

(b) Data have been accumulated on the height of children relative to their parents.
Suppose that the probabilities that a tall parent will have a tall, medium-height or
short child are 0.6, 0.2, and 0.2 respectively; the probability that a medium height
parent will have a tall, medium height or short child are 0.1, 0.7, and 0.2 respectively;
and the probabilities that a short parent will have a tall, medium height or short
child are 0.2, 0.4, and 0.4 respectively.

(i) Write down the transition matrix for this Markov process.
(ii) What is the probability that a short person will have a tall grandchild?
(iii) Find the long term predicted distribution of heights if the data stays the same
for successive generations.

You may use the following row reduction if it is helpful:

   
−0.4 0.1 0.2 1 0 −1
 0.2 −0.3 0.4  → 0 1 −2 .
0.2 0.2 −0.6 0 0 0

(3 + 2 + 3P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 5 of 13

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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 6 of 13

 Question: 3 (Linear Algebra) 13P.

(a) Let    
2 0 5
 1 −1 3
A=
3
 and b =   .
−1
1
−1 2 1

Find a least squares solution of Ax = b by constructing and solving the normal

equations.
(4P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 7 of 13

(b) The matrix A is given by  
1 3 4
1 −1 −1
A=
1 −1 −3 .


1 3 2

(i) Use the Gram-Schmidt process to show that

     

 1 1 1 
1 −1 1
     
 ,
1 −1  , −1
  

 
1 1 −1
 

is an orthogonal basis for Col A.

(ii) Find a QR factorisation for A.

(6 + 3P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 8 of 13

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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 9 of 13

 Question: 4 (Linear Algebra) 13P.

(a) Let M2×2 be the vector space of 2 × 2 matrices and let T : R3 → M2×2 be the linear
transformation given by  
a  
a − b a + b
T b = .
b−c b+c
c
     
 1 1 0 
(i) Find the matrix of T with respect to the basis B = 1 , −1 , 0 for
0 0 1
 
       
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
R3 and C = , , , for M2×2
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

(ii) Find the kernel of T and explain why T is one to one.

 
1 0
(iii) If possible find v such that T v = .
0 1
(iv) Does T map R3 onto M2×2 ? Exlain your answer.

(3 + 2 + 2 + 1P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 10 of 13

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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 11 of 13

(b) Find an equation of the plane that passes through the point (6, 0, −2) and contains
the line with symmetric equations
x−4 y−3 z−7
= = .
−2 5 4

(5P.)
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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 12 of 13

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MATH1014 - Book B, Page 13 of 13