Sample Quiz 1, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):

Student ID:
1. Assume the following assertions are true:
There are courses at Berkeley.
In every Berkeley course, there is a student who understands everything.
Circle each of the following assertions which must also then be true:
a. There is a Berkeley course in which all students understand something.
b. There is a Berkeley course in which all students understand nothing.
c. There is no Berkeley course in which each student understands nothing.
d. There is no Berkeley course in which each student does not understand something.
e. There is a Berkeley course in which there is a student who understands everything.
c, d, and e must be true.

2. For what numbers a, b, c is the following matrix

echelon form (RREF)?

0 a 1 b
0 0 0 c
0 0 0 0

in row echelon form (REF) or reduced row

0
0
a

REF: a = 0 and any b, c; or a, c 6= 0 and any b.

RREF: a, c = 1 and b = 0; or a = 0, b = 0, c = 1; or a, c = 0 and any b.

Quiz 2, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Find the general solution of the linear system corresponding to the following augmented matrix.


1 2 1 4
2 4 5 6
Solution. First, convert the matrix into REF by applying the row operations.

 

1 2 1 4
1 2 1 4

(Replacement)
2 4 5 6
0 0 7 14
where the corresponding system of linear equations is
x1 2x2 x3 = 4
7x3 = 14
Therefore, x3 = 2 and x1 2x2 = 2.
If we pick x2 as a free variable, the general solution reads
x1 = 2x2 + 2
x2 = free variable
x3 = 2

Quiz 2, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Determine if b is a linear combination of the vectors formed from the columns of the matrix A.

1 4
2
3
3
5 , b = 7
A= 0
2
8 4
3
Solution. Note that b is a linear combination of the column vectors of A if and only if Ax = b
has a solution.
Calculate a REF of the augmented matrix [A|b] :

3
1 4
2
3
5 7
[A|b] = 0
2
8 4 3

3
1 4 2
3 5 7
0
0
0 0
3
The last row (0 0 0 | 3) indicates that the solution does not exist. Hence, b is NOT a linear
combination of the column vectors of A.

Quiz 3, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Determine if the columns of the matrix form
2
0
4 1
1

a linearly independent set.

3
2 3
3 6 5
1 0

Solution 1. The set is linearly dependent. This is because

2
3
2 3
2 3 2 3
0
2
3
0
34 1 5 + 34 3 5 24 6 5 = 4 0 5
1
1
0
0
so that the three columns form a linearly dependent set.

Solution 2. Lets take the associated augmented matrix for the homogeneous equation.
2
3
0 2 3 0
4 1 3 6 0 5
1 1 0 0
In order to make
2
0
4 1
1

the matrix to be
3 2
2 3 0
3 6 0 54
1 0 0

in Row Echelon Form,

3 2
1 3 6 0
1
0 2 3 0 54 0
1 1 0 0
0

we need the below

3 2
3 6 0
1
2 3 0 54 0
4 6 0
0

row reduction steps.

3
3 6 0
2 3 0 5
0 0 0

The first is obtained by interchanging 1st and 2nd rows.

The second : Changing 3rd row into 1st row + 3rd row.
The last : Changing 3rd row into 3rd row + ( 2) 2nd row.
Hence, we can find a solution z =free from 3rd row. y = 32 z from 2nd row. x = y from 1st
and 2nd row. Find one example of x, y, and z by setting z = 2, we get the weights x, y, and z
(not all zeros) that make the linear combination xx1 + yx2 + zx3 become zero.
1

Quiz 3, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Let T (x, y) = (2x + y, x). Show that T is a one-to-one linear transformation. Does T map R2
onto R2 ?

Solution. First of all,

T ((x1 , y1 )) + T ((x2 , y2 )) = (2x1 + y1 , x1 ) + (2x2 + y2 , x2 )
= (2(x1 + x2 ) + (y1 + y2 ), x1 + x2 ) = T ((x1 + x2 , y1 + y2 ))
Also, T (c(x, y)) = (2cx + cy, cx) = c(2x + y, x) = cT ((x, y)). Hence, T is a linear transformation.
Now, in order to prove that T is one-to-one, (because T is a linear transformation and by
Theorem 11 (Chapter 1.9)) we only need to show that
If T (x, y) = (0, 0) then x = 0 and y = 0.
Suppose that T (x, y) = (0, 0), then it implies that 2x + y = 0, x = 0. So, obviously, you get x = 0
and y = 0. Henceforth, T is a one-to-one linear transformation.

For the last question, the answer is YES. To get this answer, we need the argument below.
For an arbitrary element in R2 , say (z, w), if we define x = w, y = z
T (x, y) = (2x + y, x) = (2w + z 2w, w) = (z, w).
Therefore, T maps R2 onto R2 .
2

2w then

Math 54
Practice Quiz #4

Name (Print):


1 2
1. Suppose A =
is the standard matrix for an invertible linear function T : R2 R2 and
3 4


1 0 4
B=
is the standard matrix for a linear function S : R3 R2 . Find the standard
3 4 0
matrix for T T T 1 S.
Solution: First ntoice that T and T 1 cancel. That is, T T T 1 S = T I S = T S.
Since the standard matrix for a composition of two
 linear
  functions
 is
 given by the
 product of
1 2 1 0 4
7 8 4
their standard matrices, the matrix for T S is
=
3 4 3 4 0
15 16 12

Math 54

Practice Quiz #4 - Page 2 of 2

1 2 4 1
2. Let A = 0 1 1 0. Find a basis for Col(A) and a basis for N ul(A).
0 0 0 0
Solution: A is already in echelon form, so we dont need to do too much work. The first two
columns of A are the pivot columns of A, so they form a basis for Col(A).
To find a basis for N ul(A), we want to parameterize the solution space of Ax = 0. This
equation corresponds to the system of equations x1 2x2 + 4x3 + x4 = 0, x2 + x3 = 0, and
0 = 0. So the general
is given
byx2 =
x3 and x4 free.
x4 with
3
x1 = 6x
x3 and

solution

1
6
1
6
6x3 x4
x1
1 0
0
1
x2 x3
= x3 + x4 . So , form a basis for

This gives us
1 0
0
1

x3 =
x3
1
0
1
0
x4
x4
N ul(A).

Sample Quiz 5, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
(1) Let A be a 6 8 matrix. Suppose that the null space of A has a basis consisting of 3 vectors.
Do the columns of A span R6 ? Justify your answer.
Solution: According to the Rank Theorem (Section 2.7, Theorem 13), we have rank(A) +
dim Nul(A) = 8. We are given that dim Nul(A) = 3. Thus rank(A) = 5. By Section 2.6
Theorem 12, the pivot columns of A form a basis for the column space of A, so there are
5 pivot columns. Thus there are 5 pivot rows. This means there is a row which does not
contain a pivot; thus the columns of A do not span R6 .

Sample Quiz 5, MATH 54, Fall 2014

(2) Compute the determinant of the following matrix.

3 1 0 2
4
9 2 0

0
1 0 3
1 2 0 2
Solution: We use

3 1
4
9
det
0
1
1 2

Section 3.1, Theorem 1 to compute the determinant:

0 2
4
9 0
3 1 2
(1)
2 0
= 0 (1)1+3 det 0
1 3 + 2 (1)2+3 det 0
1 3
0 3
1 2 2
1 2 2
0 2

3 1 2
3 1 2
9 0 + 0 (1)4+3 det 4 9 0
+ 0 (1)3+3 det 4
1 2 2
0 1 3

3 1 2
1 3
= 2 (1)2+3 det 0
1 2 2




(2)
1 2
1 3
2+1
2+3
1+1
+ 0 (1)
det
= 2 (1)
3 (1)
det
2 2
2 2
!


1 2
+ (1) (1)3+1 det
1 3
!
= 2 (1)2+3 3 (1)1+1 (8) + (1) (1)3+1 (5)
= 58 .

In the step marked (1), we use the cofactor expansion across the 3rd column; in the step
marked (2), we use the cofactor expansion across the 1st column.

Sample Quiz 6, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Is the set W of 2 2 symmetric matrices a subspace of the vector space V of all 2 2 matrices?
T
(Recall that a matrix
 A is symmetric if and only if A = A. Equivalently, a symmetric 2 2
a b
matrix is of the form
.)
b c

There are two ways of solving this problem, choose your favorite one!
Solution 1: All we need to show that the zero-matrix is in W , and that W is closed under
addition and scalar multiplication.


0 0
Zero-vector: The 2 2 zero-matrix O =
satisfies OT = O, therefore O is in W
0 0
Closed under addition: Suppose A and B are in W . Then AT = A and B T = B. But then,
by properties of transpose:
(A + B)T = AT + B T = A + B
And therefore A + B is symmetric. Since A and B were arbitrary in W , it follows that W is
closed under addition

AT

Closed under scalar multiplication: Suppose A in in W and c is a real number, then

= 0, and so, by properties of transposes:


(cA)T = c AT = cA

And therefore cA is symmetric. Since A and c were arbitrary, it follows that W is closed under
multiplication.
Therefore, W is a subspace of V .
Solution 2:



a b
Notice that every matrix
can be written as:
b c

 
 
 







a b
a 0
0 b
0 0
1 0
0 1
0 0
=
+
+
=a
+b
+c
b c
0 0
b 0
0 c
0 0
1 0
0 1
Therefore, it follows that:

 
 

1 0
0 1
0 0
W = Span
,
,
0 0
1 0
0 1
But since the span of any number of vectors in V is a subspace of V , it follows that W is a
subspace of V .

Sample Quiz 6, MATH 54, Fall 2014


2. Let B =

  
1
2
,
be a basis of R2 .
4
3

a. Calculate the change-of-coordinates matrix PB from B to the standard basis of R2 .




1
2
PB =
4 3


1
b. Use part a. to calculate [x]B given x =
6


We know that:
x = PB [x]B
And therefore:
1

[x]B = (PB )

1
2
x=
4 3

1  
 
  


1 3 2 1
1 15
1
3
=
=
=
6
1
6
2
5 4
5 10

Sample Quiz 7, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1) Find the dimension of the subspace H inside of R4 given by all vectors of the form

2a + 4b + c + 5d
a 7b 4c + 7d

a + b + c 4d
a b 3d
where a, b, c, d are any real numbers.

1
4
2
2a + 4b + c + 5d
5
7
4
7
1
a 7b 4c + 7d

Solution:
a + b + c 4d = a 1 + b 1 + c 1 + d 4.
3
0
1
1
a b 3d

5
1
4
2
1 7 4 7

So H = Span{
1 , 1 , 1 , 4}.
3
0
1
1

2
4
1
5
1 7 4 7
.
Thus dim(H) equals the rank of the matrix A =
1 1
1 4
1 1 0 3

1 0 0.5 3.5
0 1 0.5 0.5
, so dim(H) = rank(A) = 2.
A row-reduces to
0 0
0
0
0 0
0
0

Sample Quiz 7, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2) If A is a 9 6 matrix, what is the largest possible dimension of the row space of A? What is the
largest possible dimension of the null space N ul(A)?
Solution: The number of pivots in A cannot be more than the number of rows or the number
of columns of A, so A has at most 6 pivots. Since dim(Row(A)) = rank(A) = dim(Col(A)), the
largest possible value for dim(Row(A)) is also 6.
By the Rank Theorem, rank(A)+dim(N ul(A)) = 6, so the largest possible value for dim(N ul(A))
is 6, which occurs when rank(A) = 0.

Sample Quiz 8 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1) Consider the matrix

4 1 1
A = 2 1 0
2 0 1
Find a basis for the eigenspace with eigenvalue = 1.
Solution: The eigenspace of A corresponding to an eigenvalue is the null space of the matrix
A I. For = 1, we have

3 1 1
A I = A I = 2 0 0
2 0 0

x1

A vector x = x2 is a solution to (A I)x = 0 if and only if

x3
3x1 + x2 + x3 = 0

2x1 = 0

so if and only if
x3 = x2

x1 = 0
Thus the general solution is

x1
0
0
x = x2 = x2 = x2 1
1
x3
x2
Thus the eigenspace is one-dimensional with basis

0
v1 = 1
1

Sample Quiz 8 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2) Find the characteristic equation and the eigenvalues of the matrix


1 1
A=
4 1
Solution:



1
1
det(A I) = det
= (1 )2 4 = (1 2)(1 + 2) = (1 )(3 )
4
1
Thus the characteristic equation is
(1 )(3 ) = 0
and the eigenvalues are 1 and 3.

Sample Quiz 9 solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Consider the matrix


A=


5
5
.
13 3

Use a change of basis to represent A as a rotation and scaling transformation. In other words, find
a real matrix


a b
C=
b a
and an invertible real matrix P such that A = P CP 1 .
Solution. The characteristic equation is

0 = det(A I) = det

5
5
13 3

= (5 )(3 ) + 65 = 2 + 2 + 50.
This has two complex zeros
= 1

1 50 = 1 7i.

We can choose the eigenvalue = 1 7i and find an associated eigenvector:





4 + 7i 5
4 + 7i
5
= Nul
Nul(A I) = Nul
0
0
13 4 + 7i
(we didnt really row reduce here; the fact that was an eigenvalue
tells us that there must be a


5
, since
row of zeros in the REF). We can choose the eigenvector v =
4 + 7i


 

4 + 7i 5
5
5(4 + 7i) + 5(4 + 7i)
=
= 0.
0
0
4 + 7i
0
Then Theorem 9 tells us that A = P CP 1 , where


5 0
P = Re[v] Im[v] =
4 7

and


C=

 

a b
1 7
=
, (where a ib = = 1 7i).
b a
7 1

Sample Quiz 9 solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Inside of R4 , consider the vectors



1
1
0
1
0
1

v1 =
1 , v2 = 1 , v3 = 0 .
1
1
1
Find all vectors that are simultaneously orthogonal to v1 , v2 , and v3 with respect to the dot product.
Solution. First, let us find a basis of the null space
T

v1
0 1 1 1
1 0 1 1
Nul v2T = Nul 1 0 1 1 = Nul 1 1 0 1
v3T
1 1 0 1
0 1 1 1

1
= Nul 0
0

1
= Nul 0
0

0 1 1
1 1 0
1 1 1

0 1 1
1 1 0
0 2 1

1
1

A basis is given by
1 , and all scalings of this vector are exactly those vectors that are
2
simultaneously orthogonal to v1 , v2 and v3 .

Sample Quiz 10 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Find the set of all x in R2 minimizing kAx bk where

2 1
3
A = 4 1 ,
b = 1 .
2 1
5
Solution. This is equivalent to solving the least-squares problem for Ax = b, which we can do by
solving the normal equations AT A
x = AT b. We can compute


 
24 0
12
T
T
A A=
, A b=
.
0 3
9
Then AT A
x = AT b has the unique solution
 
1/2
=
,
x
3
which is the unique value of x minimizing kAx bk.

Sample Quiz 10 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Let H be the subspace of R4 given by

1
0
1

2
1
, , 1 .
H = span
1 3

1
1
0
Find an orthonormal basis for H.
Solution. Let v1 , v2 , v3 be the three vectors given above that span H. Well use the Gram-Schmidt
process:

1
1

u1 = v1 =
1 ,
0

1

v2 u1
1
,
u1 =
u2 = v2

0
u1 u1
1

1
1
v3 u1
v3 u2

u3 = v3
u1
u2 =
2 .
u1 u1
u2 u2
0
Then {u1 , u2 , u3 } is an orthogonal basis for H. To produce an orthonormal basis, we normalize
these vectors, yielding the set

1
1
1

1 1 1
1
1 , 1

,
1

3 0
6 2

3
0
1
0

Quiz 11, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Find an orthogonal matrix P and diagonal matrix D such that A = P DP 1 where


2 3
A=
3 2

Solution. The characteristic equation is det

2
3
3
2

= 2 4 5 = 0

Therefore eigenvalues are 1 = 5, 2 = 1




 
3 3
1
The eigenvector for 1 = 5 will be nonzero vectors in N ul
, we can pick
3 3
1




3 3
1
The eigenvector for 2 = 1 will be nonzero vectors in N ul
, we can pick
3 3
1
We know that for a symmetric matrix, eigenvectors with different eigenvalues are orthogonal to
each other, and so to orthogonally diagonalize the matrix, we only have to normalize the eigenvectors
to unit vectors.
" #
" #


 
2
2
1
1
2

,
22
1
1
22
2
"
#



2
2
5 0
2
2

.
So P =
, D=
2
0 1
22
2

Quiz 11, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Solve the initial value problem
y 00 + 6y 0 + 5y = 0, y(0) = 1, y 0 (0) = 1
Solution. The auxiliary equation is 2 + 6 + 5 = 0, the solutions are 1, 5, since we have two
different real solutions, the general solution to the equation will be C1 ex + C2 e5x . Plug in the
initial condition, we have:
C1 + C2 = 1
C1 5C2 = 1
Solve the equation above, we have C1 = 23 , C2 = 12 , so the solution is 32 ex 12 e5x

Quiz 12, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Find a particular solution to the following differential equation.
y 00 2y 0 3y = 3tet
Solution. We first solve the correpsonding homogeneous differential equation:
y 00 2y 0 3y = 0
The auxiliary equation is
r2 2r 3 = 0
which has two distinct zeroes 3 and 1. Since 1 is not a zero of the auxiliary equation, yp = (at+b)et
will work for some real numbers a and b. We plug in yp to the differential equation:
3tet = yp00 2yp0 3yp
= (4at 4b)et
This implies that a = 34 and b = 0. Therefore,
3
yp = tet
4
is a particular solution to the given differentail equation.

Quiz 12, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Find a general solution to the following differential equation.
y 00 + 3y 0 + 2y = t + et
Solution. We first solve the correpsonding homogeneous differential equation:
y 00 + 3y 0 + 2y = 0
The auxiliary equation is
r2 + 3r + 2 = 0
which has two distinct zeroes 2 and 1. We then get a general solution yh of the homogeneous
equation:
yh = c1 e2t + c2 et
where c1 and c2 are arbitray real numbers. To find a particular solution for the given differential
equation, we break it up into two parts; we find a particular solution for
y 00 + 3y 0 + 2y = t
and
y 00 + 3y 0 + 2y = et
respectively. And then we add them to obtain a particular solution for the given differential
equation. For the former, 0 is not a zero of the auxiliary equation and so yp1 = at + b will work for
some real numbers a and b. Plug it in to the former:
t = yp001 + 3yp0 1 + 2yp1
= 2at + 3a + 2b
This implies that a =

1
2

and b = 34 . So,
3
1
yp1 = t
2
4

is a particular solution to the former.

For the latter, 1 is not a zero of the auxiliary equation and so yp1 = cet will work for some real
number c. Plug it in to the latter:
et = yp002 + 3yp0 2 + 2yp2
= 6cet
This implies that c = 16 . So,

1
yp2 = et
6
is a particular solution to the latter. Therefore,
1
3 1
yp := yp1 + yp2 = t + et
2
4 6
is a particular solution to the original differentail equation. All in all,
1
3 1
yh + yp = c1 e2t + c2 et + t + et
2
4 6
is a general solution for the differential equation wherer c1 and c2 are arbitrary real numbers.

Sample Quiz 13 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

Name (Last, First):
Student ID:
1. Find a general solution to the homogeneous equation:



3  2
d
d
+4 y =0
5
dt
dt2

Solution. The auxiliary equation becomes

(r 5)3 (r2 + 4) = 0
with the roots

r = 5
r = 2i

r = 2i

(triple)
(single)
(single)

For the triple root r = 5, we obtain three linearly independent solutions

y1 = e5t , y2 = te5t , y3 = t2 e5t .
The complex roots r = 2i correspond to
y4 = cos 2t, y5 = sin 2t
Hence, a general solution y consists of all possible linear combinations of those five linearly independent solutions:
y = C1 e5t + C2 te5t + C3 t2 e5t + C4 cos 2t + C5 sin 2t
where C1 , , C5 are arbitrary.

Sample Quiz 13 Solution, MATH 54, Fall 2014

2. Let
x1 =



sin t
,
cos t


x2 =


cos t
.
sin t

Determine if {x1 , x2 } form a fundamental solution set of the system:



0 1
0
x =
x
1 0
Solution. First, show that x1 and x1 are solutions to the system by checking

0 
 

 

sin t
cos t
0 1 sin t
0 1
0
x1 =
=
=
=
x1
cos t
sin t
1 0
cos t
1 0
x02

cos t
=
sin t

0


 

 

sin t
0 1 cos t
0 1
=
=
=
x2
cos t
1 0
sin t
1 0

Since x1 and x2 are solutions to a homogeneous linear system, it suffices to check if the Wronskian is equal to zero at some point t0 in order to determine the linear independence of {x1 , x2 }.
Then the Wronskian reads


sin t cos t
W [x1 , x2 ](t) = det
cos t sin t
Choose any point t0 , say t0 = 0, so that




0 1
sin 0 cos 0
= 1 6= 0
= det
W [x1 , x2 ](0) = det
1 0
cos 0 sin 0
Therefore, the Wronskian is always nonzero at any t, which implies that the set {x1 , x2 } is linearly
independent. Hence, {x1 , x2 } is a fundamental solution set of the system.