SOLUTION TO ASSIGNMENT 4 COMPILED BY

PROF Z. I. ALI

1. Memo for Assignment 3

As students, you need to solve the questions in the Assignment 3 step by step and understand
the techniques used in every given solution. Note that you can also use different methods.
Question 1
(1.1) To prove that the points (x, y), (a, b), and (c, d) are collinear, it is also equivalent to say
that the determinant (is zero)

x y 1
a b 1 = 0,
c d 1

We can analyze the properties of the determinant by setting it up and computing it as

follows:  
x y 1
b 1 a 1 a b
det a b 1 = x −y +1 .
d 1 c 1 c d
c d 1

We can now compute the 2 × 2 determinants:

b 1 a 1
= b · 1 − d · 1 = b − d, = a · 1 − c · 1 = a − c,
d 1 c 1
a b
and = ad − bc.
c d
Now we can just substitute these into the main determinant formula to obtain

det = x(b − d) − y(a − c) + (ad − bc).

We apply the conditions for the collinearity to assert that, the points (x, y), (a, b), and
(c, d) are collinear if the area of the triangle formed by these three points is zero. The
area can be expressed in terms of the determinant. Specifically, if the area is zero, we
have:

x y 1
1
a b 1 = 0.
2 c d 1

This implies that

x y 1
a b 1 = 0.
c d 1

Date: September 10, 2024.

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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
We then conclusion
Thus, if (x, y), (a, b), and (c, d) are collinear, the determinant equals zero. Conversely,
if the determinant equals zero, it implies that the area of the triangle formed by the
points is zero, confirming that the points are collinear.

Hence, we deduce that

x(b − d) − y(a − c) + (ad − bc) = 0
Equivalently,
(b − d) (ad − bc)
y=x + .
(a − c) (a − c)
Setting the slope and the constant respectively in the general equation of the line,
y = mx + C where
(b − d) (ad − bc)
m := and C :=
(a − c) (a − c)

Therefore, we conclude that:

x y 1
a b 1 = 0 if and only if (x, y), (a, b), (c, d) are collinear.
c d 1

This completes the proof.

(1.2) To solve for the determinants det(A) and det(B), we will apply properties of determi-
nants.

Using the properties of determinants, we can manipulate A to relate it to the original

determinant:

The first row is scaled by −1 (which introduces a factor of −1).

The second row is scaled by 2 (which introduces a factor of 2).
The third row is scaled by 3 (which introduces a factor of 3).

Combining these we thus have:

 
a b c
det(A) = −1 · 2 · 3 · det d e f 
g h i

Given that
 
a b c
det d e f  = −3,
g h i

we substitute:

det(A) = −1 · 2 · 3 · (−3) = 6 · 3 = 18.

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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
Now we consider the matrix B:

 
a a + b a + 2b
B =  a + b a + 2b a 
a + 2b a a+b

We can just compute the determinant of B using cofactor expansion or row or columns
operations.

First, notice that the columns can be manipulated. We can perform column operations
to simplify the expression of the determinant:

Subtract the first column from the second and the first column from the third:

 
a b 2b
B =  a + b b −b .
a + 2b −b 0
Therefore

a + 2b a a + b a + 2b a + b a + 2b
|B| = a − (a + b) + (a + 2b)
a a+b a a+b a + 2b a
which simplifies to
|B| = −9b2 (a + b).
Set |B| = −27b2 to find
−9b2 (a + b) = −27b2
from which we infer that
b = 0 or a + b = 3.
Thus the solution is
(a, b) = (−b + 3, a) for any a, b ∈ R \ {0}.

(1.3) To evaluate the determinant

2 −1 1 1
−1 1 2 −1
,
2 −1 1 2
1 2 −1 −2

we can use and apply elementary row operations along with the co-factor expansion
which help us to simplify the determinant or the matrix.
We perform the following operations at once
1
R2 − R1 −→ R2
2
R3 − 2R1 −→ R3
1
R4 − R1 −→ R4
2

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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
from which we deduce the determinant
2 −1 1 1
1/2 5/2 −1/2
0 1/2 5/2 −1/2
=2 0 0 1 .
0 0 0 1
5/2 −3/2 −5/2
0 5/2 −3/2 −5/2
Swapping R2 ←→ R3 gives us:

1/2 5/2 −1/2

|B| = 2(−1) 5/2 −3/2 −5/2
0 0 1
Performing the elementary operation: R2 − 5R1 −→ R2 to get

1/2 5/2 −1/2

1
|B| = 2(−1) 0 −14 0 = 2(−1) (−14) = 14.
0 0 1 2

Question 2
(2.1) To verify that det(−2A) = det(−2AT ) using reduced row echelon form (RREF), we will
compute the determinants of both −2A and −2AT then compare the answers.
We start by calculating the matrix −2A:
   
3 1 −2 −6 −2 4
−2A = −2 ·  2 1 −1 = −4 −2 2 .
−1 0 −2 2 0 4
Note that
−6 −2 4 3 1 −2
−4 −2 2 = (−2)(−2)(−2) 2 1 −1
2 0 4 −1 0 −2
Therefore, we only need to find |A|. In fact we must use calculate
3 1 −2
|A| = 2 1 −1
−1 0 −2
Using the operations
2
R2 − R1 −→ R2
3
1
R3 + R1 −→ R2
3
to obtain the new determinant which we denote by |B|:
3 1 −2
|B| = 0 1/3 1/3
0 1/3 −8/3
Using the operation
R3 − R2 −→ R3
we obtain that
3 1 −2
|B| = 0 1/3 1/3
0 0 −3
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
from which we deduce that
1
|A| = 3(−3) = −3.
3
T
We can use both −2A and −2A to lead us to determinants:

det(−2A) = (−2)(−2)(−2)|A| = 24 and det(−2AT ) = (−2)3 |A| = 24.

Next, we can easily now find the expression linking the determinant of −2A to the
determinant of (−2AT ) using det(A) from the fact that det(AT ) = det(A).

det(−2A) = (−2)3 (−3) = −23 (−3) = −23 det(A) = −8 det(A).

Thus, we conclude that

det(−2A) = det(−2AT ).

This verifies the relationship, as required.

(2.2) We use inspection to find (Without calculating the determinant)

1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
=1·1·1·3=3
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 3

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

1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1
= .
0 0 0 1 2
0 0 − 21 0

Question 3
(3.1) Given that det(At ) = − 24
3
= −8, we know that det(A) = −8 since det(At ) = det(A),
meaning that the determinant of a matrix is equal to the determinant of its transpose.
Now, we can analyze the elementary row operations that lead to the matrix B:

R3 + 5R1 → R3 : this operation does not change the determinant.

− 45 R1 → R1 : this operation multiplies the first row by − 45 , which helps us to scale the
determinant by − 45 .

− 23 R2 → R2 : this operation multiplies the second row by − 32 , which helps us to scale

the determinant by − 23 .

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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
R2 ↔ R3 : this operation allows us tp swap the second and third rows, which changes
the sign of the determinant.

Hence, combining all these effects, we can obtain an answer for det(B):

Starting with det(A) = −8:

Using the first operation we obtain det(B) = det(A) = −8.

Using the second operation, we find that

4 4 32
det(B) = − · det(A) = − · (−8) = .
5 5 5
Applying the third operation one gets
2 2 32 64
det(B) = − · det(B) = − · =−
3 3 5 15
Applying the fourth operation we obtain
 
64 64
det(B) = − det(B) = − − =
15 15

Applying the formula det(kB) = k n det(B), where n is the size of the matrix B, we
obtain in this case, B is a 3 × 3 matrix, so:

64 1728
det(−3B) = (−3)3 · det(B) = −27 · =−
15 15
(3.2) To determine the values of k for which the matrix
 
2 2 1 −k
 −1 1 2 1 
A=
 1 −2

k 0 
0 1 −1 1

is singular, we need to find when its determinant is equal to zero, i.e., |A| = 0. We’ll
use elementary row operations (row reduction) to simplify the matrix so that compute
the determinant.
First, we exchange the rows:
R← → R3
to obtain

1 −2 k 0
−1 1 2 1
|A| = (−1)
2 2 1 −k
0 1 −1 1
Now we use

R2 + R1 −→ R2
R3 − 2R1 −→ R3
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
to find

1 −2 k 0
0 −1 k + 2 1
|A| = (−1)
0 6 1 − 2k −k
0 1 −1 1
We use
R3 + 6R2 −→ R3
R4 + R2 −→ R4
to find
1 −2 k 0
0 −1 k+2 1 4k + 13 −k + 6
|A| = (−1) = (−1)1(−1) = 2(4k+13)−(k+1)(−k+6)
0 0 4k + 13 −k + 6 k+1 2
0 0 k+1 2
Hence
|A| = k 2 + 3k + 20
Note that for A to be singular, we set |A| = 0 which gives
k 2 + 3k + 20 = 0
from which we compute the discriminant to find
∆ = b2 − 4ac = −71 < 0
and we conclude that there is no solution in R.
Question 4
(4.1) The vertices of the triangle are A(1, 3), B(−3, 5), and
C = 2A = 2(1, 3) = (2 · 1, 2 · 3) = (2, 6).

We can use the formula for the area of a triangle given by the coordinates of its vertices
1
Area = |x1 (y2 − y3 ) + x2 (y3 − y1 ) + x3 (y1 − y2 )|
2
Substituting the coordinates and plugging in the values we have

1
Area = |1(5 − 6) + (−3)(6 − 3) + 2(3 − 5) = 7|
2
Thus, the area of the triangle is

7 units2 .

(4.2) To find the coordinates of point D such that quadrilateral ABCD forms a parallelogram,
we can use the property that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other. For
this purpose, we let the coordinates of point D be (xD , yD ).
Note that the midpoint of diagonal AC should equal the midpoint of diagonal BD.

Calculating the midpoint of AC gives

     
xA + xC yA + yC 1+2 3+6 3 9
MAC = , = , = ,
2 2 2 2 2 2
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
and similarly the midpoint of BD can be expressed as
 
xB + xD y B + y D
MBD = ,
2 2

Setting the midpoints equal to each other, we obtain

   
−3 + xD 5 + yD 3 9
, = ,
2 2 2 2

We notice that from the x-coordinates:

−3 + xD 3
=
2 2
which we multiply both sides by 2 to get

−3 + xD = 3

which implies that

xD = 6

Similarly, from the y-coordinates we have

5 + yD 9
=
2 2
which we multiply both sides by 2 to get

5 + yD = 9

from which we infer that

yD = 4

Thus, the coordinates of point D are

D(6, 4).

Therefore, the coordinates of point D such that quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram

are

(6, 4).

(4.3) We have A(1, 2), B(3, 5), C(2, 4), D(0, 2), E(0, 5) and F (0, 4)

After re-scaling, we can draw the triangle

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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024

Using the above formula from the determinant to Find the Area of the triangle ∆ABC
by just substituting these values into the area formula:

1 1
Area = |1(5 − 4) + 3(4 − 2) + 2(2 − 5)| = .
2 2
Thus, the area of the triangle is

1
units2 .
2
(4.4) To find the distance between the points P (1, 3, −1) and Q(2, 1, −5) in three-dimensional
space, we can use the distance formula:

p
d= (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2 + (z2 − z1 )2

Substituting the coordinates of points P and Q we obtain

Now substitute these differences into the distance formula:

p √ √
d= (1)2 + (−2)2 + (−4)2 = 1 + 4 + 16 = 21.

Thus, the distance between the two points is

4.5625 units2 .

Question 5
(5.1)
2⃗u = 2⟨−2, 2, −3⟩ = ⟨−4, 4, −6⟩
3⃗v = 3⟨−1, 3, −4⟩ = ⟨−3, 9, −12⟩
−(2⃗u − 3⃗v ) = −⟨−4, 4, −6⟩ + ⟨−3, 9, −12
= ⟨1, 5, −6⟩
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
We can also compute 21 w
⃗
1 1
⃗ = ⟨2, −6, 2⟩ = ⟨1, −3, 1⟩
w
2 2

from which we deduce that

1
−(2⃗u − 3⃗v ) + w⃗ = ⟨1, 5, −6⟩ + ⟨1, −3, 1⟩ = ⟨2, 2, −5⟩
2

Computing the magnitude gives us

√ √
||⟨2, 2, −5⟩|| = 4 + 4 + 25 = 33.

⃗ = ⟨2, −6, 2⟩, we first need to

(5.2) To find the unit vector in the direction of the vector w
calculate the magnitude of w⃗ using the formula
p
⃗ = x2 + y 2 + z 2
||w||

Substituting in the components of w

⃗ we get

p √ √ √
||w||
⃗ = 22 + (−6)2 + 22 = 4 + 36 + 4 = 44 = 2 11

We can now compute the unit vector ŵ in the direction of w

⃗ which is given by the
formula

w
⃗
ŵ =
||w||
⃗

Substituting the values, we thus, obtain the unit vector in the direction of w
⃗ given by

1 2 −6 2 1 −3 1
ŵ = √ ⟨2, −6, 2⟩ = ⟨ √ , √ , √ ⟩ = ⟨ √ , √ , √ ⟩
2 11 2 11 2 11 2 11 11 11 11

Question 6
(6.1) By applying the definition of dot product, we have
⃗u · ⃗v = (−1)(2) + (1)(−1) + (2)(0) = −3 ⃗ · ⃗v = (1)(2) + (1)(−1) + (3)(0) = 1
w

(6.2) Let the points P (−1, 1, 2)), Q(2, −1, 0), and R(1, 1, 3) be the tips of the above 3 vectors
in question (5.3), we have

P⃗Q = ⟨2 − (−1), −1 − 1, 0 − 2⟩ = ⟨3, −2, −2⟩,

⃗ = ⟨1 − 2, 1 − (−1), 3 − 0⟩ = ⟨−1, 2, 3⟩.
QR
Therefore, the normal vector ⃗n that is perpendicular to the plane is given by

î ĵ k̂
⃗n = P⃗Q × QR
⃗ = 3 −2 −2 = ⟨−2, −7, 4⟩
−1 2 3
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
Question 7
To prove that the dot product of two vectors in 3-D is commutative, we consider two generic
vectors ⃗u = ⟨u1 , u2 , u3 ⟩ and ⃗v = ⟨v1 , v2 , v3 ⟩.
By definition, we have
⃗u · ⃗v = u1 v1 + u2 v2 + u3 v3

Now, we can consider the dot product in the reverse order

⃗v · ⃗u = v1 u1 + v2 u2 + v3 u3

Since the multiplication of real numbers is commutative, we can then clearly have
u1 v1 + u2 v2 + u3 v3 = v1 u1 + v2 u2 + v3 u3
from which we thus deduce that
⃗u · ⃗v = ⃗v · ⃗u

which proves that the dot product is actually commutative .

Question 8
(8.1) To check if ⃗u = ⟨1, 3, −2⟩ and ⃗v = ⟨−5, 3, 2⟩ are orthogonal, we just compute the dot
product as follows

⃗u · ⃗v = (1)(−5) + (3)(3) + (−2)(2) = −5 + 9 − 4 = 0

Since the dot product is zero, we can then deduce ⃗u and ⃗v are orthogonal.
(8.2) To determine if ⃗u = ⟨1, −2, 4⟩ and ⃗v = ⟨5, 3, 7⟩ are orthogonal and the angle type,
compute the dot product:

⃗u · ⃗v = (1)(5) + (−2)(3) + (4)(7) = 5 − 6 + 28 = 27

Since the dot product is positive (27 > 0), the vectors are not orthogonal and form an
acute angle.
Question 9
(9.1) To find the orthogonal projection of ⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −3⟩ onto ⃗a = ⟨−2, 1, 2⟩, use the formula

⃗u · ⃗a
proj⃗a⃗u = ⃗a
⃗a · ⃗a
We compute the dot product ⃗u · ⃗a

⃗u · ⃗a = (−2)(−2) + (1)(1) + (−3)(2) = 4 + 1 − 6 = −1

And also compute ⃗a · ⃗a

⃗a · ⃗a = (−2)2 + (1)2 + (2)2 = 4 + 1 + 4 = 9

We can use the above definition of the projection to obtain

−1 −1 2 1 2
proj⃗a⃗u = ⃗a = ⟨−2, 1, 2⟩ = ⟨ , − , − ⟩
9 9 9 9 9
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Ali Solution to Assignment 3 - MAT1503 2024
We then find the norm
s 
2  2  2
2 1 2
||proj⃗a⃗u|| = + − + −
9 9 9
r r r
4 1 4 9 1 1
= + + = = =
81 81 81 81 9 3
Finally, thus far, we calculated the projection and its magnitude
 
2 1 2 1
proj⃗a⃗u = ,− ,− and ||proj⃗a⃗u|| = .
9 9 9 3
Note that the Projection is given by
 
−1 2 1 2
proj⃗a⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, 2⟩ = ,− ,−
9 9 9 9

and its magnitude is given by

1
||proj⃗a⃗u|| =
3
Therefore the Orthogonal component is given
   
2 1 2 20 10 25
⃗u⊥ = ⃗u − proj⃗a⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −3⟩ − ,− ,− = − , ,−
9 9 9 9 9 9

and the orthogonal complement which is the set of all vectors orthogonal to ⃗a.
 
1 20 10 25
||proj⃗a⃗u|| = , ⃗u⊥ = − , , − .
3 9 9 9
⃗ = ⟨x, y, z⟩ such that
For the orthogonal component, we assume a generic vector W
W⃗ .⃗a = 0
which implies that
−2x + y − 2z = 0 or 2x − y + 2z = 0
which has infinitely many solutions.

Z. I. Ali, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 0003,

South Africa.
Email address: alizi@[Link]

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