Chapter 4
Mathematics Core: Calculus and Linear Algebra
TU BSc past exam questions
Past questions and answers
9 questions set from this chapter. Most repeated first.
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 8 marks
Define linear equation and system of linear equation with an example of each. Examine whether the system of equations are consistent. If so, solve the following system of equations using Gaussian elimination method: , , [2+2+4]
Answer
Definitions
Linear equation:
An equation in which each variable occurs only to the first power and no product of variables appears is called a linear equation.
General form in variables (x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n):
[
a_1x_1+a_2x_2+\cdots+a_nx_n=b,
]
where (a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n,b) are constants and not all (a_i) are zero.
Example:
[
2x-3y+z=4.
]
System of linear equations:
A collection of two or more linear equations involving the same variables is called a system of linear equations.
Example:
[
\begin{cases}
x+y=3,\
2x-y=0.
\end{cases}
]
Given system
[ \begin{aligned} x+3y-2z&=3\ 2x-3y+z&=2\ 4x-3y+2z&=2 \end{aligned} ]
Augmented matrix: [ \left[\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 3 & -2 & 3\ 2 & -3 & 1 & 2\ 4 & -3 & 2 & 2 \end{array}\right] ]
Apply Gaussian elimination.
[ R_2 \to R_2-2R_1,\qquad R_3 \to R_3-4R_1 ]
[ \left[\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 3 & -2 & 3\ 0 & -9 & 5 & -4\ 0 & -15 & 10 & -10 \end{array}\right] ]
Now eliminate the (y)-term from (R_3): [ R_3 \to R_3-\frac{5}{3}R_2 ]
[ \left[\begin{array}{ccc|c} 1 & 3 & -2 & 3\ 0 & -9 & 5 & -4\ 0 & 0 & \frac{5}{3} & -\frac{10}{3} \end{array}\right] ]
This is in row-echelon form.
The coefficient matrix has rank (3), and the augmented matrix also has rank (3). Since [ \text{rank}(A)=\text{rank}([A|B])=3=\text{number of unknowns}, ] the system is consistent and has a unique solution.
Back substitution
From the last row: [ \frac{5}{3}z=-\frac{10}{3} ] [ z=-2 ]
From the second row: [ -9y+5z=-4 ] [ -9y+5(-2)=-4 ] [ -9y-10=-4 ] [ -9y=6 ] [ y=-\frac{2}{3} ]
From the first row: [ x+3y-2z=3 ] [ x+3\left(-\frac{2}{3}\right)-2(-2)=3 ] [ x-2+4=3 ] [ x+2=3 ] [ x=1 ]
Hence the solution is [ \boxed{x=1,\quad y=-\frac{2}{3},\quad z=-2} ]
So the system is consistent and has the unique solution [ \boxed{(x,y,z)=\left(1,-\frac{2}{3},-2\right)}. ]
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 4 marks
Let . Establish that the mapping defined by is one to one but not onto. Where as the mapping defined by is onto but not one to one. [4+4]
OR
State the condition when a square matrix A possess an inverse. Let and be matrices of order 2. Determine the matrix when and are inverse of each other. Also, verify that and are inverse of each other. [1+4+3]
Answer
Part 1: ,
Here , so for ,
is one-to-one. Let for . Then . Put . Then
From the first, . Substituting in the second, , i.e. , so and hence . Thus , i.e. . Therefore is one-to-one.
(Equivalently, the two columns are linearly independent, since ; so .)
is not onto. Every image vector has third coordinate :
the -plane. For instance has no pre-image, since can never have third coordinate . Hence is not onto. (Indeed .)
Part 2: ,
(As printed the map would coincide with ; the intended statement is the transpose map , , which is onto but not one-to-one.)
is onto. Let be arbitrary. We need with
The coefficient matrix has determinant , so the system has a unique solution for every . Explicitly, from the first equation ; putting this in the second, , so and . Hence
so every element of is an image. Thus is onto. (Here .)
is not one-to-one. Take , but
So two distinct vectors have the same image; is not one-to-one. In fact
so .
OR
Condition for the existence of
A square matrix of order possesses an inverse if and only if is non-singular, i.e.
When this holds, is unique and is given by
If , then is singular and has no inverse.
Determination of
Given and , with and inverses of each other, i.e. .
so exists. For a matrix ,
Hence
So
Check:
and similarly . So and are indeed inverses.
Verification that and are inverses
Now
Similarly,
(Alternatively, .)
Since , the matrices and are inverses of each other.
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 8 marks
If a vector space has a finite basis, then prove that all of its bases have the same number of elements. [8]
OR
If is a linear transformation whose domain is n-dimensional vector space, then prove that .
Answer
Proof: Let (V) be a vector space over a field (F). Suppose (V) has a finite basis
[
B={v_1,v_2,\dots,v_n}.
]
Let
[
B'={w_1,w_2,\dots,w_m}
]
be any other basis of (V). We prove that (m=n).
Since (B) spans (V), each (w_j) can be written as a linear combination of the vectors (v_i): [ w_j=a_{1j}v_1+a_{2j}v_2+\cdots+a_{nj}v_n,\qquad j=1,2,\dots,m. ] Form the (n\times m) matrix (A=(a_{ij})).
If (m>n), then the homogeneous system [ A c=0 ] has a nontrivial solution (c=(c_1,c_2,\dots,c_m)^T\neq 0), because the number of unknowns (m) is greater than the number of equations (n). Equivalently, [ \operatorname{rank}(A)\le n<m, ] so the nullity of (A) is positive.
For this nonzero vector (c), [ \sum_{j=1}^m c_j w_j
\sum_{j=1}^m c_j\left(\sum_{i=1}^n a_{ij}v_i\right)
\sum_{i=1}^n\left(\sum_{j=1}^m a_{ij}c_j\right)v_i
] Since (c\neq 0), this gives a nontrivial linear relation among (w_1,w_2,\dots,w_m), contradicting the fact that (B') is linearly independent. Hence [ m\le n. ]
Now interchange the roles of (B) and (B'). Since (B') spans (V) and (B) is linearly independent, the same argument gives [ n\le m. ] Therefore, [ m=n. ]
Thus every basis of a finite-dimensional vector space has the same number of elements. This common number is called the dimension of (V).
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 5 marks
Find an orthonormal basis and orthonormal basis for starting with the vectors , and . [5+3]
Answer
Let
[
v_1=(1,1,1),\quad v_2=(0,1,1),\quad v_3=(1,0,1).
]
Use the Gram–Schmidt process.
1. Orthogonal basis
Set [ u_1=v_1=(1,1,1). ]
Now orthogonalize (v_2) with respect to (u_1): [ u_2=v_2-\frac{v_2\cdot u_1}{u_1\cdot u_1}u_1. ] Here, [ v_2\cdot u_1=0+1+1=2,\qquad u_1\cdot u_1=3. ] So [ u_2=(0,1,1)-\frac{2}{3}(1,1,1) =\left(-\frac23,\frac13,\frac13\right). ] Multiplying by (3), we may take [ u_2=(-2,1,1). ]
Now orthogonalize (v_3) with respect to (u_1) and (u_2): [ u_3=v_3-\frac{v_3\cdot u_1}{u_1\cdot u_1}u_1-\frac{v_3\cdot u_2}{u_2\cdot u_2}u_2. ] Compute: [ v_3\cdot u_1=1+0+1=2, ] [ v_3\cdot u_2=(1)(-2)+0(1)+1(1)=-1, ] [ u_2\cdot u_2=4+1+1=6. ] Thus [ u_3=(1,0,1)-\frac{2}{3}(1,1,1)-\frac{-1}{6}(-2,1,1). ] [ u_3=(1,0,1)-\left(\frac23,\frac23,\frac23\right)+\frac16(-2,1,1) ] [ u_3=\left(0,-\frac12,\frac12\right). ] Multiplying by (2), take [ u_3=(0,-1,1). ]
Hence an orthogonal basis is [ \boxed{{(1,1,1),\ (-2,1,1),\ (0,-1,1)}}. ]
2. Orthonormal basis
Divide each vector by its norm.
[ |(1,1,1)|=\sqrt{1^2+1^2+1^2}=\sqrt3, ] [ |(-2,1,1)|=\sqrt{4+1+1}=\sqrt6, ] [ |(0,-1,1)|=\sqrt{0+1+1}=\sqrt2. ]
Therefore an orthonormal basis is [ \boxed{ \left{ \frac1{\sqrt3}(1,1,1),\ \frac1{\sqrt6}(-2,1,1),\ \frac1{\sqrt2}(0,-1,1) \right} } ] or explicitly, [ \boxed{ \left{ \left(\frac1{\sqrt3},\frac1{\sqrt3},\frac1{\sqrt3}\right), \left(-\frac2{\sqrt6},\frac1{\sqrt6},\frac1{\sqrt6}\right), \left(0,-\frac1{\sqrt2},\frac1{\sqrt2}\right) \right} }. ]
These three vectors are mutually perpendicular and each has unit length, so they form an orthonormal basis of (\mathbb{R}^3).
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 6 marks
Let and be two lines in described as and . Then prove that these lines are the same if and only if and are multiples of . Also, show that the two lines parametrically in are parallel and distinct. [6+2]
Answer
Let
[
L_1={u+tv:t\in\mathbb R},\qquad L_2={w+sz:s\in\mathbb R},
]
where (v,z\neq 0) are direction vectors.
1. Prove (L_1=L_2) iff (u-w) and (v) are multiples of (z)
((\Rightarrow)) Suppose (L_1=L_2).
Since (u\in L_1=L_2), there exists (s_0\in\mathbb R) such that [ u=w+s_0z. ] Hence [ u-w=s_0z, ] so (u-w) is a multiple of (z).
Also, since (u+v\in L_1=L_2), there exists (s_1\in\mathbb R) such that [ u+v=w+s_1z. ] Subtracting (u=w+s_0z), we get [ v=(s_1-s_0)z. ] Thus (v) is also a multiple of (z).
So if (L_1=L_2), then (u-w) and (v) are multiples of (z).
((\Leftarrow)) Suppose (u-w) and (v) are multiples of (z).
Then for some (\alpha,\beta\in\mathbb R), [ u-w=\alpha z,\qquad v=\beta z. ] Since (v\neq 0), we have (\beta\neq 0).
Take any point (x\in L_1). Then for some (t\in\mathbb R), [ x=u+tv. ] Using (u=w+\alpha z) and (v=\beta z), [ x=w+\alpha z+t\beta z =w+(\alpha+t\beta)z. ] This is a point of (L_2). Hence (L_1\subseteq L_2).
Conversely, take any point (y\in L_2). Then for some (s\in\mathbb R), [ y=w+sz. ] Since (v=\beta z), we have (z=\frac1\beta v). Also, [ w=u-\alpha z=u-\frac{\alpha}{\beta}v. ] Therefore, [ y=u-\frac{\alpha}{\beta}v+\frac{s}{\beta}v =u+\left(\frac{s-\alpha}{\beta}\right)v. ] This is a point of (L_1). Hence (L_2\subseteq L_1).
Thus (L_1=L_2).
Therefore, [ \boxed{L_1=L_2 \iff u-w \text{ and } v \text{ are multiples of } z.} ]
2. Parallel and distinct lines in (\mathbb R^3)
Two parametrically given lines [ L_1={u+tv},\qquad L_2={w+sz} ] are parallel iff their direction vectors are scalar multiples: [ v=\lambda z,\qquad \lambda\neq 0. ]
If in addition (u-w) is not a multiple of (z), then the lines are parallel and distinct.
Indeed, suppose they met. Then for some (t,s\in\mathbb R), [ u+tv=w+sz. ] Since (v=\lambda z), [ u-w=(s-t\lambda)z, ] which contradicts the assumption that (u-w) is not a multiple of (z). Hence they do not intersect. Since their directions are the same, they are parallel and distinct.
Example
[ L_1:(0,0,0)+t(1,2,3), ] [ L_2:(1,0,0)+s(2,4,6). ] Here [ (2,4,6)=2(1,2,3), ] so the lines are parallel. Also, [ u-w=(-1,0,0) ] is not a multiple of ((2,4,6)), so the lines are distinct. Thus (L_1) and (L_2) are parallel and distinct.
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 4 marks
Define Kernel and span of a vector. Write the rank of a matrix A is always consistent? Find a matrix whose kernel is spanned by the two vectors and . [2+1+4]
Answer
Kernel:
Let (T:V\to W) be a linear transformation. The kernel of (T) is
[
\ker T={v\in V:T(v)=0}.
]
For a matrix (A), the kernel (null space) is
[
\ker A={x:Ax=0}.
]
It is a subspace of the domain.
Span of vectors:
If (S={v_1,v_2,\dots,v_n}) is a set of vectors in a vector space (V), then
[
\operatorname{span}(S)={c_1v_1+c_2v_2+\cdots+c_nv_n:c_i\in \mathbb R}.
]
It is the smallest subspace containing all the given vectors.
Rank and consistency:
The rank of a matrix (A) is the dimension of its row space or column space, i.e. the number of nonzero rows in its row-echelon form.
A system (AX=B) is not always consistent. It is consistent if and only if
[
\operatorname{rank}(A)=\operatorname{rank}(A|B).
]
If (\operatorname{rank}(A)<\operatorname{rank}(A|B)), the system has no solution. The homogeneous system (AX=0) is always consistent, since (X=0) is a solution.
Required matrix:
Let
[
v_1=(1,-2,3),\qquad v_2=(-2,0,4).
]
A matrix whose kernel is (\operatorname{span}{v_1,v_2}) must have row vectors orthogonal to both (v_1) and (v_2). Compute
[
v_1\times v_2=
\begin{vmatrix}
i&j&k\
1&-2&3\
-2&0&4
\end{vmatrix}
=(-8,-10,-4)\sim (4,5,2).
]
So take
[
A=\begin{pmatrix}4&5&2\end{pmatrix}.
]
Then
[
\ker A={(x,y,z)^T:4x+5y+2z=0}.
]
Check:
[
A v_1=4(1)+5(-2)+2(3)=0,
]
[
A v_2=4(-2)+5(0)+2(4)=0.
]
Since (v_1,v_2) are independent, (\dim(\ker A)=2), and hence
[
\ker A=\operatorname{span}{(1,-2,3),(-2,0,4)}.
]
If a square matrix is required, we may write [ A=\begin{pmatrix} 4&5&2\ 0&0&0\ 0&0&0 \end{pmatrix}, ] which has the same kernel. Its rank is (1).
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 4 marks
Show that there is a unique linear map for which and . Also, find formula for . Is T one to one? [2+2+1]
Answer
Let (T:\mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}) be linear and suppose
[ T(1,1)=3,\qquad T(0,1)=-2. ]
1. Uniqueness of (T)
The vectors ((1,1)) and ((0,1)) form a basis of (\mathbb{R}^2), since
[ \det\begin{pmatrix}1&0\1&1\end{pmatrix}=1\ne 0. ]
Any linear map is uniquely determined by its values on a basis. Hence there can be at most one such linear map (T).
So the map is unique.
2. Formula for (T(x,y))
Express ((x,y)) as a linear combination of ((1,1)) and ((0,1)):
[ (x,y)=a(1,1)+b(0,1). ]
Then
[ a=x,\qquad a+b=y. ]
So
[ b=y-x. ]
Therefore,
[ (x,y)=x(1,1)+(y-x)(0,1). ]
Using linearity,
[ T(x,y)=xT(1,1)+(y-x)T(0,1). ]
Substitute the given values:
[ T(x,y)=x(3)+(y-x)(-2) ]
[ =3x-2y+2x ]
[ \boxed{T(x,y)=5x-2y}. ]
3. Is (T) one-to-one?
No. For (T) to be one-to-one, its kernel must contain only ((0,0)).
Find the kernel:
[ T(x,y)=0 ]
[ 5x-2y=0 ]
[ 2y=5x ]
[ y=\frac{5x}{2}. ]
Thus, for example,
[ T(2,5)=5(2)-2(5)=10-10=0. ]
So ((2,5)\neq (0,0)) but (T(2,5)=T(0,0)=0). Hence (T) is not one-to-one.
[ \boxed{\text{No, } T \text{ is not one-to-one.}} ]
Also, since (\dim(\mathbb{R}^2)=2) and (\dim(\mathbb{R})=1), a linear map from (\mathbb{R}^2) to (\mathbb{R}) cannot be injective.
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 4 marks
How are determinant related to area and volume? Find the area of triangle whose vertices are , and . Also, find the volume of the parallelepiped whose vertices are , and . [1+4+2]
OR
Distinguish between determinant and matrix. Prove that . [2+5]
Answer
Determinants, area and volume. The determinant of a matrix gives the (signed) area of the parallelogram spanned by its row vectors, so half of it is the area of a triangle. The determinant of a matrix gives the (signed) volume of the parallelepiped spanned by its three row vectors. The absolute value is taken because area and volume are positive.
Area of the triangle with vertices , , :
Expanding along the first row, , so
Volume of the parallelepiped with edge vectors , , from the origin:
OR
Determinant vs matrix.
| Determinant | Matrix |
|---|---|
| A single number (scalar value) obtained from a square array | An array of numbers; has no single value |
| Defined only for square arrays | Can be of any order |
| Written with vertical bars | Written with brackets |
| Interchanging rows and columns keeps the value | Transposing gives a different matrix |
| Multiplying by multiplies one row only by | Multiplying by multiplies every element |
Proof. Let and let the determinant be with rows , , , .
Apply , , (using the original rows):
Apply :
Expand along the third row, whose only non-zero entry is in position , with sign :
Answer checked by Claude Sonnet · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
- 2082 · MAT 201 (New Course) · 7 marks
Find the eigenvalues of . Also find one eigenvector of A. [5+2]
Answer
Characteristic equation:
Expanding,
Hence the eigenvalues are
So the eigenvalues are with multiplicity , and .
Now find an eigenvector for :
The equations reduce to
Solving gives
Taking , we get
Therefore one eigenvector corresponding to is
Equivalently, is also an eigenvector for .
Answer checked by Claude Haiku · Oct 21, 2026
Test yourself · 2 MCQs
Loading…
Questions from TU 4 Yrs BSc 2nd Yr Linear Algebra 2082 (Bachelor Level (4 Yrs.) · MAT 201 (New Course) · 2082), TU 4 Years BSc 2nd Yr PHY 201 2081 (Bachelor (4 Yrs.) · PHY. 201 · 2081), TU 4 Years BSc 4th Yr Environmental and (Bachelor Level [4 Yrs.] · Environment and Biodiversity (Bot. 401) · 2082) and TU 4 Years BSc 4th Yr Material Science (Bachelor Level (4 Yrs.) · Material Science (Phy.405) · 2074). Answers are written for this site; check them against your class notes.