MATH 241 Suggested Problems

Q1.Obtain an orthonormal basis for the subspace of

spanned by

1
1
1
0
1
1
v1 , v 2 , and v 3 .
1
1
0



0
0
1

Solution: We can use Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization.

1
1
0

v1
1 0

v1
e1

1
v1
2 1


0
0
1
1 1
1 1 1
1
0 1

1 1 0 1 0
1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 0



v 2 ( v 2 e1 )e1 0
0 0
0 0 0 1
e2

numerator
1 1 0
v 2 ( v 2 e1 )e1
1 0 0

1 1

0 0

e3

v 3 ( v 3 e1 )e1 ( v 3 e2 )e2
v 3 ( v 3 e1 )e1 ( v 3 e2 )e2

1
1 1
1 1
1
0 1

1 1 0 1
0 2 1 0 2 1 0



1
0 1
0 1

numerator

0 0
1 1

0 0

0 0

1
1 0
1 / 2
1
0 1
0

0 2 1 0
1 / 2
1

1
0 0 1
1 0

6 1
1
1 0
1 / 2

1
0 1
0

2
1

0 2 1 0
1 / 2

1
0 0
1


1 0
1

0 1

1 1 0
,
,

6 1
Thus an orthonormal basis is 2 1 0

0 0
2

Q2.

Q3:

Q4.

Q5. 1)Find the orthogonal projection of (6,0,0)

a) Along the vector (1,2,1).
b) On the plane determined by (1,2,1) and (1,-1,1).
c) On the subspace spanned by (1,2,1), (1,-1,1) and (3,0,-3)
2) Which vector of span{(0,1,0,-1,0,1), (9,0,2,-3,0,-3)} is closest to (0,1,-1,1,1,0)?
SOLUTION:

Q6. Prove the following identities about vector spaces:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

The zero element, 0 , is unique

0 0
u n , 0u 0
, 0 0

(e) The additive inverse u is unique for u

(f) u n , u (1)u

Solution:

Q7. For real-valued set of vectors V x: 1 , x1 0, x2 0 , vector addition and scalar multiplication

x2

are defined as follows:

x c
x y
x, y V and c , x y 1 1 , cx 1 .
c
x2
x2 y2
Show that V together with the above defined operations is a vector space.

Solution:

Q8: Consider the vector space

. Define the mapping

x, y x1 y1 x2 y2 for all vectors

x
y
x 1 and y 1
x2
y2

(a) Show that x, y y , x .

(b) Show that

x, y y, x for any .

. ------- (*)

(c) Show that (x y ), z x, z y, z .

(d) Determine all non-zero vectors satisfying x, x = 0. Sketch them on R2
(e) Determine all non-zero vectors satisfying x, x 0. Sketch this region on R2 .
(f) Determine all non-zero vectors satisfying x, x 0. Sketch this region on R2.
(g) Is the mapping given by equation (*) a valid dot (i.e., inner) product?

Solution:

Q9: Determine whether the following statements about subspaces are TRUE of FALSE. For each
statement if it is true, provide a complete proof; and if it is false, provide a counter example that
disputes the claim.

(a) If S1 and S2 are two subspaces of the vector space V, then S1

S 2 is also a subspace.

(b) If S1 and S2 are two subspaces of the vector space V, then S1

S 2 is also a subspace.

(c) If S1

Solution:

S 2 is a subspace of the vector space V, then both S1 and S2 are must be subspaces of V.

 1 3 4

2 , 4 , 5
Q10: Show that the set of vectors does not span
3 5 6
3

, but it does span the subspace of

consisting of all vectors lying in the plane with equation x1 2 x2 x3 0 .

Solution: