Name: Student Number:

Problem 1 (5 points). Consider the following matrix:

 
0 4 8 0 4a
1 −5 −11 3 a + 5 
A= 0 −2
,
−4 1 3 
2 −9 −20 5 2a + 6
where a is a real number.
(a) Compute the rank of A for all a.
(b) Suppose that A is the augmented matrix of a system of linear equations. For which
values of a is this system consistent? For which values of a is the system inconsistent?
 Name: Student Number:
Problem 2 (5 points). Consider the following homogeneous system of linear equa-
tions:
3x1 − 6x2 + 0 + 3x4 = 0
2x1 − 4x2 + x3 − 2x4 = 0
Use Gaussian Elimination to determine its basic solutions and express the general solu-
tion as a linear combination of these basic solutions.
 Name: Student Number:
Problem 3 (5 points). Consider the following diagram describing the flow of water
through a network of pipes:
C
f1 f4
10 6
A f3 D

f2 f5
B

(See also Chapter 1.4 of the textbook.)

(a) At each of the junctions A, B, C and D the total flow in equals the total flow
out. Translate these conditions into a system of linear equations in the variables
f1 , f2 , f3 , f4 , f5 .
(b) Find all possible flows.
 Name: Student Number:
Problem 4 (5 points). Let u = (u1 , . . . , un ) and v = (v1 , . . . , vn ) be two solutions
to a system of linear equations, and let k, ` be two real numbers such that k + ` = 1.
Prove that the linear combination ku + `v is also a solution to this system.