APL 703 Engineering Mathematics and Computation, Semester 1, 2016-17

Department of Applied Mechanics

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Arjun Sharma
Quiz 1

(1) (True or false) If two matrices U1 and U2 have the same determinant, then the eigen values of U1 and U2
are the same. Explain briefly.
False. The determinant of a matrix is the product of its eigen-values.
Different
eigen-values may have


the same product. For example, consider the matrices, U1 = 10 06 and U2 = 30 02 , which have different
eigen-values but their product, the determinant, is the same.
(2) Prove that if an eigen-value of the matrix U is , then the eigen value of U + I is + with the same
eigen vector.
Suppose the matrix U has an eigen-value with the corresponding eigen-vector x. Then (U I)x = 0.
Multiplying on both sides of the equation, (U I)x = 0. Adding and subtracting I on the left hand
side, [U + I ( + )I]x = 0, which is the eigen-value equation for the matrix U + I. Thus, +
is an eigen-value of U + I with the corresponding eigen vector x.
(3) Suppose a tangent plane surface is described by x + y + z = 1. What are the components of a vector u
normal to the plane and in-plane?
b = f /|f |, where the function f (x, y, z) = x+y+z1.
The unit normal to the plane surface is given by n
2
2
2
1/2
b = (, , )/( + + ) . The components of the vector u, in the direction normal to the plane
Thus, n
b )b
b )b
and in-plane are given by, (u n
n and u (u n
n.
Correction: The wording of the question can also suggest finding components (scalars) of the vector u, in
specific directions. Apologies for not clarifying the question in the class.