Solutions to Linear Algebra Done Right

Third Edition

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Chapter 1 Exercise A
Posted on January 1, 2016 by Mohammad Rashidi

1. Suppose a and b are real numbers, not both 0. Find real numbers c and d such that

1
= c + di.
a + bi

Solution: Because (a + bi)(a bi) = a2 + b2 , one has

1 a bi
= 2 .
a + bi a + b2

Hence

a b
c= ,d = 2 .
a2 + b2 a + b2

2. Show that

1 + 3i
2

is a cube root of 1 (meaning that its cube equals 1).

Soltion1:From direct computation, we have

2
1 + 3i 1 3i
( ) = ,
2 2

hence
3
1 + 3i 1 3i 1 + 3i
( ) = = 1.
2 2 2

1 + 3i
This means is a cube root of 1.
2

Solution2: Note that

(a + bi) + (a bi) = 2a

and

(a + bi)(a bi) = a2 + b2 ,

1 + 3i
it follows that is a root of the quadratic equation x2 + x + 1 = 0 .
2
For

1 + 3i 1 3i
+ = 1
2 2
and

1 + 3i 1 3i
= 1.
2 2

Because x3 1 = (x 1)(x2 + x + 1) , we obtain the conclusion.

3. Find two distinct square roots of i .

Solution: If we know that i = ei/2 , then the square roots are

ei/4 and e(i/2+2i)/2 = e5i/4 .

Note that for any x R , one has exi = cos x + i sin x . Then

2(1 + i)
ei/4 = cos + i sin =
4 4 2

and

5 5 2(1 + i)
e5i/4 = cos
+ i sin = .
4 4 2

2(1 + i) 2(1 + i)
Hence the roots are and .
2 2

Remark: If we dont know this fact, then we should recall how to solve the roots of x8 1 = 0 or
x4 + 1 = 0 since x2 + i = 0 means x4 + 1 = 0 .

4. Show that + = + for all , C .

Solution: Let = x + yi and = z + wi , where x, y, z, w R , then

+ = (x + yi) + (z + wi) = (x + z) + (y + w)i.

Similarly,

+ = (z + wi) + (x + yi) = (z + x) + (w + y)i.

Because x + z = z + x and y + w = w + y , we obtain that + = + .

5. Show that ( + ) + = + ( + ) for all , , C .

Solution: Let = x1 + y1 i , = x2 + y2 i , = x3 + y3 i , where x1 , x2 , x3 and y1 , y2 , y3 are real

numbers. Then

( + ) + =((x1 + x2 ) + (y1 + y2 )i) + (x3 + y3 i)

=((x1 + x2 ) + x3 ) + ((y1 + y2 ) + y3 )i.

Similarly, + ( + ) = (x1 + (x2 + x3 )) + (y1 + (y2 + y3 ))i . Note that

(x1 + x2 ) + x3 = x1 + (x2 + x3 ) and (y1 + y2 ) + y3 = y1 + (y2 + y3 ),

it follows that ( + ) + = + ( + ) .
6. Show that () = () for all , , C .

Solution: Let = x1 + y1 i , = x2 + y2 i , = x3 + y3 i , where x1 , x2 , x3 and y1 , y2 , y3 are real

numbers. Then

() =((x1 x2 y1 y2 ) + (x1 y2 + y1 x2 )i)(x3 + y3 i)

=((x1 x2 y1 y2 )x3 (x1 y2 + y1 x2 )y3 )
+ ((x1 x2 y1 y2 )x3 + (x1 y2 + y1 x2 )y3 )i.

Similarly, one has

() =(x1 + y1 i)((x2 x3 y2 y3 ) + (x2 y3 + y2 x3 )i)

=(x1 (x2 x3 y2 y3 ) y1 (x2 y3 + y2 x3 ))
+ (x1 (x2 y3 y2 x3 ) + y1 (x2 x3 + y2 y3 ))i.

It is easy to see

(x1 x2 y1 y2 )x3 (x1 y2 + y1 x2 )y3 = x1 (x2 x3 y2 y3 ) y1 (x2 y3 + y2 x3 )

and

(x1 x2 y1 y2 )x3 + (x1 y2 + y1 x2 )y3 = x1 (x2 x3 y2 y3 ) y1 (x2 y3 + y2 x3 ),

hence we deduce that () = () .

7. Show that for every C , there exists a unique C such that + = 0 .

Solution: Let = x1 + y1 i , = x2 + y2 i , where x1 , x2 and y1 , y2 are real numbers. If + = 0 ,

then

0 = + = (x1 + x2 ) + (y1 + y2 )i.

This means x2 = x1 and y2 = x1 , which implied uniqueness. If = x1 y1 i , we also have

+ = 0 , which implies existence.

8. Show that for every C with 0 , there exists a unique C such that = 1 .

Solution: We already know the existence in Problem 1. Now let us show the uniqueness, if = 1
, then

1 1 1 1
=1=( ) = ( ) = 1 = .

Here the third equality follows from Problem 6.

9. Show that ( + ) = + for all , , C .

Solution: Suppose = x1 + y1 i , = x2 + y2 i , = a + bi , where x1 , x2 , a and y1 , y2 , b are real

numbers. Then

( + ) =(a + bi)((x1 + x2 ) + (y1 + y2 )i)

=(a(x1 + x2 ) b(y1 + y2 )) + (a(y1 + y2 ) + b(x1 + x2 ))i
=[(ax1 by1 ) + (ay1 + bx1 )i] + [(ax2 by2 ) + (ay2 + bx2 )i]
= + .
10. Find x R4 such that

(4, 3, 1, 7) + 2x = (5, 9, 6, 8).

Solution: Because (4, 3, 1, 7) + 2x = (5, 9, 6, 8) , one has

2x = (5, 9, 6, 8) (4, 3, 1, 7) = (1, 12, 7, 1),

hence

1 1 7 1
x= (1, 12, 7, 1) = ( , 6, , ).
2 2 2 2

11. Explain why there does not exist C such that

(2 3i, 5 + 4i, 6 + 7i) = (12 5i, 7 + 22i, 32 9i).

Solution: If such C exists, then we have

(2 3i) = 12 5i and (6 + 7i) = 32 9i.

It follows that

(2 3i)(32 9i) = (6 + 7i)(12 5i),

this means

37 + 78i = 37 + 114i,

which is impossible. Hence such C does not exist.

12. Show that (x + y) + z = x + (y + z) for all x, y, z Fn .

Solution: Suppose x = (x1 , , xn ) , y = (y1 , , yn ) and z = (z1 , , zn ) . Then

(x + y) + z =((x1 , , xn ) + (y1 , , yn )) + (z1 , , zn )

=(x1 + y1 , , xn + yn ) + (z1 , , zn )
=((x1 + y1 ) + z1 , , (xn + yn ) + zn )
=(x1 + (y1 + z1 ), , xn + (yn + zn ))
=(x1 , , xn ) + (y1 + z1 , , yn + zn )
=(x1 , , xn ) + ((y1 , , yn ) + (z1 , , zn ))
=x + (y + z).

13. Show that (ab)x = a(bx) for all x Fn and all a, b F .

Solution: Suppose x = (x1 , , xn ) . Then

(ab)x =ab(x1 , , xn ) = ((ab)x1 , , (ab)xn )

=(a(bx1 ), , a(bxn )) = a(bx1 , , bxn )
=a(bx).

14. Show that 1x = x for all x Fn .

Solution: Suppose x = (x1 , , xn ) . Then

 1x = 1(x1 , , xn ) = (1 x1 , , 1 xn ) = (x1 , , xn ) = x.

15. Show that (x + y) = x + y for all F and all Fn .

Solution: Suppose x = (x1 , , xn ) and y = (y1 , , yn ) . Then

(x + y) =((x1 , , xn ) + (y1 , , yn ))
=(x1 + y1 , , xn + yn ) = ((x1 + y1 ), , (xn + yn ))
=(x1 , , xn ) + (y1 , , yn )
=x + y.

16. Show that (a + b)x = ax + bx for all a, b F and all x Fn .

Solution: Suppose x = (x1 , , xn ) . Then

(a + b)x =(a + b)(x1 , , xn ) = ((a + b)x1 , , (a + b)xn )

=(ax1 + bx1 , , axn + bxn )
=(ax1 , , axn ) + (bx1 , , bxn )
=a(x1 , , xn ) + b(x1 , , xn )
=ax + bx.

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1 Comment Solutions to Linear Algebra Done Right 3rd Edition

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Rong Ou 2 months ago

For 3, let a and b be real numbers and (a+bi)^2 = i, then we have a^2-b^2=0 and 2ab=1, b=1/2a,
a^2=b^2=1/4a^2, a^4=1/4, a^2=1/2, a=+-1/sqrt(2), b=+-1/sqrt(2), thus the solutions are +-1/sqrt(2)*(1+i).
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Solutions to Linear Algebra Done Right