Math 304 Answers to Selected Problems

1 Section 4.1
4. Let L : R2 R2 be a linear operator. If

L (1, 2)T = (2, 3)T L (1, 1)T = (5, 2)T

and


determine the value of L (7, 5)T .
   
7 1
Answer: First, we write as a linear combination of and
  5 2
1
:
1
     
1 1 7
c1 + c2 =
2 1 5

This gives us the equations

c1 + c2 = 7
2c1 c2 = 5

Solving for c1 and c2 , we get c1 = 4 and c2 = 3. Thus,

      
7 1 1
L = L 4 +3
5 2 1
   
1 1
= 4L + 3L
2 1
   
2 5
= 4 +3
3 2
 
7
=
18

1
6. Determine whether the following are linear transformations from R2
into R3 .

(b) L(x) = (x1 , x2 , x1 + 2x2 )T

(d) L(x) = (x1 , x2 , x21 + x22 )T

Answer:

(b) Yes, L is a linear transformation. It is the same as L(x) = Ax

where


1 0
A= 0 1
1 2
(d) No, L is not a linear transformation. Here is why:

  1
1
L = 1
1
2

  2
2
L = 2
2
8
Since
   
2 1
L 6= 2L ,
2 1
L is not a linear transformation.

7. Determine whether the following are linear operators on Rmn .

(a) L(A) = 2A
(c) L(A) = A + I

Answer:

2
 (a) Yes, L is a linear transformation, because

L(A) = 2(A) = (2A) = L(A)

and

L(A + B) = 2(A + B) = 2A + 2B = L(A) + L(B)

(c) No, L is not a linear transformation, because
   
1 1 2 1
L =
1 1 1 2
   
2 2 3 2
L =
2 2 2 3
Since
   
2 2 1 1
L 6= 2L ,
2 2 1 1
L is not a linear transformation.

10. For each f C[0, 1] define L(f ) = F , where

Z x
F (x) = f (t) dt 0x1
0

Show that L is a linear operator on C[0, 1] and then find L(ex ) and
L(x2 ).
Answer: L is a linear operator on C[0, 1], because
Z x Z x
L(f ) = f (t) dt = f (t) dt = L(f )
0 0

and

Z x Z x Z x
L(f + g) = f (t) + g(t) dt = f (t) dt + g(t) dt = L(f ) + L(g)
0 0 0

3
 We can compute L(ex ) and L(x2 ):
Z x  x
x
L(e ) = et dt = et 0 = ex 1
0

x  3 x
x3
Z
2 2 t
L(x ) = t dt = =
0 3 0 3

17. Determine the kernel and the range of each of the following linear trans-
formations on R3 .

(a) L(x) = (x3 , x2 , x1 )T

(b) L(x) = (x1 , x2 , 0)T
(c) L(x) = (x1 , x1 , x1 )T

Answer:

(a) This linear

transformation
is the same as multiplication by the
0 0 1
matrix 0 1 0 .
1 0 0
The kernel of this linear transformation is the same as the nullspace
of the matrix. Thus, the kernel of L is {0}.
The range of this linear transformation is the same as the column
space of the matrix. Thus, the range of L is R3 .
(b) This linear
transformation
is the same as multiplication by the
1 0 0
matrix 0 1 0 .
0 0 0
The kernel of this linear transformation is the same as the nullspace
of thematrix. Thus, the kernel of L is spanned by the vector

0
0 .
1

4
 The range of this linear transformation is the same as the column
space
of the matrix.
Thus, the range of L is spanned by the vectors
1 0
0 and 1 .
0 0
(c) This linear
transformation
is the same as multiplication by the
1 0 0
matrix 1 0 0 .
1 0 0
The kernel of this linear transformation is the same as the nullspace
of
thematrix.
Thus, the kernel of L is spanned by the vectors
0 0
1 and 0 .
0 1
The range of this linear transformation is the same as the column
space
of the matrix. Thus, the range of L is spanned by the vector
1
1 .
1
19. (a) Determine the kernel and range of the following linear operator on
P3 :

L (p(x)) = xp0 (x)

Answer: Suppose that p(x) = ax2 + bx + c is in the kernel of L.

L (p(x)) = 2ax2 + bx
Thus, if p(x) is in the kernel of L, 2ax2 + bx = 0 for all x, which implies
that a = 0 and b = 0. Thus, every polynomial in the kernel of L is of
the form p(x) = c. Thus,

ker(L) = Span(1)
To determine the range of L, we again consider an arbitrary polynomial
p(x) = ax2 +bx+c, and apply L to the polynomial. L (p(x)) = 2ax2 +bx.
Thus, the range of L is all polynomials of the form 2ax2 + bx. Thus,

5
 range(L) = Span(x, x2 )

An alternative way to find the kernel and range of L is to find the

matrix representing L with respect to the basis [1, x, x2 ].

L(1) = 0
L(x) = x
L(x2 ) = 2x2

Thus, the matrix representing L with respect to the basis [1, x, x2 ] is

0 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 2

1
The nullspace of this matrix is the span of the vector 0 , which
0
corresponds to the polynomial 1. Thus,

ker(L) = Span(1)

0
The column space of this matrix is the span of the vectors 1 and
0
0
0 , which correspond to the polynomials x and 2x2 . Thus,
2

range(L) = Span(x, 2x2 )

Note that Span(x, 2x2 ) = Span(x, x2 ) so the two answers obtained for
the range of L are the same.