Linear Optimization (1:640:354:05) 
Spring 1999, Professor Ben-Israel 
Assignment 2: Matrix Algebra

Date: Tuesday, February 2
Due: Tuesday, February 9

This assignment has five problems, of equal weight.


1   Consider the three elementary row operations on a matrix with n rows,

and their matrix representations.

(a) Show that these operations are not independent, by expressing E1(n,i,j) in terms of the other two operations.
(b) Verify your answer by using the matrix representations of the three operations, and explain why det(A1)= -1.

2   Consider the matrix A with

A[i,j] := 4*(i-1) + j , i,j = 1,..,4
(a) Find the general solution of Ax=b, or determine that the system is inconsistent, for the RHS's
b := [1,1,1,1] and b := [2,-3,1,4].
(b) Find a basis for the null space of A.
(c) Find a basis for the range of A, and determine a condition for the consistency of Ax=b in terms of the RHS b.

3   Text, p. 91, Exercise 8.
Hint: The problem can be formulated without the variable x3.

4   Text, p. 99, Exercise 2.

5   Text, p. 99, Exercise 4.


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