Linear Algebra : Linear Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Symmetric Matrices

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Correct answer:

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Example Question #8 : Symmetric Matrices

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Example Question #11 : Symmetric Matrices

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Example Question #12 : Symmetric Matrices

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Example Question #13 : Symmetric Matrices

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Example Question #12 : Symmetric Matrices

True or false:  is an example of a skew-symmetric matrix.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

A square matrix  is defined to be skew-symmetric if its transpose  - the matrix resulting from interchanging its rows and its columns - is equal to its additive inverse; that is, if

.

Interchanging rows and columns, we see that if 

,

then 

.

 can be determined by changing each element in  to its additive inverse:

, since not every element in corresponding positions is equal; in particular, the three elements in the main diagonal differ.  is not a skew-symmetric matrix.

Example Question #71 : Operations And Properties

True or false:  is an example of a skew-symmetric matrix.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

A square matrix  is defined to be skew-symmetric if its transpose  - the matrix resulting from interchanging its rows and its columns - is equal to its additive inverse; that is, if

.

Interchanging rows and columns, we see that if 

,

then 

.

We see that each element of  is the additive inverse of the corresponding element in , so , and  is skew-symmetric.

Example Question #153 : Linear Algebra

 is a three-by-three nonsingular skew-symmetric matrix 

Then which of the following must be equal to  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A square matrix  is defined to be skew-symmetric if its transpose  - the matrix resulting from interchanging its rows and its columns - is equal to its additive inverse; that is, if

.

Therefore, by substitution, 

 must be equal to the opposite of the three-by-three identity matrix, which is .

Example Question #11 : Symmetric Matrices

Which of the following must be true of  for  to be a skew-symmetric matrix?

Possible Answers:

Either  or 

It is impossible for  to be a skew-symmetric matrix regardless of the value of .

 is a skew-symmetric matrix regardless of the value of .

Either  or 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A square matrix  is defined to be skew-symmetric if its transpose  - the matrix resulting from interchanging its rows and its columns - is equal to its additive inverse; that is, if

.

Interchanging rows with columns in , we see that if 

then 

Also, by changing each entry in  to its additive inverse, we see that 

Setting the two equal to each other, we see that:

The non-diagonal elements - all constants - are all equal. Looking at the diagonal elements, we see that it is necessary and sufficient for ; that is,  must be its own additive inverse. The only such number is 0, so .

Example Question #11 : Symmetric Matrices

 is a square matrix. 

Which must be true of   ?

Possible Answers:

 must be symmetric.

Neither of the other statements is correct.

 must be skew-symmetric.

Correct answer:

 must be skew-symmetric.

Explanation:

Let  be a three-by-three matrix - this reasoning extends to matrices of any size.

Let

 is the transpose of the matrix, which is formed when its rows are interchanged with its columns; this is

Subtract elementwise:

A matrix is symmetric if and only it is equal to its transpose; it is skew-symmetric if and only if it is equal to the additive inverse of its transpose. Interchanging rows and columns in , we see that

.

Each element in  is the additive inverse of the corresponding element in , so 

,

making  a skew-symmetric matrix.

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