Linear Algebra : Linear Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #27 : Vector Vector Product

If , then evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dot product  is equal to the sum of the products of the numbers in corresponding positions, so 

Applying the properties of logarithms:

Therefore, .

Example Question #28 : Vector Vector Product

The expression  yields a polynomial of what degree?

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives a correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dot product  is the sum of the products of entries in corresponding positions, so

The degree of a term of a polynomial is the sum of the exponents of its variables; the individual terms have degrees 5, 4, 3, 7, 4, and 7, in that order. the degree of the polynomial is the highest of these, which is 7.

Example Question #29 : Vector Vector Product

A triangle has two sides of length  and ; their included angle has measure . The measure of the third side can be obtained from the expression

,

where  and:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Given the lengths  and  of two sides of a triangle, and the measure of their included angle, , the length  of the third side of a triangle can be calculated using the Law of Cosines, which states that 

.

The dot product  is equal to the sum of the products of their corresponding entries, and since , we can substitute  for  :

 ; it follows that .

Example Question #30 : Vector Vector Product

 and  are differentiable functions.

Which value of  makes this statement true?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall the quotient rule of differentiation:

This can be rewritten as

If  and 

then multiply corresponding elements and add the products to get the sole element in :

Since we want 

,

It follows that, of the given choices,   and , and

.

 

Example Question #841 : Linear Algebra

Calculate the angle (nearest degree) between  and .

Possible Answers:

The angle is undefined, since the vectors are in .

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The angle  between vectors   and  can be calculated using the formula

.

, the dot product, is the sum of the products of corresponding entries:

, the norm of , is the square root of the sum of the squares of its entries;  is defined similarly:

Example Question #32 : Vector Vector Product

, and  give the length, width, and height of a rectangular prism.

 and .

True or false:  gives the surface area of the prism.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

The dot product  can be calculated by adding the products of the elements in corresponding locations, so

.

The surface area of the prism, , can be found by using the formula:

Equivalently,  gives half the surface area of the prism. The statement is false.

Example Question #33 : Vector Vector Product

Which of the following applies to  ,  where "  " and "" refer to the dot product and the cross product of two vectors?

Possible Answers:

 

 is an undefined expression.

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

The cross product of  two vectors in  is also a vector in . It follows that  and ; it further follows that.

Example Question #34 : Vector Vector Product

Which of the following applies to  ,  where "" refers to the cross product of two vectors, and "" refers to either scalar or vector addition, as applicable?

Possible Answers:

 is an undefined expression.

Correct answer:

 is an undefined expression.

Explanation:

The cross product of two vectors is defined only if both vectors are in  and  are vectors in , so  is undefined; consequently, so is .

Example Question #35 : Vector Vector Product

Which of the following applies to  ,  where "  " refers to the dot product of two vectors, and "" refers to either scalar or vector addition, as applicable?

Possible Answers:

 is an undefined expression.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The dot product of two vectors in the same vector space is a scalar quantity. , so   and  are in the same vector space; their dot product is defined, and . For similar reasons, . Therefore, their sum is defined, and .

Example Question #36 : Vector Vector Product

.

Which of the following applies to ,  where "  " and "" refer to the dot product and the cross product of two vectors, and "" refers to either scalar or vector addition, as applicable?

Possible Answers:

 is an undefined expression.

Correct answer:

 is an undefined expression.

Explanation:

The cross product  of two vectors in  is also a vector in . The dot product  of two such vectors is a scalar. Since a vector and a scalar cannot be added,  is an undefined expression.

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