Linear Algebra : Operations and Properties

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Symmetric Matrices

True or false: 

 is an example of a Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

A Hermitian matrix  is equal to its conjugate transpose , which is the result of interchanging rows and columns, then changing entry to its complex conjugate.

For  to be true, all elements in corresponding positions must be equal. The diagonal elements are already equal, so examine the other elements. It must hold that 

and 

From both statements, it is necessary and sufficient to show 

and

For any 

and 

Set  in both identities; the resulting statements are

and

,

precisely what is needed to be proved. It follows that  is indeed Hermitian.

 

Example Question #22 : Symmetric Matrices

Is  is an example of a symmetric matrix, a skew-symmetric matrix, or a Hermitian matrix?

Possible Answers:

Symmetric

Hermitian

Skew-symmetric

Both symmetric and Hermitian

Both skew-symmetric and Hermitian

Correct answer:

Skew-symmetric

Explanation:

The answer to this question can be found by first comparing  

and 

.

Note that 

Also note that for all ,

and 

Setting , we get that

and 

.

It follows that 

and that  can be rewritten as

A matrix can be identified as symmetric, skew-symmetric, or Hermitian, if any of these, by comparing the matrix to its transpose, the result of interchanging rows with columns. The transpose of  is 

Each entry in  is equal to the additive inverse of the corresponding entry in ; that is, .This identifies  as skew-symmetric by definition.

Example Question #21 : Symmetric Matrices

Which of the following describes : symmetric, skew-symmetric, or Hermitian?

Possible Answers:

Hermitian

Skew-symmetric and Hermitian 

Symmetric and Hermitian

Skew-symmetric

Symmetric

Correct answer:

Symmetric

Explanation:

All three types of matrices are defined in terms of how  compares to its transpose.

 is symmetric if and only if  , so find , the transpose, by interchanging its rows and its columns:

, so  is symmetric.

 is skew-symmetric if and only if  . Find , the additive inverse of 

, so  is not skew-symmetric.

 is Hermitian if and only if  , its conjugate transpose, so find  by replacing each entry in  with its complex conjugate:

, so  is not Hermitian.

Example Question #21 : Symmetric Matrices

Which of these matrices is skew-symmetric?

Possible Answers:

 only

None of 

 only 

All three of 

 only 

Correct answer:

 only 

Explanation:

A matrix is skew-symmetric if it is equal to the additive inverse of its transpose. Taking the transpose of each matrix by interchanging rows with columns:

 is skew-symmetric. 

 is not skew-symmetric.

 is not skew-symmetric.

Example Question #171 : Linear Algebra

True or false: is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

is a skew-Hermitian matrix if it is equal to the additive inverse of its conjugate transpose - that is, if

To determine whether this is the case, first, find the transpose of by exchanging rows with columns in :

Obtain the conjugate transpose by changing each element to its complex conjugate:

Now find the additive inverse of this by changing each entry to its additive inverse:

, so is skew-Hermitian.

 

 

Example Question #32 : Symmetric Matrices

True or false: is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

is a skew-Hermitian matrix if it is equal to the additive inverse of its conjugate transpose - that is, if

To determine whether this is the case, first, find the transpose of by exchanging rows with columns in :

Obtain the conjugate transpose by changing each element to its complex conjugate:

Now find the additive inverse of this by changing each entry to its additive inverse:

, so is not skew-Hermitian.

Example Question #171 : Linear Algebra

True or false: is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

is a skew-Hermitian matrix if it is equal to the additive inverse of its conjugate transpose - that is, if

To determine whether this is the case, first, find the transpose of by exchanging rows with columns in :

Obtain the conjugate transpose by changing each element to its complex conjugate:

Now find the additive inverse of this by changing each entry to its additive inverse:

, so is not skew-Hermitian.

 

 

Example Question #31 : Symmetric Matrices

True or false: is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

is a skew-Hermitian matrix if it is equal to the additive inverse of its conjugate transpose - that is, if

To determine whether this is the case, first, find the transpose of by exchanging rows with columns in :

Obtain the conjugate transpose by changing each element to its complex conjugate:

Now find the additive inverse of this by changing each entry to its additive inverse:

, so is skew-Hermitian.

 

 

Example Question #35 : Symmetric Matrices

Evaluate so that is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

cannot be made skew-Hermitian regardless of the value of .

Correct answer:

Explanation:

is a skew-Hermitian matrix if it is equal to the additive inverse of its conjugate transpose - that is, if

Therefore, first, take the transpose of :

Obtain the conjugate transpose by changing each element to its complex conjugate:

Now find the additive inverse of this by changing each entry to its additive inverse:

For , or,

i

It is necessary and sufficient that the two equations

and

These conditions are equivalent, so

makes skew-Hermitian.

Example Question #36 : Symmetric Matrices

Which of the following matrices is "Skew-symmetric"? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A skew-symmetric matrix  is one that becomes negative once the transpose is taken, or .

We have

.

Hence  is skew-symmetric.

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