Linear Algebra : Symmetric Matrices

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Linear Algebra

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Example Questions

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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 #33 : 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 #34 : Symmetric Matrices

True or false: is a skew-Hermitian matrix.

Possible Answers:

True

False

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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