Finding the Null Space of a Matrix | Solving for x in Ax=0 | Linear Algebra

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SUMMARY

The null space of the matrix A = [1 1 -1 2; 2 2 -3 1; -1 -1 0 -5] is determined by solving the equation Ax=0, where x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T}. Through row reduction, the row echelon form reveals that the null space is spanned by the vectors (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} and (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}. The correct interpretation is that the null space is two-dimensional, requiring both vectors to fully describe it, despite discrepancies in notation between the user's solution and the textbook answer.

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Homework Statement



Determine the null space of the following matrix:

A = [1 1 -1 2
2 2 -3 1
-1 -1 0 -5]

Homework Equations



[itex]Ax=0[/itex] where [itex]x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T}[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



If I put the system Ax=0 into augmented form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
2 2 -3 1 | 0
-1 -1 0 -5 | 0

By row reduction I get the following row echelon form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
0 0 1 3 | 0
0 0 0 0 | 0

So if

[itex]x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T} = (-5t-s, s, -3t, t)^{T}[/itex]

[itex]= t(-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} + s(-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}[/itex]

[itex]= Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}, (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T} ][/itex]

My book has the answer:

[itex]x = (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}, Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}][/itex]

Have I gone wrong somewhere or are these answers equivalent? I can't see it if they are...
 
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3.141592654 said:

Homework Statement



Determine the null space of the following matrix:

A = [1 1 -1 2
2 2 -3 1
-1 -1 0 -5]

Homework Equations



[itex]Ax=0[/itex] where [itex]x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T}[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



If I put the system Ax=0 into augmented form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
2 2 -3 1 | 0
-1 -1 0 -5 | 0

By row reduction I get the following row echelon form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
0 0 1 3 | 0
0 0 0 0 | 0

So if

[itex]x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T} = (-5t-s, s, -3t, t)^{T}[/itex]

[itex]= t(-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} + s(-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}[/itex]

[itex]= Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}, (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T} ][/itex]
The above looks fine.
3.141592654 said:
My book has the answer:

[itex]x = (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}, Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}][/itex]
They have the same vectors you have, but their notation is screwed up. The nullspace here is two-dimensional, so it takes two vectors to span it.
3.141592654 said:
Have I gone wrong somewhere or are these answers equivalent? I can't see it if they are...
 

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