Linear algebra: Find the matrix of linear transformation

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining whether the linear transformation defined by L(p)(x)=(1+4x)p(x)+(x-x^2)p'(x)-(x^2+x^3)p''(x) is indeed a linear transformation on the space of polynomials of degree at most 2, denoted as \mathbb{R_2}[x]. Participants are tasked with finding the matrix representation of this transformation in the standard basis and checking its invertibility.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the linearity of the transformation by checking the properties of linear combinations and scalar multiplication. There are attempts to construct the transformation matrix based on evaluations of L at the standard basis elements. Questions arise regarding the correctness of the matrix representation and the conditions for invertibility.

Discussion Status

Some participants affirm the correctness of the transformation and its matrix representation, while others question the linearity and the implications of the determinant being zero. There is a productive exchange regarding the verification of the transformation's properties and the construction of the inverse matrix.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in the determinant values for different bases and discuss the implications of these findings on the linearity and invertibility of the transformation. There is also mention of the need to decompose the transformation correctly in various bases to ensure accurate matrix representation.

gruba
Messages
203
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


Check if L(p)(x)=(1+4x)p(x)+(x-x^2)p'(x)-(x^2+x^3)p''(x) is a linear transformation on \mathbb{R_2}[x]. If L(p)(x) is a linear transformation, find it's matrix in standard basis and check if L(p)(x) is invertible. If L(p)(x) is invertible, find the function rule of it's inverse.

Homework Equations


-Linear transformations

The Attempt at a Solution



L(p)(x) is a linear transformation if
L(z(x)+w(x))=L(z)(x)+L(w)(x) \forall z,w\in\mathbb{R_2}[x] and
L(\alpha z(x))=\alpha L(z)(x)\forall z\in \mathbb{R_2}[x],\forall\alpha\in\mathbb{R}

Let p(x)=a+bx+cx^2\Rightarrow L(p)(x)=a+(4a+2b)x+(3b+c)x^2.
Let z(x)=p+qx+rx^2 and w(x)=\alpha+\beta x+\gamma x^2.

L(z(x))=p+(4p+2q)+(3q+r)x^2 and L(w(x))=\alpha+(4\alpha+2\beta)+(3\beta+\gamma)x^2 then L(z(x))+L(w(x))=(p+\alpha)+(4p+2q+4\alpha+2\beta)x+(3q+r+3\beta+\gamma)x^2
L(z(x)+w(x))=L((p+\alpha)+(q+\beta)x+(r+\gamma)x^2).
From this \Rightarrow L(z(x)+w(x))=L(z)(x)+L(w)(x).

L(\alpha z(x))=L(\alpha p+\alpha qx+\alpha rx^2)=\alpha p+(4\alpha p+2\alpha q)x+(3\alpha q+\alpha r)x^2.
\alpha L(z)(x)=\alpha(p+(4p+2q)x+(3q+r)x^2).
From this \Rightarrow L(\alpha z(x))=\alpha L(z)(x) and L(p)(x) is a linear transformation.

Standard basis for \mathbb{R_2}[x] is \mathcal{B}=\{1,x,x^2\}.
[L]_{\mathcal{B}}=<br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 4 &amp; 2 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 0 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br />.

Is the matrix [L]_{\mathcal{B}} correct?
If not, how to construct it?

L(p)(x) is invertible because \det [L]_{\mathcal{B}}\neq 0.
[L]^{-1}_{\mathcal{B}}=<br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> -2 &amp; 1/2 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 6 &amp; -3/2 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br />

Function rule of L^{-1}(p)(x) can be read from [L]^{-1}_{\mathcal{B}}\Rightarrow L^{-1}(p)(x)=a+(-2a+\frac{1}{2}b)x+(6a-\frac{3}{2}b+c)x^2.
Is the function rule of L^{-1}(p)(x) correct?
If not, how to construct it?

Also, how to check if L(p)(x) is bijective?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Once you proved linearity of ##L##, then it is bijective iff ##\det [L]_{\cal B} \neq 0 ##
You can check your answer by verifying that ##[L]_{\cal B}[L]_{L({\cal B})}^{-1} = I_3##.

If a linear transformation is bijective, then its inverse is linear. So when ##[L]_{L({\cal B})}^{-1}## is known, you know the coordinates on ##L({\cal B})## of ##L^{-1}##, and you can re-assemble your function
 
Last edited:
geoffrey159 said:
Once you proved linearity of ##L##, then it is bijective iff ##\det [L]_{\cal B} \neq 0 ##
You can check your answer by verifying that ##[L]_{\cal B}[L]_{\cal B}^{-1} = I_3##.

If a linear transformation is bijective, then its inverse is linear. So when ##[L]_{\cal B}^{-1}## is known, you know the coordinates on ##{\cal B}## of ##L^{-1}##, and you can re-assemble your function

Are matrices of L and L^{-1} correct?
 
##L## is correct, and ##L^{-1}## is correct if ##LL^{-1} = I_3##
 
geoffrey159 said:
##L## is correct, and ##L^{-1}## is correct if ##LL^{-1} = I_3##

Could you explain the method for finding the matrix of linear transformation that involves polynomials?
 
First of all, your results are correct, I didn't tell you anything because you could check the answer by yourself.

gruba said:
Could you explain the method for finding the matrix of linear transformation that involves polynomials?

Yes, you do exactly as usual. If you take the standard basis of ## \mathbb{R}_2[X]##, which is ##{\cal B} = (1,X,X^2)##, you are required to find a decomposition on ##{\cal B}## of ##L(1), L(X), L(X^2)## and assemble their coordinates column-wise. This is the matrix of your transformation
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gruba
If your decomposition gives
## L(1) = a + b X + c X^2##, ## L(X) = d + e X + f X^2##, ## L(X^2) = g + h X + i X^2##,

##[L]_{\cal B} = \begin{pmatrix} a & d & g \\ b & e & h \\ c & f & i \end{pmatrix}##
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gruba
geoffrey159 said:
If your decomposition gives
## L(1) = a + b X + c X^2##, ## L(X) = d + e X + f X^2##, ## L(X^2) = g + h X + i X^2##,

##[L]_{\cal B} = \begin{pmatrix} a & d & g \\ b & e & h \\ c & f & i \end{pmatrix}##

I don't understand what are the polynomials of L(1),L(x),L(x^2) if L(p)(x)=a+x(4a+2b)+(3b+c)x^2.
Could you explain how to evaluate L(1),L(x),L(x^2)?
 
Is your transformation linear with respect to polynomial ##p## ?
 
  • #10
geoffrey159 said:
Is your transformation linear with respect to polynomial ##p## ?

Yes, and the basis is standard for \mathbb{R_2}[x].
 
  • #11
gruba said:
Yes, and the basis is standard for \mathbb{R_2}[x].

Really ? Do we have ##L(\lambda p + q) = \lambda L(p) + L(q) ## ?
 
  • #12
You are going nowhere with the last transformation because it is not even linear. It doesn't make any sense to look for its matrix representation in a given basis.
If you want to exercise, take the original transformation in post #1, and tell us what is the matrix of ##L## in basis ##{\cal B} = ( 3, X-1, X^2 + 1) ##
 
  • #13
geoffrey159 said:
Really ? Do we have ##L(\lambda p + q) = \lambda L(p) + L(q) ## ?

geoffrey159 said:
You are going nowhere with the last transformation because it is not even linear. It doesn't make any sense to look for its matrix representation in a given basis.
If you want to exercise, take the original transformation in post #1, and tell us what is the matrix of ##L## in basis ##{\cal B} = ( 3, X-1, X^2 + 1) ##

In basis \mathcal{B}=\{3,x-1,x^2+1\}\Rightarrow L(3)=12x+3,L(x-1)=3x^2-2x-1,L(x^2+1)=x^2+4x+1.
[L]_{\mathcal{B}}=<br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 0 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> 12 &amp; -2 &amp; 4 \\<br /> 3 &amp; -1 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br />.

But for this new basis I get that \det \neq 0 and in standard basis (correction from first post), \det = 0.
What is wrong here?
 
  • #14
No this is wrong, you didn't decompose on ##(3,X-1,X^2 + 1) ## but on ##(1,X,X^2)##
 
  • #15
geoffrey159 said:
No this is wrong, you didn't decompose on ##(3,X-1,X^2 + 1) ## but on ##(1,X,X^2)##

Matrix in standard basis \mathcal{B}=\{1,x,x^2\} is <br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 4 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> 1 &amp; 2 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br /> and in \mathcal{B}=\{3,x-1,x^2+1\} is
<br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 0 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> 12 &amp; -2 &amp; 4 \\<br /> 3 &amp; -1 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br />.

What is wrong here?
 
  • #16
The matrix ##[L]_{\cal B} ## is the column wise assembly of the coordinates of ##L({\cal B}) = ( L(e_1), L(e_2), L(e_3) ) ## expressed in ##{ \cal B} ##

You should find :

##L(e_1) = a e_1 + b e_2 + c e_3 ##
##L(e_2 ) = d e_1 + e e_2 + f e_3##
##L(e_3) = g e_1 + h e_2 + i e_3 ##
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gruba
  • #17
You should find :

##L(e_1) = a e_1 + b e_2 + c e_3 ##
##L(e_2 ) = d e_1 + e e_2 + f e_3##
##L(e_3) = g e_1 + h e_2 + i e_3 ##

So in standard basis the matrix is <br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 1 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 4 &amp; 2 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 0 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br /> and in the new basis is <br /> \begin{bmatrix}<br /> 5 &amp; -2 &amp; 4/3 \\<br /> 12 &amp; -2 &amp; 4 \\<br /> 0 &amp; 3 &amp; 1 \\<br /> \end{bmatrix}<br />.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K