Verifying Answers to True/False Questions about Matrices

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Yankel
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Matrices
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around verifying answers to true/false questions related to properties of matrices, including matrix operations, invertibility, and ranks. Participants seek to confirm the correctness of their responses to specific statements about matrices.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a set of true/false questions regarding matrices and their answers, expressing uncertainty about their correctness.
  • Another participant analyzes the first question, noting that while $AB$ and $B^T A^T$ can be added to form $C$, it does not necessitate that $A$ and $B$ are of the same order, suggesting that they could be square but are not required to be.
  • A third participant reiterates the original questions and answers, seeking verification and receiving feedback on the correctness of their responses.
  • A later reply points out a potential mistake regarding the interpretation of rank and zero rows in relation to the original matrix versus its row-reduced form.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on most of the answers provided, but there is a specific disagreement regarding the interpretation of rank and its implications for the original matrix. The discussion remains unresolved on this point.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about matrix properties and the implications of rank, which are not fully explored or resolved.

Yankel
Messages
390
Reaction score
0
Hello

I have been trying to solve a couple of true / false questions, and I am not sure my answers are correct, I would appreciate it if you could verify it.

The first question is:

A and B are matrices such that it is possible to calculate:

\[C=AB+B^{t}A^{t}\]

a. A and B are of the same order
b. C is symmetric
c. BA can be calculated
d. A and B are squared matrices
e. \[ABA^{t}\] can be calculated

My answers are: a - false, b - true , c - true, d - false e - false

The second question is:

A is a 3x3 not invertible matrix:

a. The system Ax=b has a unique solution for every vector b
b. The system Ax=b has infinite number of solutions for every vector b
c. The matrix kA is not invertible for every real number k.
d. If rank(A)=1, then A has at least one row of 0's.
e. There exist a vector b such that Ax=b has infinite number of solutions.

My answers are: a - false, b - false, c - true, d - true, e - true

Is there something wrong with my solutions ?

Thanks a million !
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Let's say $A$ is an $(m \times n)$ matrix and $B$ is $(n \times p)$. Then $AB$ is an $(m \times p)$ matrix and and $B^T A^T$ is $(p \times m)$. This implies that $p=m$ for it to be possible to add the two products together to make $C$ but that doesn't mean that $A$ and $B$ are necessarily of the same order. It seems to me that the two matrices could be square but don't have to be.

Assuming my reasoning is correct then your answers for the first one look good. They are all consistent too, which is good.
 
Yankel said:
Hello

I have been trying to solve a couple of true / false questions, and I am not sure my answers are correct, I would appreciate it if you could verify it.

The first question is:

A and B are matrices such that it is possible to calculate:

\[C=AB+B^{t}A^{t}\]

a. A and B are of the same order
b. C is symmetric
c. BA can be calculated
d. A and B are squared matrices
e. \[ABA^{t}\] can be calculated

My answers are: a - false, b - true , c - true, d - false e - false

The second question is:

A is a 3x3 not invertible matrix:

a. The system Ax=b has a unique solution for every vector b
b. The system Ax=b has infinite number of solutions for every vector b
c. The matrix kA is not invertible for every real number k.
d. If rank(A)=1, then A has at least one row of 0's.
e. There exist a vector b such that Ax=b has infinite number of solutions.

My answers are: a - false, b - false, c - true, d - true, e - true

Is there something wrong with my solutions ?

Thanks a million !
I would take a second look at 2d. Everything else looks good.
 
you are right, my mistake !

If rank(A)=1, the matrix after the elementary row operations has at least one 0 row, not the original A.

Thanks !
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K