Tutorial Sheet – 1

Unit – I (Linear Algebra) MA-102 (Mathematics – II)

Group A

1. Let , , and . Examine if is a linear

combination of , where .

2. Let , , and . Examine if w is a

linear combination of , where .

3. Let , , be elements of ℝ3. Show that the

set of vectors { } is linearly independent.

4. Let , , , be elements of ℝ3.

Show that the set of vectors { } is linearly dependent.

5. Examine whether the following set of vectors is linearly independent.

a) { }
b) { }
c) { }

6. Reduce the following matrices to Echelon form and hence find their ranks:

1 3 5
(a) A   2  1 4
 (b) ( )
 2 8 2

7. Find the rank and nullity of the following matrices:

8 0 4
8 2 5  0 0
(a) A  16 6 29 
2
(b) A   (c) ( )
4 0 2
 4 0  7  
0 4 0

8. Find all real λ &  for which the rank of the matrix P is 2,

1 2 3 1  1 1 1 1 

(a) P  2 5 3   (b) P  1 2  1   (c) [ ]
1 1 6   1 5 7 1 2  
9. Show that the system of equations
1  1 1   x  4
2 1  3  y   0
    
1 1 1   z  2
has a unique solution and find the solution.

10. Prove that the system of equations:

, ,
has infinite number of solutions and find the solutions.

11. Show that the system of equations:

, , 6
is inconsistent( i.e., has no solution).

12. Find the condition to be satisfied by a, b, c for which the system of equations:
, ,
is consistent.

13. Find the value of  for which the system of equations,

 , 3  ,
has a non-trivial solution.

14. Show that the only real value of  for which the following system of equations has a
non-zero solution is 6:





15. Solve the following system of equations by using Gaussian-Elimination Method:

(a) (b)

(c)

16. Solve the following system of equations by using Gauss-Jordan Method:

(a) (b)
17. Determine the inverse of the following matrices by Gauss-Jordan Method:

1 2 5  1 0 0  1 2  9
(a) A= 0  1 2  (b) A= 2 1 0  2  4 19 
(c) A=  
2 4 11 5 4 1  0  1 2 

18. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the following matrices:

5  2 
(a) A=   (b) A = [ ] (c) [ ] (d) [ ]
9  6

19. Verify Cayley-Hamilton theorem for the following matrix and hence find its inverse ,if
it exists:

1 2
(a) A=   (b) [ ] (c) [ ]
2 1

20. Find the inverse of matrix A using Cayley-Hamilton’s theorem:

 3 2 4 0 1 0 0
7 2  2 0
5 3      0 1 0
(a) A=   (b) A= 4 3 2 (c) A=   6  1 2  (d) A= 0
3 2 0 0 1
2 4 3  6 2  1  
1 0 0 0
21. Let ̂ .
 Prove that A and similar matrix ̂ have the same eigenvalues.
 Also prove that if x is an eigenvector of A, then is an eigenvector of ̂ .
Here A, P are the following matrices:
 4 0 0 4 0 6 
3 4  5 2  
(a) A   , P  (b) A  12  2 0 , P  0 2 0 
4  3 2 1  21  6 1 6 0 10

22. Diagonalize following matrices by using Similar Transformations, and then find :
1 0 1 
 3 2  
(a) A    (b) A  0 3 2 (c) [ ]
2 6 0 0 2
 Group B

1. Consider an n × n matrix A and a non-zero n × 1 vector p. Their product Ap = α2 p, where α ∈ R

and α ∈
/ {−1, 0, 1}. Based on the given information, find one eigenvalue of A2 . (GATE 2021, ME)

2. For which value of a the following set of equations has infinite solution:

x+y+z =1
ax − ay + 3z = 5
5x − 3y + az = 6 (GATE 2019, ME)
 
1 2 3
3. If A = 0 4 5 then find det(A−1 ). (GATE 2018, ME)
0 0 1
 
−4 1 −1
4. Find the rank of the matrix −1 −1 −1. (GATE 2018, ME)
7 −3 1
 
10 6
5. If a matrix M is defined as M = , find the sum of all the eigenvalues of M 3 . (GATE
6 10
2023, CH)
 
x 1 3
6. Given matrix A = y 2 6, Find the ordered pair (x, y) for which det(A) = 0. (GATE 2022,
3 5 7
CH)

7. Let A be a square matrix of size n × n (n > 1). The elements of A = {aij } are given by
(
i × j, if i ≥ j
aij =
0, i<j

Find the determinant of A. (GATE 2021, CH)

8. Let A = a1 a2 a3 a4 , B = b1 b2 b3 b4 , C = c1 c2 c3 c4 and D = d1 d2 d3 d4 .
       

It is known that B is not a scalar multiple of A. Also, 

C is linearly independent
 of A and B.
a1 a2 a3 a4
 b1 b2 b3 b4 
Further, D = 3A + 2B + C. Find the rank of the matrix   c1 c2 c3 c4 . (GATE 2021, CH)


d1 d2 d3 d4
 
2 4 6
9. Find the sum of the eigenvalues of the matrix  3 5 9. (GATE 2020, CH)
12 1 7
 
1 −1 0
10. For the matrix A = −1 2 −1, which of the following statements is/are true?
0 −1 1

a) Ax = b has a unique solution.

b) Ax = b does not have a unique solution.

 c) A has three linearly independent vectors.

d) A is a positive definite matrix.

(GATE 2023, CE)

T T
11. Two vectors 2 1 0 3 and 1 0 1 2 belong to the null space of a 4 × 4 matrix of rank
 

2. Which one of the following vectors also belongs to the null space? (GATE 2023, CE)
T
a) 1 1 −1 1


T
b) 2 0 1 2


T
c) 0 −2 1 −1


T
d) 3 1 1 2


 
1 3
12. The matrix M = has eigenvalues 5 and −2. Find the eigenvalue of the matrix Q =
4 2
M 3 − 4M 2 − 2M . (GATE 2022, CE)

13. Let the sets of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix B be {λk : 1 ≤ k ≤ n} and {vk : 1 ≤
k ≤ n} respectively. For any invertible matrix P , find the sets of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of
the matrix A where B = P −1 AP . (GATE 2023, EC)

14. Consider a system of a linear equation Ax = b, where

 √   
1 −√ 2 3 1
A= , b= .
−1 2 −3 3

Find the nature (unique/infinite/no) of the solution. (GATE 2022, EC)

 
2 1 1
15. What are the eigenvalues of the matrix 1 4 1 ? ( GATE 2024, CE)
1 1 2
16. Check whether the following system of linear equations

7x − 3y + z = 0
3x − y + z = 0
x−y−z =0

has unique solution, or infinite solution or no solution. (GATE 2024 AE)

 
5 −4
17. Consider the matrix A = , where k is a constant. If the determinant of A is 3, then find
k −1
the ratio of the largest eigenvalue of A to the constant k? (GATE 2024, AE)
   
2 3 7 8 11 9  T  
and Q = are two matrices. Find the matrix P Q ? (GATE
   
18. P =
4 1 5 12 6 13
2024 AG)
 
1 −1
19. What are the eigenvalues of the matrix ? ( GATE 2024, BM)
2 −2
    
2 1 2 3
20. If ⃗v = 2 is an eigenvector of the matrix 1 2 3 corresponding to the non-zero eigenvalue,
2 1 2 3
λ, then what is the value of λ ? (GATE 2024 BT)
 
−5 a
21. Consider a matrix A = , where a is a constant. If the eigenvalues of A are −1 and −6,
−2 −2
then find the value of a ? (rounded off to the nearest integer). (GATE 2024 CH)
 
  −1 0
1 2 4
22. Consider two matrices A = and B =  2 3. What is the determinant of the matrix
1 0 3
1 4
AB? (GATE 2024 CE)

23. Let A be any n × m matrix, where m > n. Discuss the solution of the system of linear equations
Ax = 0? (GATE 2024 CS)
 
1 2 3
24. What is the product of all eigenvalues of the matrix 4 5 6? (GATE 2024 CS)
7 8 9

25. Let R be the set of real numbers, U be a subspace of R3 and M ∈ R3 × R3 be the matrix cor-
responding to the projection on to the subspace U . Examine the following statements, (GATE
2024 DA)

i) If U is a 1-dimensional subspace of R3 , then the null space of M is a 1-dimensional sub-

space.
ii) If U is a 2-dimensional subspace of R3 , then the null space of M is a 1-dimensional subspace.
 
1 2 3
26. Consider the 3×3 matrix M= 3 3 3. Evaluate the determinant of (M2 + 12M). (GATE
4 1 6
2024 DA).

27. Examine the given space are subspace of R3 ? (GATE 2024 DA).
       
 x1 1 1 
(A) x = x2  ∈ R3 : x = α 0 + β 0 , α, β ∈ R
x3 1 0
 
       
 x1 1 0 
(B) x = x2  ∈ R3 : x = α2 2 + β 2 1 , α, β ∈ R
x3 1 1
 
   
 x1 
(C) 3
x = x2 ∈ R : 5x1 + 2x3 = 0, 0.4x1 − 2x2 + 3x3 = 0
 
x3
 
   
 x1 
(D) x = x2  ∈ R3 : 5x1 + 2x3 + 4 = 0
x3
 

T
28. Let u = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and let σ1 , σ2 , σ3 , σ4 , σ5 be the singular values of the matrix M = uuT


(where uT is the transpose of u). The value of 5i=1 σi is ____. (GATE 2024 DA).
P
29. Consider the matrix  
1 k
,
2 1
where k is a positive real number. Find the eigenvector(s) of this matrix? (GATE 2024 EC).

30. Let R andR3 denote the set of real numbers and the three-dimensional vector space over it,
respectively. The value of α for which the set of vectors

{[2 − 3 α], [3 − 1 3], [1 − 5 7]}

does not form a basis of R3 is ______ (GATE 2024 EC).

31. The sum of the eigenvalues of the matrix

 2
1 2
A=
3 4

is _____ (rounded off to the nearest integer). (GATE 2024 EE).

32. A 3 × 3 matrix P with all real elements has eigenvalues 41 , 1, and −2. The value of |P −1 | is
_________ (rounded off to nearest integer). (GATE 2024 IN).
 
1 a
33. For what condition of a (where a > 0) the given matrix 1 1 has a negative eigenvalue ? (GATE
8 3
2024 ME).

34. Consider the system of linear equations:

x + 2y + z = 5

2x + ay + 4z = 12
2x + 4y + 6z = b

Find the values of a and b such that there exists a non-trivial null space and the system admits
infinite solutions.(GATE 2024 ME).

35. Matrix  
1 4 3
A = 5 2 1 , and B = A − AT ,
6 4 3
then B is: (GATE 2024 MN).

(A) symmetric.
(B) skew symmetric.
(C) diagonal.
(D) scalar.

36. Which of the following statements is/are correct for a square matrix A with real number entries?
AT denotes the transpose of A and A−1 denotes the inverse of A.

(A) A is symmetric if AT = A.
(B) A is skew-symmetric if AT = −A.
(C) If A is orthogonal, then AT = A−1 .
 (D) If A is orthogonal, then its determinant is zero. (GATE 2024 MT)

37. If     
1 8 x x
=λ ,
2 1 y y
where x, y are not identically zero, then the values of λ are (GATE 2024 MT)
(A) 5, -3 (B) 4, -4 (C) 3, -5 (D) 5, -4

38. The system of linear equations:

x + 2y + 3z = 4
2x − y − 2z = a2
−x − 7y − 11z = a

For what value of a, the given system of linear equations has solution? (GATE 2024 NM)

39. Consider the matrices  

  1 0 0
2 1
M= and N = 1 2 0 .
0 2
1 1 0

Which one of the following is true? (GATE 2024 NM)

(A) M is not diagonalizable but N is diagonalizable.

(B) Both M and N are not diagonalizable.
(C) Both M and N are diagonalizable.
(D) M is diagonalizable but N is not diagonalizable.
 
2 −1
40. If P = , fine the product of the eigenvalues of P . (GATE 2024 PE)
2 2
41. For the given matrix
√1 0 √1
 
2 2
Q=0 1 0 ,
√1 0 √1
2 2

which of the following statements is/are true? (GATE 2024 PE)

(A) Q is an orthogonal matrix.

(B) QT = Q−1
(C) Q is a singular matrix.
(D) Q is a symmetric matrix.

42. The three eigenvalues of the matrix  

−2 x −3
2 1 −6
−1 −2 y
are λ1 = 5 and λ2 = λ3 = −3. what is the value of x? (GATE 2024 TF)
 
a b
43. IfA = is a matrix such thatA2 = I, where I is an identity matrix, then which of the
c −a
following is TRUE? (GATE 2024 PI)
 (A) 1 + a2 + bc = 0
(B) 1 − a2 + bc = 0
(C) 1 − a2 − bc = 0
(D) 1 + a2 − bc = 0
 
a 2f 0
44. Let A = 2f b 3f , where a, b, c, f are real numbers and f ̸= 0. Find the geometric
0 3f c
multiplicity of the largest eigenvalue of A. (GATE 2018, MA)

45. Let M be a 3×3 real symmetric matrix with eigenvalues 0, 2 and a with the respective eigenvectors
u = (4, b, c)T , v = (−1, 2, 0)T and w = (1, 1, 1)T . Check which of the following is true:

• a + b − c = 10.
• The trace of the matrix M 2 + 2M is 8. (GATE 2019, MA)

46. Let A be a 3 × 4 matrix and B be a 4 × 3 matrix with real entries such that AB is non-singular.
Check which of the following is true:

• Nullity of A is zero.
• BA is a non-singular matrix. (GATE 2021, MA)

47. Suppose that the characteristic equation of M ∈ C3×3 is λ3 + αλ2 + βλ − 1 = 0, where α, β ∈ C

with α + β ̸= 0. Then prove that M −1 (M −1 − βI) = M + αI. (GATE 2022, MA)
 
4 −3
48. Let M = , then prove that M 8 + M 12 is diagonalizable. (GATE 2023, MA)
1 0
 
3 −1 −2
49. Let M = 0 2 4 . If 6M −1 = M 2 − 6M + αI for some α ∈ R, them find the value of α.
0 0 1
(GATE 2023, MA)

50. Let A be a 3 × 3 real matrix with det(A + iI) = 0. If det(A) = 3, then find the trace of A2 .
(GATE 2023, MA)