MATH 240
The exam will cover the material we have discussed in class and studied in homework, from Chapter 1 and Sections 2.1 to 2.3. The following list points out the most important definitions and theorems.
Note that when a computation is required, you may be asked to justify the conclusion you draw from the computation (by mentioning a fact or theorem, for example).
Definitions
- The definition of Ax in both words and symbols
- Span{v}, Span {u,v} and geometric interpretation in R2 or R3
- Span{v1, ..., vp}
- Linearly independent, linearly dependent
- Linear transformation
- Standard matrix of a linear transformation
- The definition of a matrix product AB
- The definition of the inverse of a matrix
Theorems
- Chapter 1:
- Theorem 2 (Existence and Uniqueness Theorem)
- Theorem 3 (Matrix equation, vector equation, system of linear equations)
- Theorem 4 (When do the columns of A span Rn ?)
- Theorem 5 (Properties of the Matrix-Vector Product Ax)
- Theorems 7, 8, 9 (Properties of linearly dependent sets)
- Theorems 11 and 12 (one-to-one and onto linear transformations).
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- Chapter 2:
- Theorems 4, 5, 6, and 7
- Know the proof of Theorem 5
- Theorem 8 (the Invertible Matrix Theorem)
Important Skills
- Know the difference between the concepts of matrix equation, vector equation, system of linear equations, and the augmented matrix for a system of linear equations. Given any one of these forms, be able to write one of the other equivalent forms.
- Determine when a system is consistent. Write the general solution in parametric vector form.
- Determine values of parameters that make a system consistent, or make the solution unique.
- Describe existence or uniqueness of solutions in terms of pivot positions.
- Determine when a homogeneous system has a nontrivial solution.
- Determine when a vector is in a subset spanned by specified vectors.
- Exhibit a vector as a linear combination of specified vectors.
- Write the equation of a line or plane in parametric vector form.
- Determine whether the columns of an m×n matrix span Rn.
- Determine whether the columns are linearly independent.
- Determine whether a set of vectors is linearly independent. Know several methods that can sometimes produce an answer "by inspection" (without much calculation).
- Use linearity of matrix multiplication to compute A(u + v) or A(cu).
- Determine whether a specified vector is in the range of a linear transformation.
- Compute the image of a vector under a linear transformation.
- Find the standard matrix of a linear transformation.
- Determine whether a linear transformation is one-to-one or maps Rn onto Rm
- Use an inverse matrix to solve a system of linear equations
- Find the inverse of a 2×2 matrix using Theorem 4 on p.119
- Find the inverse of a matrix A by row reducing [A I].
- Use matrix algebra to solve equations involving matrices.
Applications
Use linear combinations of vectors to describe various problems. (See Example 7 and Exercises 27, 28 in Section 1.3, Exercises 39, 40 in Section 1.5, and Example 6 in Section 1.7.)
Practice Exam:
After you have completed your initial review, try taking one or two sample exams on the website
www.laylinalgebra.com.
Select "Review Sheets and Practice Exams" and then select the first practice exam of either Course A or Course B
(Both exams were given some time ago at the University of Maryland.)
If you choose Course A, select questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8.
If you choose Course B, you can do all questions.
Take the exam in a quiet place, at a time when you can work without stopping, and without looking at the text or your notes.
After that, check the solutions that accompany the sample exam. But, please don't look at the solutions until you have tried the entire test.
Remember, the exam may include material that is not on the sample exam, and the wording of questions may be somewhat different.