Chapter 7: Problem 29
Describe the nullspace of the given matrix, both parametrically and geometrically in \(\mathbf{R}^{3}\). \(\left(\begin{array}{rrr}1 & -1 & -1 \\ 2 & -2 & -2 \\ -4 & 4 & 4\end{array}\right)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The nullspace is a plane spanned by \((1, 1, 0)\) and \((1, 0, 1)\) in \(\mathbf{R}^3\).
Step by step solution
01
Write the matrix equation
We want to find the nullspace of the matrix \(A\), meaning all vectors \(\mathbf{x}\) such that \(A\mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}\). Given \(A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & -1 & -1 \ 2 & -2 & -2 \ -4 & 4 & 4 \end{pmatrix}\), the equation is \(A\begin{pmatrix} x_1 \ x_2 \ x_3 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \ 0 \ 0 \end{pmatrix}\).
02
Form the system of linear equations
The matrix equation \(A\mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}\) translates to the following system of linear equations: 1. \(x_1 - x_2 - x_3 = 0\)2. \(2x_1 - 2x_2 - 2x_3 = 0\)3. \(-4x_1 + 4x_2 + 4x_3 = 0\).
03
Simplify the system of equations
Note that the second equation is just twice the first equation and the third equation is \(-4 \) times the first equation. Thus, these are linearly dependent. We can reduce the system to just one equation:\(x_1 - x_2 - x_3 = 0\).
04
Express as parametric vector form
We solve \(x_1 - x_2 - x_3 = 0\) for one variable in terms of the others. Let's express \(x_1\) in terms of free variables \(t\) and \(s\) where \(x_2 = t\) and \(x_3 = s\).\(x_1 = x_2 + x_3 = t + s\).Thus, the solution vector \(\begin{pmatrix} x_1 \ x_2 \ x_3 \end{pmatrix} = t \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 1 \ 0 \end{pmatrix} + s \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 0 \ 1 \end{pmatrix}\).
05
Describe geometrically
The nullspace is spanned by the vectors \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 1 \ 0 \end{pmatrix}\) and \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 0 \ 1 \end{pmatrix}\), so it's a plane through the origin in \(\mathbf{R}^3\). This plane contains all linear combinations of the two spanning vectors.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Parametric Vector Form
When describing the nullspace of a matrix, the parametric vector form is a convenient mathematical expression. It provides a pathway to visualize infinite solutions when finding vectors that satisfy the equation \( A\mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0} \). For the given matrix:
- The equation simplifies to a single equation \( x_1 - x_2 - x_3 = 0 \).
- By expressing \( x_1 \) in terms of \( x_2 \) and \( x_3 \), we consider them as free variables, say \( t \) and \( s \).
- We find \( x_1 = t + s \), \( x_2 = t \), and \( x_3 = s \).
- This leads to a solution in parametric vector form: \(\begin{pmatrix} x_1 \ x_2 \ x_3 \end{pmatrix} = t \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 1 \ 0 \end{pmatrix} + s \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 0 \ 1 \end{pmatrix}\).
Geometric Interpretation
The nullspace can be understood visually through its geometric properties. In this case, the nullspace of the matrix is a plane in \( \mathbf{R}^{3} \). Here's why:
- The matrix determines equations that express certain dependencies between variables.
- The parametric solution \( t \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 1 \ 0 \end{pmatrix} + s \begin{pmatrix} 1 \ 0 \ 1 \end{pmatrix} \) indicates the nullspace is spanned by two vectors.
- These vectors lie in a plane because they are linearly independent and form a basis for the nullspace.
- Every linear combination of these vectors remains within this plane.
Linear Dependency
Understanding linear dependency is key when finding the nullspace. Here's what it entails in this scenario:
- The system of equations derived from the matrix share a common form, indicating some rows are multiples of others.
- In this case, the second equation is twice the first, and the third is \( -4 \) times the first.
- This means these equations are linearly dependent and effectively redundant, leading to a singular matrix.
- Being linearly dependent allows reduction of the system, simplifying the problem to a single key equation.