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Practice Midterm Examination 2 April 26 2024

Time Limit: 50 Minutes

This examination document contains 9 pages, including this cover page, and 4 problems.
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Total: 100
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 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 2 of 9 April 26 2024

1. (25 points) Let V = R3 and consider the vectors

v1 = (3, 2, 0), v2 = (1, 1, 1), v3 = (6, −5, 1), v4 = (1, 0, 0).

Define the subspaces U1 := span(v1 , v2 , v3 ), U2 = span(v1 , v2 ) and U3 = span(v3 , v4 ).

(a) (10 points) Show that V = U1 .

Solution. Since U1 ⊆ V , it suffices to show V ⊆ U1 . Equivalently, that {v1 , v2 , v3 }

span V (and so they are a basis). It is clear that v1 and v2 are linearly independent,
as they are not a multiple of each other. Let us show that v3 ̸∈ span(v1 , v2 ).
By contradiction, if v3 ∈ span(v1 , v2 ) then ∃a1 , a2 ∈ R such that v3 = a1 v1 + a2 v2 .
Since the third component of v1 is zero, this forces a2 = 1. But then we must have
v3 = a1 v1 + a2 v2 , which is

(3a1 , 2a1 , 0) + (1, 1, 1) = (6, −5, 1).

There is no a1 solving this equality, since we would have 3a1 +1 = 6 and 2a1 +1 = −5,
a contraction. Therefore v3 ̸∈ span(v1 , v2 ).

(b) (5 points) Show that V = U2 + U3 .

Solution. By Part (a), V = U1 . Since U1 ⊆ U2 + U3 , we must have V ⊆ U2 + U3 .

Conversely, since U2 , U3 ⊆ V , their sum is also a subspace U2 + U3 ⊆ V . This
concludes V = U2 + U3 .
 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 3 of 9 April 26 2024

(c) (5 points) Prove or disprove whether V = U2 ⊕ U3 .

Solution. It is not true that V = U2 ⊕ U3 . Since U1 = U2 ⊕ span(v3 ) equals V , v4

must be a linear combination of v1 , v2 , v3 . Given that v4 is not linearly dependent
with v3 , it must be that U2 ∩ U3 ̸= {0}. (This intersection is in fact a line, 1-
dimensional.) So V it is not a direct sum of U2 and U3 .

(d) (5 points) Find two vectors w1 , w2 ∈ V such that V = span(v4 , w1 , w2 ).

Solution. There are (infinitely) many choices. For instance, we can take w1 =
(0, 1, 0) and w2 = (0, 0, 1), the coordinate basis.
 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 4 of 9 April 26 2024

2. (25 points) Consider the vector space V = R[x] and the vectors

p1 (x) = 1 − x2 + 3x5 , p2 (x) = x + x3 , p3 (x) = 1 − 4x − x2 − 4x3 + 3x5 .

(a) (10 points) Show that the subset U = {p(x) ∈ R[x] : p(2) = 0} is a vector subspace.

Solution. For any polynomial p(x) = a0 + a1 x + . . . + an xn , the equation p(2) = 0

is
a0 + 2a1 + . . . + 2n an = 0,
which is a linear equation on the variables a0 , . . . , an . Therefore U is the solution
set of a linear homogeneous equation, so it is a vector subspace.

Alternatively, one can check closed under sums and scalar multiplication. For in-
stance, for closed under sums, take p, q ∈ U so that p(2) = 0 and q(2) = 0. We
want to show that p + q ∈ U . This is true because (p + q)(2) = p(2) + p(q) = 0.

(b) (5 points) Prove that p3 (x) ∈ span(p1 (x), p2 (x)).

Solution. We have the equality p3 = p1 − 4p2 , so p3 (x) ∈ span(p1 (x), p2 (x)).

 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 5 of 9 April 26 2024

(c) (5 points) Show that the intersection

span(p1 (x), p2 (x), p3 (x)) ∩ U ̸= {0}

contains at least a non-zero polynomial.

Solution. We need a polynomial in U , i.e. that has a root equal to 2, and

that it is a linear combination of p1 , p2 , p3 . Since Part (b) implies that p3 (x) ∈
span(p1 (x), p2 (x)), it suffices to look for linear combinations of p1 and p2 . We want
a1 , a2 ∈ R such that a1 p1 + a2 p2 has 2 as a root. This is the equation

a1 p1 (2) + a2 p2 (2) = 0.

We can expand this to

a1 (1 − 22 + 3 · 25 ) + a2 (2 + 23 ) = 0, i.e.

93a1 + 10a2 = 0.
Choose any a1 , a2 with a2 = −9.3a1 , e.g. a1 = 10 and a2 = −93. Then we have
10p1 − 93p2 ∈ U and, by construction, also in span(p1 , p2 ).

(d) (5 points) For each n, find a subspace Wn ⊆ U such that dim(Wn ) = n.

Solution. Let vj = (x − 2)j for j ∈ N and choose Wn = span(v1 , . . . , vn ).

 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 6 of 9 April 26 2024

3. (25 points) Consider the function f : R3 −→ R2 given by

f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (x1 + x2 , 3x1 − x2 + 2x3 ).

(a) (10 points) Show that the subset

Uf := {v ∈ V : f (v) = 0}

is a vector subspace.

Solution. Since f is a linear function,

f (v1 + v2 ) = f (v1 ) + f (v2 ) = 0, ∀v1 , v2 ∈ Uf ,

f (a · v1 ) = a · f (v1 ) = 0, ∀v1 ∈ Uf .
Therefore Uf ⊆ V is a subspace, as it is closed under sum and scalar multiplication.

(b) (5 points) Is the subset

{v ∈ V : f (v) = 1}
a vector subspace? (Justify your answer.)

Solution. No. For instance, it does not contain a zero vector. It is also not closed
under sums, nor closed under scalar multiplication.
 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 7 of 9 April 26 2024

(c) (5 points) Consider the vector w = (1, −1, −2) ∈ R3 . Show that w ∈ Uf .

Solution. We need to evaluate f (w), where f (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (x1 + x2 , 3x1 − x2 + 2x3 )

and w = (1, −1, −2). We have

f (w) = (1 + (−1), 3 · 1 − (−1) + 2 · (−2)) = (0, 0),

and so w ∈ Uf .

(d) (5 points) Show that Uf = span(w).

Solution. By Part (c), span(w) ⊆ Uf because w ∈ Uf . It suffices to show Uf ⊆

span(w). Suppose that v ∈ Uf is given by v = (x1 , x2 , x3 ). Then f (v) = 0 are the
equations
x1 + x2 = 0, 3x1 − x2 + 2x3 = 0.
The first equation implies x2 = −x1 and the second 4x1 + 2x3 = 0, so that x3 =
−2x1 . This implies that v = a1 · w where a1 = x1 , and thus v ∈ span(w). This
proves Uf ⊆ span(w) and thus we conclude Uf = span(w).
 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 8 of 9 April 26 2024

4. (25 points) Consider the vector space V = R5 and the subspaces

U1 := {(x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , x5 ) ∈ V : x1 − x2 + 3x4 − 6x5 = 0},

U2 := span(v1 , v2 , v3 ),
where v1 = (1, 0, −1, 0, 1), v2 = (4, 1, 0, 1, 1) and v3 = (0, 0, 1, 1, 0).
(a) (10 points) Show that {v2 , v1 + 35 v3 } is a basis for the subspace U1 ∩ U2 ⊆ V .

Solution. We need to argue that {v2 , v1 + 53 v3 } are linearly independent first. This
is clear, as v2 is not a multiple of v1 + 35 v3 . Now we need to show span(v2 , v1 + 35 v3 ) =
U1 ∩ U2 .

For the inclusion span(v2 , v1 + 35 v3 ) ⊆ U1 ∩ U2 , we just check directly that v2 ∈ U1

and v1 + 35 v3 ∈ U1 . For instance, v2 ∈ U1 because 4 − 1 + 3 · 1 − 6 · 1 = 0.

For the inclusion U1 ∩ U2 ⊆ span(v2 , v1 + 53 v3 ). Note that v1 , v3 ̸∈ U1 and v2 ∈ U1 .

Since U1 is 4-dimensional and span(v1 , v3 ) is 2-dimensional, v1 , v3 ̸∈ U1 implies
that the intersection U1 ∩ span(v1 , v3 ) is 1-dimensional. Therefore U1 ∩ U2 is 2-
dimensional, with a possible basis given by v2 and any non-zero vector of U1 ∩
span(v1 , v3 ). Since v1 + 35 v3 is in the intersection, it must be that {v2 , v1 + 53 v3 } is
a basis.

(b) (5 points) Find a basis for the subspace U1 ⊆ V .

Solution. By Part (a), we already have 2 linearly independent vectors in U1 . Since

U1 is 4-dimensional, it suffices to give 2 additional vectors w1 , w2 ⊆ U1 so that
{v2 , v1 + 53 v3 , w1 , w2 } are a basis of U1 . Take for instance

w1 = (1, 1, 0, 0, 0), w2 = (0, 3, 0, 1, 0),

both of which are in U1 . A computation shows that w1 ̸∈ span(v2 , v1 + 53 v3 ) and

w2 ̸∈ span(v2 , v1 + 35 v3 , w1 ). Therefore {v2 , v1 + 53 v3 , w1 , w2 } are a basis.
 Practice Midterm Examination 2 - Page 9 of 9 April 26 2024

(c) (5 points) Show that V = U1 ⊕ span(v1 ).

Solution. Since U1 is 4-dimensional1 , any vector v ∈ V not in U1 satisfies V =

U1 + span(v). Since v ̸∈ U1 , this is in fact always a direct sum V = U1 ⊕ span(v).
Therefore, it suffices to argue that v1 ̸∈ U1 . This is indeed the case, as

1 − 0 + 3 · 0 − 6 · 1 ̸= 0,

so v1 ̸∈ U1 .

(d) (5 points) Prove that V ̸= U1 ⊕ span(v2 ). Is it true that V = U1 ⊕ span(v3 )?

Solution. Since v2 ∈ U1 , U1 ∩ span(v2 ) = U1 ̸= {0} and the sum cannot be a direct

sum. Since v3 ̸∈ U1 , the same argument as in Part (c) shows that V = U1 ⊕span(v3 ).

1
It is cut out by one non-zero equation in 5-variables.