Linear Algebra NYC

Dr. Nicholas Leavitt Ph.D.

December 17, 2010

Contents

1 Basic Linear Algebra 3

1.0.1 Linear Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.0.2 Matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.0.3 Row Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1
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Chapter 1

Basic Linear Algebra

1.0.1 Linear Equations

Linear algebra is the study of linear equations and function. But what are linear equations? A linear equation
is simply an equation of the form,

c1 x1 + c2 x2 + c3 x3 + ... + cn xn = b
All of the following are examples of linear equations;

3x + 2y = 4
2x1 + 5x2 − 4x3 = 15
2k1 + 3 = 0
4q1 − 6q2 + 7q3 − q4 + q5 = 3
The goal in most of linear algebra is to solve for the unknown variables x1 , x2 , x3 .... A group of equations
is also called a system of equations. This is an example of a system of equations,
(
10x1 + 2x2 = 4
x1 − x2 =5
In order for the system to have a unique solution (one solution) you must have the same number of
unknowns as there are equations.

1.0.2 Matrices
To organize system of equations better, we use matrices. A matrix looks like this,
 
10 2 4
1 −1 5
The first column corresponds to the coefficients of the first variable, the second column corresponds to
the second variable and the last column is the right side of the equation, after the = sign. The rows represent
each equation. For example, if we want to write the system,

4x1 + 3x2 + 2x3 = 6

x1 − x2 + x3 = −3

x1 + 2x2 + 3x3 =6


In the form of a matrix, we would write it as follows;

3
  
4 3 2 6
1 −1 1 −3
1 2 3 6
If in one equation we have say, 2 unknowns, but in the other we only have 1 unknown, then we assume
that the coefficient of the missing variable in the second equation to be 0. That means if we have something
like,
(
2x1 + x2 = 6
x1 = −3
Then we write it’s matrix like,
 
2 1 6
1 0 −3

1.0.3 Row Operations

There are a couple of things that you can do with a matrix. You can add rows to other rows and you can
multiply rows by constants and even exchange rows. We’ll look at each operation individually and then
together. First, row addition. If we have the matrix,
 
2 1 2
4 −1 6
To add one row to another we do the following, next to the row you’re adding, write Rn0 = Rn + Rm .
Then write another matrix where you actually add the rows together. To add rows together you just add the
numbers in each column together. This may sound like it’s very complicated but once you see an example
it’s quite simple. Now let’s add the first row to the second row.

Write the operation next to the row we’re adding to.

 
2 1 2
4 −1 6 R20 = R2 + R1
Now add each number of each column together.
   
2 1 2 2 1 2
=
(4 + 2) (−1 + 1) (6 + 2) 6 0 8
And that’s how we add the first row to the second. What if we wanted to add the second row to the first
row? Then we’d do this.

2 1 2 R10 = R1 + R2
     
(2 + 4) (1 + (−1)) (2 + 6) 6 0 8
= =
4 −1 6 4 −1 6 4 −1 6
Let’s look at multiplying a row by a scalar (constant). It’s much like addition, you write the row oper-
ation next to the row you’re changing and then do it. To multiply a row by a constant you multiply every
number in that row by your constant. If we want to multiply the first row by 2 then this is how it happens.

Write the operation.

2 R10 = 2R1
 
2 1
4 −1 6
Multiply the row by 2.

4
    
(2)2 (2)1 (2)2 4 2 4
=
4 −1 6 4 −1 6
Pretty simple eh? Finally we’ll look at row exchanges. Next to either of the two rows you want to
exchange write Rn ⇔ Rm . And then just switch one row with the other. If we wanted to switch row 1 by
row 2 we do as follows.

Write the operation.

 
2 1 2 R1 ⇔ R2
4 −1 6
Switch the rows.
 
4 −1 6
2 1 2
The last operation we’ll look at is a combination of scalar multiplication and addition, where we add
multiples of one row to another. We write the row operation next to the row we’re going to be changing. If
we want to add 3 times the first row to the second row, next to the second row we write R20 = R2 + 3R1 .
Let’s do that right now.

Write the operation.

 
4 −1 6
2 1 2 R20 = R2 + 3R1
Now we multiply the first row by 3 and add it to the second.
   
4 −1 6 4 −1 6
=
2 + (3 × 4) 1 + (3 × −1) 2 + (3 × 6) 14 −2 20
These are pretty simple but they’re incredibly important, you have to make sure you really understand
each of these operations.