Mathematics, 2nd Edition by Kevin
Cahill
,Solutions to the Exercises
1 Solutions to the Exercises on Linear Algebra
1. What is the most general function of three Grassmann numbers θ1, θ2, θ3?
Solution: Grassmann numbers anticommute, that is {θi , θ j } = θi θ j +θ j θi = 0
and θ12 = θ22 = θ3 2 = 0. So the most general function of three Grassmann
numbers is
f (θ1, θ2, θ3) = a + b θ1 + c θ2 + d θ3 + e θ1θ2 + f θ1θ3 + g θ2θ3 + h θ1θ2θ3.
2. Derive the cyclicity (1.24) of the trace from Eq.(1.23).
Solution: Since Tr( AB) = Tr(B A), it follows with B replaced by BC D that
Tr( ABC D) = Tr(DA BC) = Tr(CD AB) = Tr(BC DA).
3. Show that ( AB) T = BT AT, which is Eq.(1.26).
Solution: With a sum over the repeated index 4 understood,
( AB) T = [( AB)]ki = Ak4 B4i = AT4k B T i4 = B T i4 AT4k = BT AT .
ik ik
4. Show that a real hermitian matrix is symmetric.
Solution:
†
Aik = Aik = A∗ki = Aki .
5. Show that ( AB)† = B† A†, which is Eq.(1.29).
Solution: With a sum over the repeated index 4 understood,
( AB)† ik = ( A B)∗T = ( A B)∗ ki = A∗k 4 B4∗i
ik
= A∗4kT Bi∗T ∗T ∗T
4 = Bi 4 A 4 k = B A
† † .
ik
6. Show that the matrix (1.41) is positive on the space of all real 2-vectors but
not on the space of all complex 2-vectors.
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