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Answer Key for Introduction to Linear Algebra – 6th Edition by Gilbert Strang

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This document provides detailed solutions and explanations for exercises found in the 6th edition of Introduction to Linear Algebra by Gilbert Strang, a widely used textbook in undergraduate mathematics courses. It serves as a companion resource for students, educators, and self-learners aiming to deepen their understanding of core linear algebra concepts such as matrix operations, vector spaces, determinants, eigenvalues, and linear transformations. The answer key supports mastery through step-by-step problem-solving strategies and reinforces theoretical insights with practical applications.

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Institution
Introduction to Linear Algebra
Course
Introduction to Linear Algebra

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Uploaded on
September 29, 2025
Number of pages
187
Written in
2025/2026
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ALL 10 CHAPTERS COVERED




Answer key

,2 Solutions to Exercises

Problem Set 1.1, page 8

1 The combinations give (a) a line in R3 (b) a plane in R3 (c) all of R3.

2 v + w = (2, 3) and v − w = (6, −1) will be the diagonals of the parallelogram with

v and w as two sides going out from (0, 0).

3 This problem gives the diagonals v + w and v − w of the parallelogram and asks for

the sides: The opposite of Problem 2. In this example v = (3, 3) and w = (2, −2).

4 3v + w = (7, 5) and cv + dw = (2c + d, c + 2d).

5 u+v = (−2, 3, 1) and u+v+w = (0, 0, 0) and 2u+2v+w = ( add first answers) =

(−2, 3, 1). The vectors u, v, w are in the same plane because a combination gives
(0, 0, 0). Stated another way: u = −v − w is in the plane of v and w.

6 The components of every cv + dw add to zero because the components of v and of w

add to zero. c = 3 and d = 9 give (3, 3, −6). There is no solution to cv+dw = (3, 3, 6)
because 3 + 3 + 6 is not zero.

7 The nine combinations c(2, 1) + d(0, 1) with c = 0, 1, 2 and d = (0, 1, 2) will lie on a

lattice. If we took all whole numbers c and d, the lattice would lie over the whole plane.

8 The other diagonal is v − w (or else w − v). Adding diagonals gives 2v (or 2w).

9 The fourth corner can be (4, 4) or (4, 0) or (−2, 2). Three possible parallelograms!

10 i − j = (1, 1, 0) is in the base (x-y plane). i + j + k = (1, 1, 1) is the opposite corner

from (0, 0, 0). Points in the cube have 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1, 0 ≤ z ≤ 1.
11 Four more corners (1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1), (1, 1, 1). The center point is ( 1 , 1 , 1 ).
2 2 2
Centers of faces are ( 1 , 1 , 0), ( 1 , 1 , 1) and (0, 1 , 1 ), (1, 1 , 1 ) and ( 1 , 0, 1 ), ( 1 , 1, 1 ).
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

12 The combinations of i = (1, 0, 0) and i + j = (1, 1, 0) fill the xy plane in xyz space.

13 Sum = zero vector. Sum = −2:00 vector = 8:00 vector. 2:00 is 30◦ from horizontal

= (cos π , sin π ) = ( 3/2, 1/2).
6 6

14 Moving the origin to 6:00 adds j = (0, 1) to every vector. So the sum of twelve vectors

changes from 0 to 12j = (0, 12).

,Solutions to Exercises 3

3 1
15 The point v+
w is three-fourths of the way to v starting from w. The vector
4 4
1 1 1 1
v + w is halfway to u = v + w. The vector v + w is 2u (the far corner of the
4 4 2 2
parallelogram).

16 All combinations with c + d = 1 are on the line that passes through v and w.

The point V = −v + 2w is on that line but it is beyond w.
17 All vectors cv + cw are on the line passing through (0, 0) and u = 1v + 1 w. That
2 2

line continues out beyond v + w and back beyond (0, 0). With c ≥ 0, half of this line
is removed, leaving a ray that starts at (0, 0).

18 The combinations cv + dw with 0 ≤ c ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ d ≤ 1 fill the parallelogram with

sides v and w. For example, if v = (1, 0) and w = (0, 1) then cv + dw fills the unit
square. But when v = (a, 0) and w = (b, 0) these combinations only fill a segment of
a line.

19 With c ≥ 0 and d ≥ 0 we get the infinite “cone” or “wedge” between v and w. For

example, if v = (1, 0) and w = (0, 1), then the cone is the whole quadrant x ≥ 0, y ≥
0. Question: What if w = −v? The cone opens to a half-space. But the combinations
of v = (1, 0) and w = (−1, 0) only fill a line.
20 (a) 1u + 1 v + 1 w is the center of the triangle between u, v and w; 1 u + 1 w lies
3 3 3 2 2

between u and w (b) To fill the triangle keep c ≥ 0, d ≥ 0, e ≥ 0, and c + d + e = 1.

21 The sum is (v − u) +(w − v) +(u − w) = zero vector. Those three sides of a triangle

are in the same plane!
22 The vector 1 (u + v + w) is outside the pyramid because c + d + e = 1 + 1 + 1 > 1.
2 2 2 2

23 All vectors are combinations of u, v, w as drawn (not in the same plane). Start by

seeing that cu + dv fills a plane, then adding ew fills all of R3.

24 The combinations of u and v fill one plane. The combinations of v and w fill another

plane. Those planes meet in a line: only the vectors cv are in both planes.

25 (a) For a line, choose u = v = w = any nonzero vector (b) For a plane, choose
u and v in different directions. A combination like w = u + v is in the same plane.

, 4 Solutions to Exercises

26 Two equations come from the two components: c + 3d = 14 and 2c + d = 8. The

solution is c = 2 and d = 4. Then 2(1, 2) + 4(3, 1) = (14, 8).

27 A four-dimensional cube has 24 = 16 corners and 2 · 4 = 8 three-dimensional faces

and 24 two-dimensional faces and 32 edges in Worked Example 2.4 A.

28 There are 6 unknown numbers v1, v2, v3, w1, w2, w3. The six equations come from the

components of v + w = (4, 5, 6) and v − w = (2, 5, 8). Add to find 2v = (6, 10, 14)
so v = (3, 5, 7) and w = (1, 0, −1).

29 Fact : For any three vectors u, v, w in the plane, some combination cu + dv + ew is

the zero vector (beyond the obvious c = d = e = 0). So if there is one combination
Cu + Dv + Ew that produces b, there will be many more—just add c, d, e or 2c, 2d, 2e
to the particular solution C, D, E.

The example has 3u − 2v + w = 3(1, 3) − 2(2, 7) + 1(1, 5) = (0, 0). It also has
−2u + 1v + 0w = b = (0, 1). Adding gives u − v + w = (0, 1). In this case c, d, e
equal 3, −2, 1 and C, D, E = −2, 1, 0.

Could another example have u, v, w that could NOT combine to produce b ? Yes. The
vectors (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3) are on a line and no combination produces b. We can easily
solve cu + dv + ew = 0 but not Cu + Dv + Ew = b.

30 The combinations of v and w fill the plane unless v and w lie on the same line through

(0, 0). Four vectors whose combinations fill 4-dimensional space: one example is the
“standard basis” (1, 0, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 1, 0), and (0, 0, 0, 1).

31 The equations cu + dv + ew = b are


2c −d = 1 So d = 2e c = 3/4
−c +2d −e = 0 then c = 3e d = 2/4
−d +2e = 0 then 4e = 1 e = 1/4

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