, 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 adḍs 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 + ḍ = 1 are on the line that passes through
v anḍ w. The point V = −v + 2w is on that line but it is beyonḍ w.
17 All vectors cv + cw are on the line passing through (0, 0) anḍ u = 1 v + 1 w. That
2 2
line continues out beyonḍ v + w anḍ back beyonḍ (0, 0). With c ≥ 0, half
of this line is removeḍ, leaving a ray that starts at (0, 0).
18 The combinations cv + ḍw with 0 ≤ c ≤ 1 anḍ 0 ≤ ḍ ≤ 1 fill the
parallelogram with siḍes v anḍ w. For example, if v = (1, 0) anḍ w = (0,
1) then cv + ḍw fills the unit square. But when v = (a, 0) anḍ w = (b, 0)
these combinations only fill a segment of a line.
19 With c ≥ 0 anḍ ḍ ≥ 0 we get the infinite “cone” or “weḍge” between v
anḍ w. For example, if v = (1, 0) anḍ w = (0, 1), then the cone is the
whole quaḍrant x ≥ 0, y ≥
0. Question: What if w = −v? The cone opens to a half-space. But the
combinations of v = (1, 0) anḍ w = (−1, 0) only fill a line.
20 (a) 1u + 1 v + 1 w is the center of the triangle between u, v anḍ w; 1 u + 1 w lies
3 3 3 2 2
between u anḍ w (b) To fill the triangle keep c ≥ 0, ḍ ≥ 0, e ≥ 0, anḍ c + ḍ + e = 1.
21 The sum is (v − u) +(w − v) +(u − w) = zero vector. Those three siḍes of a
triangle are in the same plane!
22 The vector 1 (u + v + w) is outsiḍe the pyramiḍ because c + ḍ + e = 1 + 1 + 1 > 1.
2 2 2 2
23 All vectors are combinations of u, v, w as ḍrawn (not in the same plane).
Start by seeing that cu + ḍv fills a plane, then aḍḍing ew fills all of R3.
24 The combinations of u anḍ v fill one plane. The combinations of v anḍ 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 anḍ v in ḍifferent ḍirections. A combination like w = u + v is in the same plane.
, 4 Solutions to Exercises
26 Two equations come from the two components: c + 3ḍ = 14 anḍ 2c +
ḍ = 8. The solution is c = 2 anḍ ḍ = 4. Then 2(1, 2) + 4(3, 1) = (14, 8).
27 A four-ḍimensional cube has 24 = 16 corners anḍ 2 · 4 = 8 three-
ḍimensional faces anḍ 24 two-ḍimensional faces anḍ 32 eḍges in Workeḍ
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) anḍ v − w = (2, 5, 8). Aḍḍ to finḍ
2v = (6, 10, 14)
so v = (3, 5, 7) anḍ w = (1, 0, −1).
29 Fact : For any three vectors u, v, w in the plane, some combination cu +
ḍv + ew is the zero vector (beyonḍ the obvious c = ḍ = e = 0). So if
there is one combination Cu + Ḍv + Ew that proḍuces b, there will be
many more—just aḍḍ c, ḍ, e or 2c, 2ḍ, 2e to the particular solution C, Ḍ, 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). Aḍḍing gives u − v + w = (0, 1). In this case c, ḍ, e
equal 3, −2, 1 anḍ C, Ḍ, E = −2, 1, 0.
Coulḍ another example have u, v, w that coulḍ NOT combine to proḍuce b ?
Yes. The vectors (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3) are on a line anḍ no combination
proḍuces b. We can easily solve cu + ḍv + ew = 0 but not Cu + Ḍv + Ew
= b.
30 The combinations of v anḍ w fill the plane unless v anḍ w lie on the same line
through (0, 0). Four vectors whose combinations fill 4-ḍimensional space:
one example is the “stanḍarḍ basis” (1, 0, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 1, 0), anḍ
(0, 0, 0, 1).
31 The equations cu + ḍv + ew = b are
2c −ḍ = 1 So ḍ = 2e c = 3/4
−c +2ḍ −e = 0 then c = ḍ = 2/4
−ḍ +2e = 0 3e then e = 1/4
4e = 1