Finding the Null Space of a Matrix | Solving for x in Ax=0 | Linear Algebra

In summary, the null space of the matrix A is given by the vectors (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} and (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}. However, the notation given in the book is incorrect as it only includes one vector when the null space is two-dimensional.
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3.141592654
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Homework Statement



Determine the null space of the following matrix:

A = [1 1 -1 2
2 2 -3 1
-1 -1 0 -5]

Homework Equations



[itex] Ax=0 [/itex] where [itex] x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T}[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



If I put the system Ax=0 into augmented form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
2 2 -3 1 | 0
-1 -1 0 -5 | 0

By row reduction I get the following row echelon form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
0 0 1 3 | 0
0 0 0 0 | 0

So if

[itex] x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T} = (-5t-s, s, -3t, t)^{T}[/itex]

[itex] = t(-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} + s(-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}[/itex]

[itex] = Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}, (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T} ][/itex]

My book has the answer:

[itex] x = (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}, Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}][/itex]

Have I gone wrong somewhere or are these answers equivalent? I can't see it if they are...
 
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  • #2
3.141592654 said:

Homework Statement



Determine the null space of the following matrix:

A = [1 1 -1 2
2 2 -3 1
-1 -1 0 -5]

Homework Equations



[itex] Ax=0 [/itex] where [itex] x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T}[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



If I put the system Ax=0 into augmented form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
2 2 -3 1 | 0
-1 -1 0 -5 | 0

By row reduction I get the following row echelon form:

1 1 -1 2 | 0
0 0 1 3 | 0
0 0 0 0 | 0

So if

[itex] x = (x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4})^{T} = (-5t-s, s, -3t, t)^{T}[/itex]

[itex] = t(-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T} + s(-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}[/itex]

[itex] = Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}, (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T} ][/itex]
The above looks fine.
3.141592654 said:
My book has the answer:

[itex] x = (-1, 1, 0, 0)^{T}, Span[ (-5, 0, -3, 1)^{T}][/itex]
They have the same vectors you have, but their notation is screwed up. The nullspace here is two-dimensional, so it takes two vectors to span it.
3.141592654 said:
Have I gone wrong somewhere or are these answers equivalent? I can't see it if they are...
 

Related to Finding the Null Space of a Matrix | Solving for x in Ax=0 | Linear Algebra

What is the null space?

The null space, also known as the kernel, is the set of all possible vectors that when multiplied by a given matrix result in a zero vector.

Why is finding the null space important?

Finding the null space is important because it helps us understand the solutions to a system of linear equations. It also allows us to determine linear independence and basis vectors for a matrix.

How do you find the null space of a matrix?

To find the null space of a matrix, we first put the matrix into reduced row echelon form. Then, we identify the pivot columns and set the corresponding variables to zero. The remaining variables form the basis for the null space.

Can the null space of a matrix be empty?

Yes, the null space of a matrix can be empty. This happens when the pivot columns of the matrix span the entire column space, meaning there are no free variables to create a null space.

What is the dimension of the null space?

The dimension of the null space is equal to the number of free variables in the matrix. It is also known as the nullity of the matrix.

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