Matrix Representation of a Linear Map

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the adjoint map and matrix representations of a linear map given by A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3) with respect to the canonical basis f_1 = [1, 2, 1], f_2 = [1, 3, 2], f_3 = [0, 1, 2]. The adjoint map is defined as the unique map satisfying <A*w, v> = <w, Av>, and in this case, the linear map is self-adjoint. The matrix representation of a transformation with respect to a basis is obtained by finding the unique scalars in
  • #1
playboy

Homework Statement



Consider the linear map A : R3 ----> R3 given by
A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3).
(a) Find the adjoint map [itex]A^*[/itex].

(b) Obtain the matrix representations of A and A* with respect to the canonical basis [itex]f_1[/itex] = [1, 2, 1], [itex]f_2[/itex] = [1, 3, 2], [itex]f_3[/itex] = [0, 1, 2].



Homework Equations



None!


The Attempt at a Solution



I am not worried about finding the adjoint right now.

I first want to find the matrix representation of the linear map A.

so we have A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3).

[1 -1 0]
[-1 1 0] = A
[ 0 0 1]

Is that correct?

If that is correct, I then find the adjoint by using the formula, and I get,

[1 1 0]
[1 1 0] = A*
[0 0 1]

Can somebody confirm these please?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Why do you need us to confirm the first answer? Is it beyond you to multiply A into a vector? I don't think it is - you're very much capable of doing that. What you've written doesn't look like A referred to the given basis anyway, but to the standard basis (what makes the f_i in anyway canonical?)
 
  • #3
matt grime said:
Why do you need us to confirm the first answer? Is it beyond you to multiply A into a vector? I don't think it is - you're very much capable of doing that. What you've written doesn't look like A referred to the given basis anyway, but to the standard basis (what makes the f_i in anyway canonical?)

I feel so stupid matt grime, yeah, that was very simple.

I just really confused myself and made something straight forward complicated.


playboy said:

Homework Statement



Consider the linear map A : R3 ----> R3 given by
A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3).
(a) Find the adjoint map A*.

(b) Obtain the matrix representations of A and A* with respect to the canonical basis [itex]f_1[/itex] = [1, 2, 1], [itex]f_2[/itex] = [1, 3, 2], [itex]f_3[/itex] = [0, 1, 2].

I am now focusing on part (b)

I have no idea how [itex]f_1[/itex] = [1, 2, 1], [itex]f_2[/itex] = [1, 3, 2], [itex]f_3[/itex] = [0, 1, 2] are connonical...

the cannonical basis for R3 is { [1, 0, 0] [0, 1, 0] [0, 0, 1] }

Anyways, here is how I went about finding the matrix representation for A:

It consists of 2 parts

Part 1:

A(1 0 0) = [1 -1 0]
A(0 1 0) = [-1 1 0]
A(0 0 1) = [0 0 1]

Hence, we have a matrix:

[1 -1 0]
[-1 1 0]
[0 0 1]

which is the same matrix as I have in post 1 :shy:

now,

we find the matrix from the f_i basis to the standard basis above.

[1 1 0]
[2 3 1]
[1 2 2]

and now our matrix representation is:

[1 -1 0] [1 1 0]
[-1 1 0]x[2 3 1]
[ 0 0 1] [1 2 2]

[-1 -2 -1]
[1 2 1]
[1 2 2]

is the matirx representation of the map A.


Is this correct? Could somebody please check this for me?
I am allways unsure of my work..
 
  • #4
What is the definition of adjoint of A? What is the definition of matrix representation of A with respect to basis {f1, f2, f3}?
 
  • #5
playboy said:


Consider the linear map A : R3 ----> R3 given by
A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3).
(a) Find the adjoint map [itex]A^*[/itex].

(b) Obtain the matrix representations of A and A* with respect to the canonical basis [itex]f_1[/itex] = [1, 2, 1], [itex]f_2[/itex] = [1, 3, 2], [itex]f_3[/itex] = [0, 1, 2].




AKG said:
What is the definition of adjoint of A? What is the definition of matrix representation of A with respect to basis {f1, f2, f3}?

The adjoint of a linear map A:V--->W is the unique map A*:W--->V satisying <A*w, v> = <w, Av>

in my textbook, it says;

"If V=R^n, then the adjoint of a linear map V = R^n to W = R^m with respect to the dot product is obtained by taking the transpose of its corresponding matrix, as in the identity"

So in my case above, the corresponding matrix is:

[1 -1 0]
[-1 1 0] = A
[0 0 1]

And A transpose is A,

hence, A is self adjoint!

I am completely lost on matrix representation of A with respect to basis {f1, f2, f3}
 
  • #6
{f1,f2,f3} is a basis. Any vector in your vector space, v, can be expressed in a unique way as a linear combination of these vectors, i.e.:

v = a1f1 + a2f2 + a3f3

where a1, a2, and a3 are scalars. So the (column) matrix representation of v with respect to basis {f1,f2,f3} is (a1 a2 a3)T. Let's call this column matrix v'. Now if you apply the transformation A to the vector v, you get another vector Av. Since this too is a vector in your vec. space, it can be represented in a unique way as a linear combination of the fi, i.e. Av = b1f1 + b2f2 + b3f3 for some unique scalars bi. So the (column) matrix representation of Av with respect to this basis is (b1 b2 b3)T. Let's call this column matrix (Av)'. The matrix representation of transformation A, then, with respect to this basis is whatever matrix A' performs the action:

A'v' = (Av)'

for any v in V. So now you have the definition of the matrix rep. of A w.r.t. a basis, but you need to know how to find this matrix representation. Think about it for yourself for a bit, and if you still have trouble, then ask.
 
  • #7
AKG said:
{f1,f2,f3} is a basis. Any vector in your vector space, v, can be expressed in a unique way as a linear combination of these vectors, i.e.:

v = a1f1 + a2f2 + a3f3

where a1, a2, and a3 are scalars. So the (column) matrix representation of v with respect to basis {f1,f2,f3} is (a1 a2 a3)T. Let's call this column matrix v'. Now if you apply the transformation A to the vector v, you get another vector Av. Since this too is a vector in your vec. space, it can be represented in a unique way as a linear combination of the fi, i.e. Av = b1f1 + b2f2 + b3f3 for some unique scalars bi. So the (column) matrix representation of Av with respect to this basis is (b1 b2 b3)T. Let's call this column matrix (Av)'. The matrix representation of transformation A, then, with respect to this basis is whatever matrix A' performs the action:

A'v' = (Av)'


for any v in V. So now you have the definition of the matrix rep. of A w.r.t. a basis, but you need to know how to find this matrix representation. Think about it for yourself for a bit, and if you still have trouble, then ask.


Thank you for your help AKG and explaing to me the definition.

It is hard for me to answer the question working straight from the definition - i need a concrete example.

I looked in books and online for a question like this - I could not find one, not even in my textbook.

Would you (or anyboy) care to help me with the alogritm or calculation?
 
  • #8
A(f1) = A(1,2,1) = (1-2,-1+2,1) = (-1,1,1)

Now express (-1,1,1) as a linear combination of f1, f2, and f3. You want to find c1, c2, c3 scalars such that:

c1f1 + c2f2 + c3f3 = (-1,1,1)

Let F denote the 3x3 matrix that has it's first row equal to f1, second row f2, and third row f3. So the first row will be 1 2 1, the second is 1 3 2, the third is 0 1 2. Then

(c1 c2 c3)F = (-1 1 1)
(c1 c2 c3) = (-1 1 1)F-1

So you need to find F-1. So now you'll have c1, c2, c3 that correspond to the representation of A(f1) as a linear comb. of f1, f2, f3. Similarly, find d1, d2, d3 that corrsepond to the rep. of A(f2) as a lin. comb. of the fi, and find e1, e2, e3 that correspond to the rep. of A(f3) as a lin. comb. of the fi.

Then the matrix which I originally called A' will be (c1 c2 c3)T as its first column, (d1 d2 d3)T as its second, and (e1 e2 e3)T as its third. I'll explain more details later if you need it. Try this process out, and see if you understand why it's right too.
 
  • #9
AKG said:
A(f1) = A(1,2,1) = (1-2,-1+2,1) = (-1,1,1)

Now express (-1,1,1) as a linear combination of f1, f2, and f3. You want to find c1, c2, c3 scalars such that:

c1f1 + c2f2 + c3f3 = (-1,1,1)

Let F denote the 3x3 matrix that has it's first row equal to f1, second row f2, and third row f3. So the first row will be 1 2 1, the second is 1 3 2, the third is 0 1 2. Then

(c1 c2 c3)F = (-1 1 1)
(c1 c2 c3) = (-1 1 1)F-1

So you need to find F-1. So now you'll have c1, c2, c3 that correspond to the representation of A(f1) as a linear comb. of f1, f2, f3. Similarly, find d1, d2, d3 that corrsepond to the rep. of A(f2) as a lin. comb. of the fi, and find e1, e2, e3 that correspond to the rep. of A(f3) as a lin. comb. of the fi.

Then the matrix which I originally called A' will be (c1 c2 c3)T as its first column, (d1 d2 d3)T as its second, and (e1 e2 e3)T as its third. I'll explain more details later if you need it. Try this process out, and see if you understand why it's right too.

Thank you AKG for showing me a worked example, I really appreciate that.

I checked back to see how you used the definition to come up with this, and I do see how it is linked to the definition.

I had another way of calulating the constands c1 c2 c3, d1 d2 d3, e1 e2 e3, it was similar to your way. both gave the same answers.

the matrix turns out to be:

[-5 -10 -4]
[4 8 3]
[1 2 0]

Now I have this matrix, but i am uncertain on what it actually does? I mean, it does represent the linear transformation with respect to the fi bases... i am missing the entire idea of what it does.



Skipping ahead, A(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3) is a self adjoint linear map.

Therefore, A=A*

Thus,

A*(x1, x2, x3) = (x1 − x2,−x1 + x2, x3)

So wouldn't

[-5 -10 -4]
[4 8 3]
[1 2 0]

be the matrix representation of A* with respect to the fi basis? common sense tells me it does.
 

FAQ: Matrix Representation of a Linear Map

1. What is a linear map?

A linear map is a function that preserves the structure of vector spaces. This means that it takes in vectors as inputs and outputs vectors that are still within the same vector space. In simpler terms, a linear map is a function that can be represented by a straight line on a graph.

2. What is the matrix representation of a linear map?

The matrix representation of a linear map is a way of representing a linear map using a matrix. This involves using a matrix to represent the inputs and outputs of the linear map, and using matrix multiplication to perform the linear transformation.

3. How do you find the matrix representation of a linear map?

To find the matrix representation of a linear map, you need to first choose a basis for the vector space. Then, you can use the basis vectors as inputs for the linear map and record the corresponding outputs. These outputs can then be arranged into a matrix, which represents the linear map.

4. What is the significance of the matrix representation of a linear map?

The matrix representation of a linear map is significant because it allows us to perform calculations and transformations on the linear map more easily. It also helps us to visualize and understand the behavior of the linear map by looking at the properties of the matrix.

5. Can every linear map be represented by a matrix?

Not every linear map can be represented by a matrix. This is because a linear map can only be represented by a matrix if it has a finite number of inputs and outputs. If a linear map has an infinite number of inputs and outputs, it cannot be represented by a matrix.

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
11
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Back
Top