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1997 Paper 3 Q8
D: 1700.0 B: 1484.0

Let \(R_{\alpha}\) be the \(2\times2\) matrix that represents a rotation through the angle \(\alpha\) and let $$A=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\b&c\end{pmatrix}.$$

  1. Find in terms of \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) an angle \(\alpha\) such that \(R_{-\alpha}AR_{\alpha}\) is a diagonal matrix (i.e. has the value zero in top-right and bottom-left positions).
  2. Find values of \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) such that the equation of the ellipse \[x^2+(y+2x\cot2\theta)^2=1\qquad(0 < \theta < \tfrac{1}{4}\pi)\] can be expressed in the form \[\begin{pmatrix}x&y\end{pmatrix}A\begin{pmatrix}x\\y\end{pmatrix}=1.\] Show that, for this \(A\), \(R_{-\alpha}AR_{\alpha}\) is diagonal if \(\alpha=\theta\). Express the non--zero elements of this matrix in terms of \(\theta\).
  3. Deduce, or show otherwise, that the minimum and maximum distances from the centre to the circumference of this ellipse are \(\tan\theta\) and \(\cot\theta\).


Solution: \begin{questionparts} \item \begin{align*} R_{-\alpha}AR_{\alpha} &= \begin{pmatrix} \cos \alpha & \sin\alpha \\ -\sin \alpha & \cos \alpha \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ b & c \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} \cos \alpha & -\sin\alpha \\ \sin \alpha & \cos \alpha \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix} \cos \alpha & \sin\alpha \\ -\sin \alpha & \cos \alpha \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} a\cos \alpha + b \sin \alpha & -a\sin\alpha + b \cos\alpha \\ b\cos\alpha + c \sin\alpha & c\cos\alpha-b\sin\alpha \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix} a\cos^2\alpha+2b\sin\alpha\cos\alpha+c\sin^2\alpha & -a\sin\alpha\cos \alpha+b\cos^2\alpha +c\sin\alpha\cos\alpha-b\sin^2 \alpha\\ (c-a)\sin\alpha\cos \alpha +b(\cos^2\alpha-\sin^2 \alpha) & a\sin^2 \alpha -2b\sin\alpha\cos\alpha+c\cos^2\alpha \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix} * & \frac{c-a}{2}\sin2\alpha+b \cos 2\alpha\\\frac{c-a}{2}\sin2\alpha+b \cos 2\alpha & * \end{pmatrix} \end{align*} Therefore this will be diagonal if \(\tan 2\alpha = \frac{2b}{a-c} \Rightarrow \alpha = \frac12 \tan^{-1} \l \frac{2b}{a-c} \r\) \item \begin{align*} x^2+(y+2x\cot2\theta)^2 &= x^2(1 + 4\cot^22\theta) + 4\cot2\theta xy + y^2 \\ &= \begin{pmatrix}x&y\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 1 + 4\cot^22\theta & 2\cot 2\theta \\ 2\cot 2\theta & 1 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}x\\y\end{pmatrix} \end{align*} Plugging this \(\mathbf{A}\) in our result from before we discover \begin{align*} \frac12 \tan^{-1} \l \frac{2b}{a-c} \r &= \frac12 \tan^{-1} \l \frac{4\cot 2\theta}{1 + 4\cot^22\theta-1} \r \\ &= \frac12 \tan^{-1} \l \tan 2 \theta \r \\ &= \theta \end{align*} Therefore, the matrix will be: \begin{align*} & \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} (1+4\cot^2 2\theta)\cos^2 \theta + 4\cot2\theta \sin\theta\cos\theta + \sin^2 \theta \\ (1+4\cot^2 2\theta)\sin^2 \theta - 4\cot2\theta \sin\theta\cos\theta + \cos^2 \theta \end{pmatrix} \\ =& \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} \cos^2\theta + \frac{\cos^2 2\theta}{\sin^2 \theta} + 2\cos 2\theta + \sin^2 \theta \\ \sin^2\theta + \frac{\cos^2 2\theta}{\cos^2 \theta} - 2\cos 2\theta + \cos^2 \theta \end{pmatrix} \\ =& \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} 1 + \cos 2\theta \l \frac{\cos2\theta}{\sin^2 \theta} + 2\r \\ 1 + \cos 2\theta \l \frac{\cos2\theta}{\cos^2 \theta} - 2\r \\ \end{pmatrix} \\ =& \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} 1 + \cos 2\theta \l \frac{\cos^2 \theta + \sin^2 \theta}{\sin^2 \theta}\r \\ 1 -\cos 2\theta \l \frac{-\cos^2 \theta - \sin^2 \theta}{\cos^2 \theta}\r \\ \end{pmatrix} \\ =& \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} 1 + (\cos^2\theta - \sin^2 \theta) \cosec^2 \theta \\ 1 - (\cos^2\theta - \sin^2 \theta) \sec^2 \theta \\ \end{pmatrix} \\ =& \textrm{diag}\begin{pmatrix} \cot^2 \theta \\ \tan^2 \theta \\ \end{pmatrix} \\ \end{align*} Therefore this is a rotation of an ellipse with equation: \((\cot \theta x)^2 + (\tan \theta y)^2 = 1\), ie the shortest side and longest side are \(\cot \theta\) and \(\tan \theta\) respectively, but we know since \(0 < \theta < \tfrac{1}{4}\pi\) the shortest will be \(\tan \theta\) and the longest \(\cot \theta\).

1996 Paper 3 Q6
D: 1674.0 B: 1529.9

  1. Let \(S\) be the set of matrices of the form \[ \begin{pmatrix}a & a\\ a & a \end{pmatrix}, \] where \(a\) is any real non-zero number. Show that \(S\) is closed under matrix multiplication and, further, that \(S\) is a group under matrix multiplication.
  2. Let \(G\) be a set of \(n\times n\) matrices which is a group under matrix multiplication, with identity element \(\mathbf{E}.\) By considering equations of the form \(\mathbf{BC=D}\) for suitable elements \(\mathbf{B},\) \(\mathbf{C}\) and \(\mathbf{D}\) of \(G\), show that if a given element \(\mathbf{A}\) of \(G\) is a singular matrix (i.e. \(\det\mathbf{A}=0\)), then all elements of \(G\) are singular. Give, with justification, an example of such a group of singular matrices in the case \(n=3.\)


Solution:

  1. Let $\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 1\\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\(, then we need to show that \)(a\mathbf{A})(b\mathbf{A})\( is of the form \)cA\( where \)a, b, c \neq 0$. Since $\mathbf{A}^2 = \begin{pmatrix}2 & 2\\ 2 & 2 \end{pmatrix} = 2\mathbf{A}\( this is certainly the case, since \)(a\mathbf{A})(b\mathbf{A}) = 2ab\mathbf{A}$. To check that we have a group be need to check:
    • Closure (done)
    • Associativity (inherited from matrix multiplication)
    • Identity (\(\frac12 \mathbf{A}\))
    • Inverses the inverse of \(a\mathbf{A}\) is \(\frac{1}{4a}\mathbf{A}\)
  2. Suppose \(\mathbf{A}\) is singular (ie \(\det\mathbf{A}=0\)), then \(\mathbf{AA^{-1}B=B}\) (where inverse is the group inverse rather than the matrix inverse) for any matrix \(\mathbf{B}\). Taking determinants we have: \(\det(\mathbf{AA^{-1}B}) = \det(B) \Rightarrow \det(A) \det(A^{-1}B) = \det(B) \Rightarrow 0 = \det(B)\), ie all matrices are singular. Consider the set of non-zero multiples of \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\), then the same logic as part (i) will suffice

1994 Paper 3 Q8
D: 1700.0 B: 1516.0

Let \(a,b,c,d,p,q,r\) and \(s\) be real numbers. By considering the determinant of the matrix product \[ \begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix}, \] where \(z_{1},z_{2},z_{3}\) and \(z_{4}\) are suitably chosen complex numbers, find expressions \(L_{1},L_{2},L_{3}\) and \(L_{4},\) each of which is linear in \(a,b,c\) and \(d\) and also linear in \(p,q,r\) and \(s,\) such that \[ (a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}+d^{2})(p^{2}+q^{2}+r^{2}+s^{2})=L_{1}^{2}+L_{2}^{2}+L_{3}^{2}+L_{4}^{2}. \]


Solution: Supppose \(z_1 = a+ib, z_2 = c+id, z_3 = p+iq, z_4 = r+is\) then: \begin{align*} && \det \left (\begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix} \right) &= \det \begin{pmatrix}z_{1} & z_{2}\\ -z_{2}^{*} & z_{1}^{*} \end{pmatrix}\det\begin{pmatrix}z_{3} & z_{4}\\ -z_{4}^{*} & z_{3}^{*} \end{pmatrix} \\ && \det \begin{pmatrix}z_{1}z_3-z_2z_4^* & z_1z_4+z_2z_3^*\\ -z_2^*z_3-z_1^*z_4*& -z_2^*z_4+z_{1}^*z_3^* \end{pmatrix}&= (z_1z_1^*+z_2z_2^*)(z_3z_3^*+z_4z_4^*) \\ && |z_{1}z_3-z_2z_4^*|^2+|z_1z_4+z_2z_3^*|^2&= (a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)(p^2+q^2+r^2+s^2) \\ && L_1^2 + L_2^2+L_3^2+L_4^2 &= \ldots \end{align*}

1993 Paper 2 Q6
D: 1600.0 B: 1516.0

In this question, \(\mathbf{A,\mathbf{B\) }}and \(\mathbf{X\) are non-zero \(2\times2\) real matrices.} Are the following assertions true or false? You must provide a proof or a counterexample in each case.

  1. If \(\mathbf{AB=0}\) then \(\mathbf{BA=0}.\)
  2. \((\mathbf{A-B)(A+B)=}\mathbf{A}^{2}-\mathbf{B}^{2}.\)
  3. The equation \(\mathbf{AX=0}\) has a non-zero solution \(\mathbf{X}\) if and only if \(\det\mathbf{A}=0.\)
  4. For any \(\mathbf{A}\) and \(\mathbf{B}\) there are at most two matrices \(\mathbf{X}\) such that \(\mathbf{X}^{2}+\mathbf{AX}+\mathbf{B}=\mathbf{0}.\)


Solution:

  1. This is false, for example let \(\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\) and \(\mathbf{B} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}\), then \begin{align*} \mathbf{AB} &= \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix} \\ \mathbf{BA} &= \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix}0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix} \\ \end{align*}
  2. This is also false, using the same matrices from part (i), we find: \begin{align*} (\mathbf{A - B})(\mathbf{A + B}) &= \mathbf{A}^2-\mathbf{BA}+\mathbf{AB}-\mathbf{B}^2 \\ &= \mathbf{A}^2-\mathbf{B}^2+\begin{pmatrix}0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix} \\ &\neq \mathbf{A}^2-\mathbf{B}^2 \end{align*}
  3. This is true. Claim: The equation \(\mathbf{AX=0}\) has a non-zero solution \(\mathbf{X}\) if and only if \(\det\mathbf{A}=0.\) Proof: \((\Rightarrow)\) Suppose \(\det\mathbf{A} \neq 0\) then \(\mathbf{A}\) has an inverse, and so we must have \(\mathbf{A}^{-1}\mathbf{AX} = \mathbf{0} \Rightarrow \mathbf{X} = \mathbf{0}\). \((\Leftarrow)\) Suppose \(\det \mathbf{A} = 0\) then \(ad-bc=0\), so consider the matrix \(\mathbf{X} = \begin{pmatrix} d & d\\ -c & -c\end{pmatrix}\) (or if this is zero, \(\mathbf{X} = \begin{pmatrix} a & a\\ -b & -b\end{pmatrix}\))
  4. This is false. Consider \(\mathbf{A} = \mathbf{B} = \mathbf{0}\), then \(\mathbf{X} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & x \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix}\) has the property that \(\mathbf{X}^2 = \mathbf{0}\) for all \(x\), so at least more than 2 values

1993 Paper 2 Q10
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

Verify that if \[ \mathbf{P}=\begin{pmatrix}1 & 2\\ 2 & -1 \end{pmatrix}\qquad\mbox{ and }\qquad\mathbf{A}=\begin{pmatrix}-1 & 8\\ 8 & 11 \end{pmatrix} \] then \(\mathbf{PAP}\) is a diagonal matrix. Put $\mathbf{x}=\begin{pmatrix}x\\ y \end{pmatrix}\( and \)\mathbf{x}_{1}=\begin{pmatrix}x_{1}\\ y_{1} \end{pmatrix}.$ By writing \[ \mathbf{x}=\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a} \] for a suitable vector \(\mathbf{a},\) show that the equation \[ \mathbf{x}^{\mathrm{T}}\mathbf{Ax}+\mathbf{b}^{\mathrm{T}}\mathbf{x}-11=0, \] where $\mathbf{b}=\begin{pmatrix}18\\ 6 \end{pmatrix}\( and \) \mathbf{x}^{\mathrm{T}} \( is the transpose of \)\mathbf{x},$ becomes \[ 3x_{1}^{2}-y_{1}^{2}=c \] for some constant \(c\) (which you should find).


Solution: \begin{align*} \mathbf{PAP} &= \begin{pmatrix}1 & 2\\ 2 & -1 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}-1 & 8\\ 8 & 11 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}1 & 2\\ 2 & -1 \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix}1 & 2\\ 2 & -1 \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}15 & -10\\ 30 & 5 \end{pmatrix} \\ &= \begin{pmatrix}75 & 0\\ 0 & -25 \end{pmatrix} \end{align*} Which is diagonal as required. Letting \(\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}\) \begin{align*} && \mathbf{x}^{\mathrm{T}}\mathbf{Ax}+\mathbf{b}^{\mathrm{T}}\mathbf{x}-11&=0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && (\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a})^T\mathbf{A}(\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}) + \mathbf{b}^T(\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}) - 11 &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && \mathbf{x}_{1}^T\mathbf{PAP}\mathbf{x}_1 + \mathbf{x}_{1}^T\mathbf{PAa} + \mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{AP}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{Aa} + \mathbf{b}^T(\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}) - 11 &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && \mathbf{x}_{1}^T\mathbf{PAP}\mathbf{x}_1 +(2\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{A}+\mathbf{b}^T)\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{Aa} + \mathbf{b}^T\mathbf{a} - 11 &= 0 \\ \end{align*} It would be nice if we picked \(\mathbf{a}\) such that \(2\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{A}+\mathbf{b}^T = 0\), if \(\mathbf{a} = \begin{pmatrix} a_1 \\a_2 \end{pmatrix}\) then this equation becomes: \begin{align*} && 2\begin{pmatrix}-a_1 + 8a_2 & 8a_1+11a_2 \end{pmatrix} + \begin{pmatrix}18 & 6 \end{pmatrix} &= 0 \\ \Rightarrow && a_1 = 1, a_2 = -1 \end{align*} So our equation is now \begin{align*} && \mathbf{x}_{1}^T\mathbf{PAP}\mathbf{x}_1 +(2\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{A}+\mathbf{b}^T)\mathbf{P}\mathbf{x}_{1}+\mathbf{a}^T\mathbf{Aa} + \mathbf{b}^T\mathbf{a} - 11 &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && \mathbf{x}_{1}^T\mathbf{PAP}\mathbf{x}_1-6 +12 - 11 &= 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && 25(3x_1^2 - y_1^2) &= 5 \\ \Leftrightarrow && 3x_1^2 - y_1^2 &= \frac{1}{5} \end{align*}