Math for economyMM1005

How to find your way

  1. 1Search for the word that confuses you — the box at the top searches the whole course.
  2. 2Look it up in Concepts. Every concept links to the section that explains it. Concepts →
  3. 3Read the Watch out and Common error boxes: they show the mistakes that are actually made.
  4. 4Still stuck? Bring the question to the exercise session or send an email.

Lecturer: Eric Ahlqvist, eric.ahlqvist@math.su.se · Put “MM1005” in the subject line.

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Lecture 12 Matrices, vectors, and the algebra of linear systems
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12 Problems

Matrices, vectors, and the algebra of linear systems

The problems follow the sections of the theory. Those that are checked at once get new numbers each time you press New variant: repeat them until the method runs by itself. Those with a solution are for paper. Write the whole solution before you open it, then compare line by line. Last come problems in the form of the exam, with points and a marking guide.

Typing an answer. Most answers are a number. A matrix is typed row by row, with commas between the entries and a semicolon between the rows: 1, 2; 3, 4 is the matrix with rows $(1,2)$ and $(3,4).$

●○○ Basic●●○ Intermediate●●● Challenge Checked instantlySolution included

Matrices and vectors

Read the theory: 1. Matrices and vectors →
Problem 1●○○ BasicSolution included

Let $\mathbf{B}=(b_{ij})_{3\times2}$ with $b_{ij}=i^{2}-3j.$

(a) Write out $\mathbf{B}.$

(b) Which of $b_{23}$ and $b_{32}$ exists? Give its value.

(c) Is $\mathbf{B}$ square? Does it have a main diagonal?

Hint

$3\times2$ means three rows and two columns. Row $i$ is obtained by letting $j$ run through $1$ and $2.$

Stuck? Read 1. Matrices and vectors →

Systems of linear equations

Read the theory: 2. Systems of linear equations →
Problem 4●●○ IntermediateSolution included

A bakery makes three kinds of bread. A batch of the first kind takes $4$ kg of flour, of the second $2$ kg and of the third $3$ kg; on a given day $34$ kg of flour is used up. A batch of the first kind takes $2$ hours of work and a batch of the third $1$ hour, while the second kind is made by a machine without work; $10$ hours of work are used. Let $x_{1},x_{2},x_{3}$ be the numbers of batches.

(a) Write down the system, its coefficient matrix $\mathbf{A}$ and its right-hand side $\mathbf{b}.$

(b) Is $(3,5,4)$ a solution? Is $(4,5,3)$?

(c) Find a solution with $x_{1}=1.$ What does this say about the number of solutions?

Hint

One equation per resource, one column per kind of bread. The second kind uses no work: what is its coefficient in the second equation?

Stuck? Read 2. Systems of linear equations →

Addition and scalar multiples

Read the theory: 3. Addition and scalar multiples →
Problem 6●○○ BasicSolution included

A chain has two outlets selling three commodities. Its sales in September and October, in hundreds of kronor, are $$ \begin{aligned} \mathbf{A}&=\begin{pmatrix} 120 & 80\\ 45 & 60\\ 200 & 150\end{pmatrix}\,,\\ \mathbf{B}&=\begin{pmatrix} 130 & 70\\ 50 & 66\\ 180 & 165\end{pmatrix}\,, \end{aligned} $$ with one row per commodity and one column per outlet.

(a) Compute $\mathbf{A}+\mathbf{B}$ and $\mathbf{B}-\mathbf{A},$ and say what each means.

(b) Where did sales fall from September to October?

(c) The chain expects November to be $10\%$ above October everywhere. Which matrix describes that, and what is its entry in row $3,$ column $2?$

Hint

Both matrices are $3\times2,$ so everything is entry by entry. A fall is a negative entry of the change.

Stuck? Read 3. Addition and scalar multiples →
Problem 7●●○ IntermediateSolution included

Let $$ \begin{aligned} \mathbf{A}&=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & -2\\ 0 & 4\end{pmatrix}\,,\\ \mathbf{B}&=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0\\ 2 & 2\end{pmatrix}\,. \end{aligned} $$ Find the matrix $\mathbf{X}$ with $2\mathbf{X}+\mathbf{A}=3\mathbf{B},$ and say which rule of Fact 12.10 each step uses. Check your answer.

Hint

Treat it as $2x+a=3b$ for numbers: add $-\mathbf{A}$ to both sides, then multiply by $\tfrac12.$ Every step can be done entry by entry.

Stuck? Read 3. Addition and scalar multiples →

Vectors and the inner product

Read the theory: 4. Vectors and the inner product →
Problem 10●●○ IntermediateSolution included

A firm sells $\mathbf{x}=(40,25,10)$ units of three goods at the prices $\mathbf{p}=(12,20,35)$ kronor per unit. The goods cost it $\mathbf{c}=(7,12,30)$ kronor per unit to make.

(a) Compute the revenue $\mathbf{p}\cdot\mathbf{x}$ and the cost $\mathbf{c}\cdot\mathbf{x}.$

(b) Compute $(\mathbf{p}-\mathbf{c})\cdot\mathbf{x}$ and explain, with Fact 12.16, why it is the profit.

(c) All prices rise by $5\%.$ What is the new revenue? Answer without computing a new inner product.

Hint

Multiply in pairs and add. For (b), write $\mathbf{p}-\mathbf{c}$ as $\mathbf{p}+(-1)\mathbf{c}$ and use rules (a)–(c).

Stuck? Read 4. Vectors and the inner product →

Matrix multiplication

Read the theory: 5. Matrix multiplication →
Problem 18●●○ IntermediateSolution included

Let $$ \begin{aligned} \mathbf{A}&=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2\\ 0 & 3\end{pmatrix}\,,\\ \mathbf{B}&=\begin{pmatrix} 2 & -1\\ 1 & 1\end{pmatrix}\,. \end{aligned} $$

(a) Compute $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}$ and $\mathbf{B}\mathbf{A}.$

(b) Which sentence of Watch out 12.18 does the result illustrate?

Hint

Both are $2\times2,$ so both products exist and are $2\times2.$ For $\mathbf{B}\mathbf{A}$ the rows come from $\mathbf{B}.$

Stuck? Read 5. Matrix multiplication →
Problem 19●●● ChallengeSolution included

Three quantities $y_{1},y_{2},y_{3}$ depend on $x_{1},x_{2},$ and two quantities $z_{1},z_{2}$ on the $y$'s: $$ \begin{aligned} y_{1}&=x_{1}+2x_{2}\,,\\ y_{2}&=3x_{1}-x_{2}\,,\\ y_{3}&=-x_{1}+x_{2}\,, \end{aligned} $$ $$ \begin{aligned} z_{1}&=2y_{1}-y_{2}+y_{3}\,,\\ z_{2}&=y_{1}+4y_{3}\,. \end{aligned} $$

(a) Substitute, and write $z_{1}$ and $z_{2}$ in terms of $x_{1}$ and $x_{2}.$

(b) Let $\mathbf{B}$ be the coefficient matrix of the $y$'s in terms of the $x$'s and $\mathbf{A}$ that of the $z$'s in terms of the $y$'s. Compute $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}$ and compare with (a).

(c) For $x_{1}=1,$ $x_{2}=2$ compute the $y$'s and then the $z$'s, and check the result with $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}.$

Hint

In (b), $\mathbf{B}$ is $3\times2$ and $\mathbf{A}$ is $2\times3.$ Do not forget the zero in $\mathbf{A}{:}$ $y_{2}$ does not occur in $z_{2}.$

Stuck? Read 5. Matrix multiplication →

A system is one equation

Read the theory: 6. A system is one equation →

Mixed, as on the exam

Problem 21●●● ChallengeSolution included

Two outlets sell three goods. The quantities sold in a week are $$ \mathbf{Q}=\begin{pmatrix} 10 & 4\\ 6 & 8\\ 2 & 5\end{pmatrix}\,, $$ one row per good and one column per outlet, and the price list is the row vector $\mathbf{p}=(3,5,10),$ in euros per unit.

(a) Which of $\mathbf{p}\mathbf{Q}$ and $\mathbf{Q}\mathbf{p}$ exists? Give its order.

(b) Compute it, and say what each entry means.

(c) A second price list is $(4,4,9).$ Put the two lists as the rows of a $2\times3$ matrix $\mathbf{P}$ and compute $\mathbf{P}\mathbf{Q}.$ What does its entry in row $2,$ column $1$ mean?

Hint

A row vector with three components is a $1\times3$ matrix. Shape first: write the orders side by side.

Stuck? Read 5. Matrix multiplication →

As on the exam

3 problems · 14 p

Problems in exam form, with points. Solve them on paper or in the box. Then open the solution one step at a time and mark yourself against the rubric.

Exam problem 14 pComputeModel: 2021-09-28 Q6, the first part; practice exam 1 Q7 (a), the first part

A system in matrix form, checked by a product

Consider the linear system $$ \left\{ \begin{aligned} 2x-y+3z&=14\\ y-4x&=-9\\ x+5z&=17 \end{aligned} \right. $$

  1. (a)

    Write the system in matrix form $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{v}=\mathbf{b},$ where $\mathbf{A}$ is a $3\times3$ matrix and $\mathbf{v},$ $\mathbf{b}$ are $3\times1$ matrices.

    2 p
  2. (b)

    Decide, by matrix multiplication, which of $$ \mathbf{v}_{1}=\begin{pmatrix} 2\\ -1\\ 3\end{pmatrix}\,,\quad \mathbf{v}_{2}=\begin{pmatrix} 3\\ -1\\ 2\end{pmatrix} $$ is a solution of the system.

    2 p

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Exam problem 25 pComputeModel: 2023-10-31 Q6 — the right-hand side and the order of N; 2024-10-01 Q7 — the right-hand side and the order of N

Which products exist, and a matrix expression

Let $$ \begin{aligned} \mathbf{A}&=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & -2\\ 3 & 1 & 4\end{pmatrix}\,,\\ \mathbf{B}&=\begin{pmatrix} 2 & -1\\ 0 & 3\\ 1 & 1\end{pmatrix}\,,\\ \mathbf{D}&=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2\\ -1 & 0\end{pmatrix}\,. \end{aligned} $$

  1. (a)

    Which of $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B},$ $\mathbf{B}\mathbf{A}$ and $\mathbf{A}+\mathbf{B}$ are defined? Give the order of each one that is.

    2 p
  2. (b)

    Compute $\mathbf{C}=\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}-2\mathbf{D}.$

    2 p
  3. (c)

    Suppose $\mathbf{N}$ is a matrix with $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{N}=\mathbf{C}.$ What order must $\mathbf{N}$ have?

    1 p

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Exam problem 35 pDecideModel: 2021-11-10 Q6 — in two unknowns

Two lines with a parameter

For a real number $a,$ consider the linear system $$ \left\{ \begin{aligned} 2x+ay&=4\\ ax+8y&=8 \end{aligned} \right. $$

  1. (a)

    Write the system in matrix form $\mathbf{A}\mathbf{v}=\mathbf{b}.$

    1 p
  2. (b)

    For which values of $a$ does the system have exactly one solution? Find that solution.

    2 p
  3. (c)

    For each of the remaining values of $a,$ decide whether the system has no solution or infinitely many. When there are infinitely many, give all of them.

    2 p

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