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math121a-f23:hw_2

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Homework 2

I will update the homework after each lectures. It is due next Wednesday (since we have Labor day Monday)

Vector Space Problems

1. Let $V \In \R^3$ be the points that $\{(x_1, x_2, x_3) \mid x_1 + x_2 + x_3=0\}$. Find a basis in $V$, and write the vector $(2,-1,-1)$ in that basis.

2. Let $V$ as above,. Let $W = \R^2$, let $V \to W$ be the map of forgetting coordinate $x_3$. Is this an isomorphism? What's the inverse?

3. Let $V$ as above, and let$W$ be the line generated by vector $(1,2,3)$. Let $f: V \to W$ be the orthogonal projection, sending $v$ to the closest point on $W$. Is this a linear map? How do you show it? What's the kernel? Let $g: W \to V$ be the orthogonal projection. Is it a linear map? What's the relationship between $f$ and $g$?

4. about quotient space. Let $V = \R^2$, and let $W$ be the linear subspace generated by vector $(1,2)$ (i.e. the line passing through origin and $(1,2)$). For $v \in V$, let $[v] = v+W\in V/W$ denote the equivalence class that $v$ belongs to, i.e., the (affine) line parallel to $W$ and passing through $v$. Draw some pictures to answer these questions.

  • Is it true that $[(0,0)] = [(1,2)]$?
  • Is it true that $[(1,1)] = [(0,1)]$?

5. another important notion is dual vector space. Given a vector space $V$, the dual vector space is $V^* = Hom(V, \R)$, the set of linear maps from $V$ to $\R$ (Hom is short for 'homomorphism', which means linear maps for vector spaces). For example, if $V = \R^2$, the linear functions $x$ and $y$ belong to $V^*$, we have $V^* = \{ax + by \mid a,b \in \R\}$. Here $x,y$ are basis for $V^*$.

Let $V$ be the vector space of polynomials with degree less or equal than 3. What's the dimension of $V$? What's the dimension of $V^*$? Can you find a basis for $V$? A basis for $V^*$?

Calculus

1. Here is claim $1+2+3+4+\cdots = -1/12$. Show that this is wrong.

Fun fact: There is an interesting function , called Riemann Zeta function $\zeta(s)$, which for $s > 1$ can be written as $\zeta(s) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty 1/n^s$. In fact $\zeta(s)$ is actually a meromorphic function of $s$, and $\zeta(-1) = -1/12$.

2. Does the following series converge? Explain why.

  • $\sum_{n=1}^\infty 1/n^2$.
  • $\sum_{n=1}^\infty 1/n!$
  • $\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^2/n!$

3. Let $a_n$ be a sequence of $\pm 1$. Show that $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n / 2^n$ is convergent.

(more coming on Friday night)

math121a-f23/hw_2.1693615134.txt.gz · Last modified: 2026/02/21 14:44 (external edit)