MAT301 ASSIGNMENT 1 SOLUTIONS

DUE DATE: TUESDAY MAY 22, 2018, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TUTORIAL

Remark: 5 of the following questions will be marked, but you must do all of them. Each question that
is marked is out of 5 for a total of 25 marks.
Do the following questions from your book: 2.5, 2.11, 2.21, 2.22, 2.28, 2.35(a) and (c), 2.36, 2.40(b), 2.41.
Question 2.5 Solution. G is a group. Given A, B ∈ G, notice that tr(A + B) = tr(A) + tr(B) = 0 + 0 = 0, so
A + B ∈ G. That is, our operation is binary. Moreover, matrix addition is associative (linear algebra). The identity
element is
 
0 0
e= ∈ G.
0 0
   
a b −a −b
Given ∈ G, we have a + d = 0. It follows that −a − d = 0, that is, ∈ G. Since
c d −c −d
   
a b −a −b
+ = e, .
c d −c −d
 −1  
a b −a −b
we have = , showing that G is a group.
c d −c −d
∞
\
Question 2.22 Solution. Since each e ∈ Hi for each i ∈ N, e ∈ Hi , which implies that the intersection is non-
i=1
∞
\
empty. Moreover, given a, b ∈ Hi , a, b ∈ Hi for each i ∈ N, and thus ab−1 ∈ Hi for each i ∈ N, which implies that
i=1
∞
\
ab−1 ∈ Hi , completing the proof.
i=1

Question 2.28(a) Solution. Notice that e ∈ H (as en = e), and this show that H is non-empty. Given a, b ∈ H, we
have an = e = bn . Since G is Abelian, (ab)n = an bn = ee = e, and thus ab ∈ H. Moreover, an = e ⇒ (a−1 )n = a−n =
(an )−1 = e−1 = e ⇒ a−1 ∈ H. Hence, H  G.
Question 2.35(a) Solution. Suppose
 
a b
∈ Z(GL(2, R)).
c d
Then
         
a b 0 1 0 1 a b b a c d
= ⇒ = ⇒ a = d and b = c.
c d 1 0 1 0 c d d c a b
Moreover,
         
a b 1 −1 1 −1 a b a+b −a a−c b−d
= ⇒ = ⇒ a = c + d, −a = b − d and b = −c.
c d 1 0 1 0 c d c+d −c a b
Since −c = b = c, we get b = c = 0. Thus, a = d. That is,
   
a b a 0
= such that a2 6= 0 (equivalently a 6= 0).
c d 0 a
  
a 0
This proves that Z(GL(2, R)) ⊆ : a 6= 0 . For the reverse inclusion, notice that
0 a
       
a 0 x y ax ay x y a 0
= = .
0 a w z aw az w z 0 a
1
2 MAT301 ASSIGNMENT 1 SOLUTIONS DUE DATE: TUESDAY MAY 22, 2018, AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TUTORIAL

  
a 0
Hence, : a 6= 0 = Z(GL(2, R).
0 a
p
Question 2.40(b) Solution. Suppose H 6= {0}. Then, there exists a non-zero fraction a ∈ H, say a = q where
p, q ∈ Z with both p and q non-zero. Since
 q
p
p= = aq ∈ H,
q
1
we have p ∈ H. This in turn gives
 p
1
1= ∈ H.
p
1
Closure in H now implies Z ⊆ Q. By property stated for H, we get n ∈ H for all n ∈ Z − {0}.
Notice that H ⊆ Q (as H is a subgroup of Q). It suffices to show that Q ⊆ H. Given x ∈ Q, if x = 0, then x ∈ H
(as H is a subgroup of Q and 0 is the identity element which is in every subgroup of Q). If x 6= 0, then x = cb where
b ∈ N and c ∈ Z − {0}. By the previous paragraph, 1c ∈ H. Hence,
 b
b 1
x= = ∈ H,
c c
completing the proof.