Math 1300: Tips for Distance Assignment 2 (classroom sections should take a look, too)

Published: Mon, 02/27/17

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Did you read my tips on how to study and learn this course?  If not, here is a link to those important suggestions:
Did you miss my Tips for Assignment 1? Click here.
The department posted SOLUTIONS for Assignment 1 (these are not my solutions). Click here.
Tips for Assignment 2
Here is a link to the actual assignment, in case you don't have it:
Study Lesson 3 (Matrix Math), Lesson 4 (The Inverse of a Matrix and Applications), Lesson 5 (Elementary Matrices), and Lesson 6 (Determinants and Their Properties) from my Linear Algebra & Vector Geometry book to prepare for this assignment.

Of course, always seek out assistance from my book, your course notes, etc. if you ever hit a question you don't understand, but try not to be learning things as you do an assignment.  Learn first, then put your learning to the test.
Question 1
This is just classic matrix math stuff as taught in Lesson 3 of my book.
Question 2
Part (a)
Classic inverse matrix stuff as taught in Lesson 4 of my book.  Note that you can verify that your answer is correct by confirming that the product of M and M-inverse is the Identity matrix.  As always, make sure that you are clearly listing the elementary row operations you are using to reduce matrix M as you will need them in parts (b) and (d).

Part (b)
This is just classic elementary matrix stuff as taught in Lesson 5 of my book.  Question 5 is especially similar.

Part (c)
Standard determinant problem similar to my Lesson 6, #1.

Part (d)
This is using the method I teach in Lesson 6, #6.  You, of course, should get the same answer as you got in part (c).
Question 3
This is a rather straightforward version of my Lesson 2, #6-8.  I recommend you first row-reduce the system down to the last row with a still in the augmented matrix.  Then, you can consider what the suggested values of a do, as I discuss in my Three Cases method in Lesson 2, #6-8.  But, you could also replace a with the given values and consider each resulting system of equations.