## Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Exercise 3.3.7

Exercise 3.3.7. Given the two vectors $a_1 = (1, 0, 1)$ and $a_2 = (1, 1, -1)$ find the projection matrix $P$ that projects onto the subspace spanned by $a_1$ and $a_2$.

Answer: The subspace spanned by $a_1$ and $a_2$ is the column space $\mathcal{R}(A)$ where

$A = \begin{bmatrix} 1&1 \\ 0&1 \\ 1&-1 \end{bmatrix}$

The projection matrix onto the subspace is then $P = A(A^TA)^{-1}A^T$. We have

$A^TA = \begin{bmatrix} 1&0&1 \\ 1&1&-1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1&1 \\ 0&1 \\ 1&-1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 2&0 \\ 0&3 \end{bmatrix}$

Since $A^TA$ is a diagonal matrix we can compute its inverse by simply taking the reciprocals of the diagonal entries:

$(A^TA)^{-1} = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{2}&0 \\ 0&\frac{1}{3} \end{bmatrix}$

We then have

$P = A(A^TA)^{-1}A^T = \begin{bmatrix} 1&1 \\ 0&1 \\ 1&-1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{2}&0 \\ 0&\frac{1}{3} \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1&0&1 \\ 1&1&-1 \end{bmatrix}$

$= \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{2}&\frac{1}{3} \\ 0&\frac{1}{3} \\ \frac{1}{2}&-\frac{1}{3} \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1&0&1 \\ 1&1&-1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{5}{6}&\frac{1}{3}&\frac{1}{6} \\ \frac{1}{3}&\frac{1}{3}&-\frac{1}{3} \\ \frac{1}{6}&-\frac{1}{3}&\frac{5}{6} \end{bmatrix}$

NOTE: This continues a series of posts containing worked-out exercises from the (out of print) book Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Edition by Gilbert Strang.

If you find these posts useful I encourage you to also check out the more current Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Fourth Edition, Dr Strang’s introductory textbook Introduction to Linear Algebra, Fourth Edition and the accompanying free online course, and Dr Strang’s other books.

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