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Exercise 108Linear algebra › Linear mapsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Computing a kernel

#kernel#linear map#basis

Statement

Let f:R3→R3f:\mathbb{R}^3\to\mathbb{R}^3 be defined by f(x,y,z)=(x+y, y+z, x+2y+z)f(x,y,z)=(x+y,\ y+z,\ x+2y+z). Compute ker⁡f\ker f.

Hint

Solve f(x,y,z)=(0,0,0)f(x,y,z)=(0,0,0).

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Solution

System.
x+y=0,y+z=0,x+2y+z=0.x+y=0, \qquad y+z=0, \qquad x+2y+z=0.
From the first equation, x=−yx=-y; from the second, z=−yz=-y. The third equation then reads −y+2y−y=0-y+2y-y=0, which is automatically satisfied (it is the sum of the first two).

Kernel.
ker⁡f={(−y, y, −y): y∈R}=span⁡((−1,1,−1)).\ker f=\{(-y,\ y,\ -y):\ y\in\mathbb{R}\}=\operatorname{span}\big((-1,1,-1)\big).

Check. f(−1,1,−1)=(0, 0, −1+2−1)=(0,0,0)f(-1,1,-1)=(0,\,0,\,-1+2-1)=(0,0,0).

Conclusion. ker⁡f\ker f is the line spanned by (−1,1,−1)(-1,1,-1). In particular ff is not injective.