Mathematical Immaturity

2.4 Exercises

In each of Exercises 1 through 10, a transformation $T: V_2 \rightarrow V_2$ is defined by the formula given for $T(x, y),$ where $(x, y)$ is an arbitrary point in $V_2$. In each case determine whether $T$ is linear. If $T$ is linear, describe its null space and range, and compute its nullity and rank.

1. $\quad$ $T(x, y) = (y, x).$

Solution. $\quad$ Recall from Section 2.1 that if $V$ and $W$ are linear spaces, then a function $T: V \to W$ is called a linear transformation from $V$ into $W$ if it has the following two properties:

$\quad$ (a) $\quad T(x + y) = T(x) + T(y) \quad$ for all $x$ and $y$ in $V,$
$\quad$ (b) $\quad T(cx) = cT(x) \quad$ for all $x$ in $V$ and all scalars $c.$

Let $x = (x_0, x_1),$ $y = (y_0, y_1)$ be elements of $V_2,$ and let $c$ be any scalar. Then, $T(x) = (x_1, x_0)$ and $T(y) = (y_1, y_0).$ With $x$ and $y$ being elements of $V_2,$ we have component-wise addition and scalar multiplication of elements, giving us: \begin{align*} T(x + y) &= T(x_0 + y_0, x_1 + y_1) \\ &= (x_1 + y_1, x_0 + y_0) \\ &= (x_1, x_0) + (y_1, y_0) \\ &= T(x) + T(y) \\ \\ T(cx) &= T(cx_0, cx_1) \\ &= (cx_1, cx_0) \\ &= c(x_1, x_0) \\ &= cT(x) \end{align*} Thus, $T(x, y) = (y, x)$ is a linear transformation. Its null space is $\{O\}$ and its range is $V_2,$ with nullity $0$ and rank $2. \quad \blacksquare$