Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017/prelims/mathematics-i/2/a/iii/solution

If is outside the image of a linear map , there is no solution. Otherwise choose with . By ii, a zero kernel gives a unique solution. If the kernel contains a nonzero vector , all
are solutions. They are distinct, since forces . Hence there are infinitely many. These alternatives exhaust all possibilities.

New to topics? Read the docs here!