Solution SS.C50 Robert Beezer
(1) Theorem SSNS provides formulas for a set $S$ with this property, but first we must row-reduce $A$ \begin{equation*} A\rref \begin{bmatrix} \leading{1} & 0 & -1 & -1 \\ 0 & \leading{1} & 1 & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \end{equation*} $x_3$ and $x_4$ would be the free variables in the homogeneous system $\homosystem{A}$ and Theorem SSNS provides the set $S=\set{\vect{z}_1,\,\vect{z}_2}$ where \begin{align*} \vect{z}_1 &= \colvector{1\\-1\\1\\0} & \vect{z}_2 &= \colvector{1\\-2\\0\\1} \end{align*} (2) Simply employ the components of the vector $\vect{z}$ as the variables in the homogeneous system $\homosystem{A}$. The three equations of this system evaluate as follows, \begin{align*} 2(3) + 3(-5)+ 1(1) + 4(2)&=0 \\ 1(3) + 2(-5)+ 1(1) + 3(2)&= 0\\ -1(3) + 0(-5)+ 1(1) + 1(2)&=0 \end{align*} Since each result is zero, $\vect{z}$ qualifies for membership in $\nsp{A}$.

(3) By Theorem SSNS we know this must be possible (that is the moral of this exercise). Find scalars $\alpha_1$ and $\alpha_2$ so that \begin{equation*} \alpha_1\vect{z}_1+\alpha_2\vect{z}_2 = \alpha_1\colvector{1\\-1\\1\\0}+\alpha_2\colvector{1\\-2\\0\\1} = \colvector{3 \\ -5 \\ 1 \\ 2} = \vect{z} \end{equation*} Theorem SLSLC allows us to convert this question into a question about a system of four equations in two variables. The augmented matrix of this system row-reduces to \begin{equation*} \begin{bmatrix} \leading{1} & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & \leading{1} & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \end{equation*} A solution is $\alpha_1=1$ and $\alpha_2=2$. (Notice too that this solution is unique!)