Linear Independence, Basis and Dimension: Dr. A V Prajeesh

Linear Independence, Basis and Dimension
Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 1/8

Definition. Let V be a vector space over F. A subset S of V is said to be linearly dependent
(or simply, dependent) if there exist distinct vectors α1 , α2 , . . . , αn in S and scalars
c1 , c2 , . . . , cn in F, not all of which are 0, such that
c1 α1 + c2 α2 + · · · + cn αn = 0
A set which is not linearly dependent is called linearly independent. If the set S contains only
finitely many vectors α1 , α2 , . . . , αn , we sometimes say that α1 , α2 , . . . , αn are dependent (or
independent) instead of saying S is dependent (or independent).

Example A: Consider the vectorspace R3 (R), with usual vector addition and scalar
multiplication. Here
(a) S1 = {(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), (0, 0, 1)} is linearly independent
(b) S2 = {(1, 1, 1), (−2, −2, −2), (1, 0, 0)} is linearly dependent
(c) S3 = {(0, 0, 0), (1, 2, 3), (−1, 2, 3)} is linearly dependent
(d) S4 = {(1, 1, 1), (1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 0)} is linearly independent
(e) S5 = {(1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 0)} is linearly independent
(f) S6 = {(1, 2, 3), (1, 2, −3), (1, 1, 1), (0, 1, 1)} is linearly dependent.

Example B: Consider the vectorspace P3 (x) over the field R.
(a) S1 = {1, x, x 2 , x 3 } is a linearly independent set.
(b) S2 = {1, x, x + x 2 , x + x 2 + 2x 3 } is a linearly independent set.
(c) S3 = {1 + x, x, x 2 + 2x 3 , −2 − 2x} is a linearly dependent set.

Example B: Consider the vectorspace P3 (x) over the field R.
(a) S1 = {1, x, x 2 , x 3 } is a linearly independent set.
(b) S2 = {1, x, x + x 2 , x + x 2 + 2x 3 } is a linearly independent set.
(c) S3 = {1 + x, x, x 2 + 2x 3 , −2 − 2x} is a linearly dependent set.
Basis of a Vectorspace: Let V be a vector space. A basis for V is a linearly independent set
of vectors in V which spans the space V . The space V is finite dimensional if it has a finite
basis.
• The number of elements in the basis is called the dimension of the vectorspace V and is
usually denoted by dim(V ).

(1) Consider the vectorspace C(R), one basis for this vectorspace is {1, i}. Thus dimension,
dim(C(R)) = 2.
(2) S1 in Example A and Example B are examples of standard basis of the corresponding
vectorspaces.
(3) S4 is a basis for R3 (R), thus dim(R3 (R)) = 3
(4) S2 is a basis for P3 (x). Thus dim(P3 (x)) = 4
(5) Basis for the vectorspace of all 3 by 3 symmetric matrices. Here the dimesion of this
vectorspace is 6.

(1) Consider the vectorspace C(R), one basis for this vectorspace is {1, i}. Thus dimension,
dim(C(R)) = 2.
(2) S1 in Example A and Example B are examples of standard basis of the corresponding
vectorspaces.
(3) S4 is a basis for R3 (R), thus dim(R3 (R)) = 3
(4) S2 is a basis for P3 (x). Thus dim(P3 (x)) = 4
(5) Basis for the vectorspace of all 3 by 3 symmetric matrices. Here the dimesion of this
vectorspace is 6.
• Any two basis for a finite dimensional vectorspace have same finite number of elements in it.

Theorem 1
Let W1 and W2 be two finite dimensional subspaces for a vectorspace V. Then,
dim(W1 ) + dim(W2 ) = dim(W1 ∩ W2 ) + dim(W1 + W2 )

Example: Let V be the vector space of all 2 × 2 matrices over the field F . Let W1 be the set
of matrices of the form  
x −x
 
y z
and let W2 be the set of matrices of the form
 
a b
 
−a c
(a) Prove that W1 and W2 are subspaces of V .

(b) Find the dimensions of W1 , W2 , W1 + W2 , and W1 ∩ W2 .

Assignment questions:
1. Show that the vectors α1 = (1, 0, −1), α2 = (1, 2, 1), α3 = (0, −3, 2) form a basis for
R 3 . Express each of the standard basis vectors as linear combinations of α1 , α2 , and α3 .
2. Let V be the set of all 2 × 2 matrices A with complex entries which satisfy A11 + A22 = 0
(a) Show that V is a vector space over the field of real numbers, with the usual operations of
matrix addition and multiplication of a matrix by a scalar.
(b) Find a basis for this vector space.
(c) Let W be the set of all matrices A in V such that A21 = −Ā12 (the bar denotes complex
conjugation). Prove that W is a subspace of V and find a basis for W .
3. Prove that the space of all m × n matrices over the field F has dimension mn, by exhibiting
a basis for this space.

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Linear Independence, Basis and Dimension

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 1/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 2/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 3/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 4/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 4/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 5/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 5/8

dim(W1 ) + dim(W2 ) = dim(W1 ∩ W2 ) + dim(W1 + W2 )

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 6/8

(a) Prove that W1 and W2 are subspaces of V .

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 7/8

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 6, 2021 8/8

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