Scribd
Upload
150 views10 pages

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

The document defines linear independence and dependence of vectors and sets of vectors. It provides examples of linearly independent and dependent sets of vectors in vector spaces R3 and P3(x). A basis is defined as a linearly independent set of vectors that spans the entire vector space. The dimension of a vector space is defined as the number of vectors in any of its bases. Properties of dimension such as equal dimension for any two bases of a finite dimensional space are discussed. A theorem relating the dimensions of subspaces and their sum and intersection is also presented.

Uploaded by

ADLURI SRIKAR
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
150 views10 pages

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

The document defines linear independence and dependence of vectors and sets of vectors. It provides examples of linearly independent and dependent sets of vectors in vector spaces R3 and P3(x). A basis is defined as a linearly independent set of vectors that spans the entire vector space. The dimension of a vector space is defined as the number of vectors in any of its bases. Properties of dimension such as equal dimension for any two bases of a finite dimensional space are discussed. A theorem relating the dimensions of subspaces and their sum and intersection is also presented.

Uploaded by

ADLURI SRIKAR
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

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).

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


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.

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


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.

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


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 ).

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


(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.

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


(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.

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


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 )

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


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 .

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


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.

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

You might also like