4.

4 Basis and Dimension

Basis If V is a vector space and 𝑆 = {𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑛 } is a finite set of vectors in V,
then 𝑆 is called basis for V if the following two conditions hold:

(i) S is linearly independent

(ii) S spans V

Note: If 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑛 form basis for a vector space V, then they must be distinct and
non-zero.

Example 1: 𝑆 = {(1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1)} forms a basis for 𝑅3 because S spans 𝑅3

and S is linearly independent.

Example 2: Standard basis for 𝑅𝑛 are

𝑆 = {𝑒1 = (1,0,0, … ,0), 𝑒2 = (0,1,0, … ,0), … , 𝑒𝑛 = (0,0,0, … ,1)}

as they span 𝑅𝑛 and are also linearly independent.

Example 3: Show that the vectors 𝑣1 = (1,2,1), 𝑣2 = (2,9,0), 𝑣3 = (3,3,4) form

basis for 𝑅3 .

Solution: For it we must show that the vectors are linearly independent and span 𝑅3 .

Linearly independent:

𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3 = 0

𝑘1 (1,2,1) + 𝑘2 (2,9,0) + 𝑘3 (3,3,4) = (0,0,0)

(𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 3𝑘3, 2𝑘1 + 9𝑘2 + 3𝑘3 , 𝑘1 + 4𝑘3 ) = (0,0,0)

1 2 30
(2 9 3|0)
1 0 40
By using Gaussian elimination technique, we come up with

1 2 3 0
(0 1 −3/5 |0)
0 0 −3/5 0
Which implies that

𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 3𝑘3 = 0 (1)

3
𝑘2 − 𝑘3 = 0 (2)
5

3
− 𝑘3 = 0 (3)
5

Eq. (3) gives 𝑘3 = 0

Eq. (2) gives 𝑘2 = 0 by inserting value of 𝑘3 while Eq. (1) implies that 𝑘1 = 0

As all 𝑘 ′ 𝑠 are zero. Hence vectors are linearly independent.

Now, we prove that 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒏{𝒗𝟏 , 𝒗𝟐 , 𝒗𝟑 } = 𝑹𝟑

(𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐) = 𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3

(𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐) = 𝑘1 (1,2,1) + 𝑘2 (2,9,0) + 𝑘3 (3,3,4)

(𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐) = (𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 3𝑘3, 2𝑘1 + 9𝑘2 + 3𝑘3 , 𝑘1 + 4𝑘3 )

𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 3 = 𝑎

2𝑘1 + 9𝑘2 + 3𝑘3 = 𝑏 (A)

𝑘1 + 4𝑘3 = 𝑐
1 2 3𝑎
(2 9 3|𝑏)
1 0 4𝑐
Firs, we check that weather the inverse of the above system exists or not. For this,
1 2 3
det|2 9 3|= -1≠ 0
1 0 4
⇒ Span exists. Now, using the following row operations:
1 2 3 𝑎
(0 5 −3|𝑏 − 2𝑎) 𝑅2 − 2𝑅1 , 𝑅3 − 𝑅1
0 −2 1 𝑐 − 𝑎
 1 2 3 𝑎
⇒ (0 1 −3/5|(𝑏 − 2𝑎)/5) 𝑅2 /5
0 −2 1 𝑐−𝑎
3 𝑎
1 2 3 (𝑏 − 2𝑎)
⇒ 0 1 − 5 𝑅3 + 2𝑅2
5|
0 0 −1 −9𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 5𝑐
( 5 5 )

𝑘1 + 2𝑘2 + 3𝑘3 = 𝑎 (1)

3 (𝑏−2𝑎)
𝑘2 − 𝑘3 = (2)
5 5

1 −9𝑎+2𝑏+5𝑐
− 𝑘3 = (3)
5 5

From (3)

𝑘3 = 9𝑎 − 2𝑏 − 5𝑐

Put this into (2)

𝑘2 = 5𝑎 − 𝑏 − 3𝑐

Using values of 𝑘2 , 𝑘3 in (1)

𝑘1 = −36𝑎 + 8𝑏 + 21𝑐

As the system (A) has a solution. So, 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 spans 𝑅3 and are linearly independent.

⇒ 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 forms basis for 𝑅3 .

Example 4: Let 𝒗𝟏 = (𝟏, 𝟏), 𝒗𝟐 = (𝟑, 𝟓), 𝒗𝟑 = (𝟒, 𝟐).Check whether 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3

form basis for 𝑅2 or not?

Solution: Linearly independent or not?

𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3 = (0,0)

𝑘1 (1,1) + 𝑘2 (3,5) + 𝑘3 (4,2) = (0,0)

 (𝑘1 + 3𝑘2 + 4𝑘3 , 𝑘1 + 5𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 ) = (0,0)

⇒ 𝑘1 + 3𝑘2 + 4𝑘3 = 0 (1)

𝑘1 + 5𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0 (2)

Subtract (1) and (2)

−2𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0

⇒ 𝑘2 = 𝑘3

Put in (1)

𝑘1 + 3𝑘3 + 4𝑘3 = 0

𝑘1 + 7𝑘3 = 0

𝑘1 = −7𝑘3

Let

𝑘3 = 𝑡, ⇒ 𝑘1 = −7𝑡, 𝑘2 = 𝑡

As 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , 𝑘3 are not zero. So, 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 are linearly dependent. So, 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 does not
form basis for 𝑅2 .

Example 5: Check whether following sets form basis for 𝑅2 or not?

(a) {(2,1), (3,0)}

(b) {(0,0), (1,3)}

1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Example 6: 𝑆 = {[ ],[ ],[ ],[ ]} is the basis for 𝑀22 .
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Solution: To check Linear independence:
0 0
𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3 + 𝑘4 𝑣4 = [ ]
0 0
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
𝑘1 [ ] + 𝑘2 [ ] + 𝑘3 [ ] + 𝑘4 [ ]=[ ]
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
 𝑘 𝑘2 0 0
[ 1 ]=[ ]
𝑘3 𝑘4 0 0
⇒ 𝑘1 = 𝑘2 = 𝑘3 = 𝑘4 = 0

To check Spanning:
a b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
[ ] = k1 [ ] + k2 [ ] + k3 [ ] + k4 [ ]
c d 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
a b k k2
[ ]=[ 1 ]
c d k3 k4

𝑘1 = 𝑎, 𝑘2 = 𝑏, 𝑘3 = 𝑐, 𝑘4 = 𝑑

As it spans and are linearly independent. So, the set forms basis for 𝑀22

Example 7: Show that the set

𝑺 = {𝒕𝟐 + 𝟏, 𝒕 − 𝟏, 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟐}

is a basis for the vector space 𝑃2 .

Solution: Linearly Independent:

⃗
𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3 = 0

𝑘1 (𝑡 2 + 1) + 𝑘2 (𝑡 − 1) + 𝑘3 (2𝑡 + 2) = 0𝑡 2 + 0𝑡 + 0

𝑘1 𝑡 2 + 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 𝑡 + 2𝑘3 = 0𝑡 2 + 0𝑡 + 0

𝑘1 𝑡 2 + 𝑘2 𝑡 + 2𝑘3 𝑡 + 𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0𝑡 2 + 0𝑡 + 0

𝑘1 𝑡 2 + (𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 )𝑡 + (𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 ) = 0𝑡 2 + 0𝑡 + 0

Equating corresponding components:

𝑘1 = 0 … (1)
{ 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0 … (2)
𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0 … (3)

Put 𝑘1 = 0 in equation (3), we get:

−𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0 … (4)

Add (2) and (4)

𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0

−𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 0

4𝑘3 = 0

𝑘3 = 0

Put 𝑘3 = 0, put in (2), we get

𝑘2 = 0

As 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , 𝑘3 are all zero. So S is linearly independent.

Spanning:

𝑝 = 𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2 + 𝑘3 𝑣3

𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐 = 𝑘1 (𝑡 2 + 1) + 𝑘2 (𝑡 − 1) + 𝑘3 (2𝑡 + 2)

𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐 = 𝑘1 𝑡 2 + 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 𝑡 + 2𝑘3

𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐 = 𝑘1 𝑡 2 + 𝑘2 𝑡 + 2𝑘3 𝑡 + 𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3

𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐 = 𝑘1 𝑡 2 + (𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 )𝑡 + (𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 )

𝑎 = 𝑘1 … … … (1)
{ 𝑏 = 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 … … … (2)
𝑐 = 𝑘1 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 … … … (3)

Put 𝑘1 = 𝑎 in equation (3)

𝑐 = 𝑎 − 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3

−𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 𝑐 − 𝑎 … … … (4)

Add (2) and (4) 𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 𝑏

−𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 𝑐 − 𝑎

4𝑘3 = 𝑏 + 𝑐 − 𝑎
 𝑏+𝑐−𝑎
𝑘3 =
4
Put value of 𝑘2 in equation (2)

𝑘2 + 2𝑘3 = 𝑏
𝑏+𝑐−𝑎
𝑘2 + 2 ( )=𝑏
4
𝑏+𝑐−𝑎
𝑘2 = 𝑏 −
2
2𝑏 − 𝑏 − 𝑐 + 𝑎
𝑘2 =
2
𝑏−𝑐+𝑎
𝑘2 =
2
𝑏−𝑐+𝑎 𝑏+𝑐−𝑎
So, 𝑘1 = 𝑎, 𝑘2 = , 𝑘3 =
2 4

It means S spans V.

So, S forms basis for 𝑃2 .

Example 8: Show that the set 𝑆 = {𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , 𝑣3 , 𝑣4 } , where

𝑣1 = (1,0,0,0), 𝑣2 = (0,1,0,0), 𝑣3 = (0,0,1,0), 𝑣4 = (0,0,0,1)

Example 9: Which of the following sets of vectors are bases for 𝑅2 .

(a) {(1,3), (1, −1)}

(b) {(0,0), (1,2), (2,4)}
(c) {(1,2), (2, −3), (3,2)}
(d) {(1,3), (−2,6)}
Example 10: Which of the following sets of vectors are bases for 𝑃3

(a) {𝑡 3 + 2𝑡 2 + 3𝑡, 2𝑡 3 + 1,6𝑡 3 + 8𝑡 2 + 6𝑡 + 4, 𝑡 3 + 2𝑡 2 + 𝑡 + 1}

(b) {𝑡 3 − 𝑡, 𝑡 3 + 𝑡 2 + 1, 𝑡 − 1}

Dimension:
The dimension of a vector space V is the number of vectors in a basis for V.

Example 1:

𝑑𝑖𝑚(𝑅2 ) = 2 standard basis are {(1,0), (0,1)}

𝑑𝑖𝑚(𝑅3 ) = 3 standard basis are {(1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1)}

𝑑𝑖𝑚(𝑅𝑛 ) = 𝑛 standard basis are

{(1,0, . . . ,0), (0,1,0,0, . . .0), . . . , (0,0,0, . . . ,1)}

Example 2:

𝑑𝑖𝑚(𝑀𝑚𝑛 ) = 𝑚𝑛

Where 𝑀𝑚𝑛 is a vector space of matrices of order 𝑚 × 𝑛.

How?

Example 3:

𝐝𝐢𝐦(𝐏𝐧 ) = 𝐧 + 𝟏