LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL

E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
Introduction: In this topic you will learn vector spaces, linear dependence and
independence, basis, dimension.
Vector Space
Definition: Let V be non-empty set. Define two operations namely ‘addition’ and ‘scalar
multiplication’ on V. V is said to be a vector space if for every u, v, w in V and any real,
complex number  , following axioms hold.
1. u  v  V (closed under addition)
2. u  v  v  u (addition is commutative)
3. u  (v  w)  (u  v)  w (addition is associative)
4. There exists 0 V such that u  0  0  u  u . (Existence of zero element for
Addition known as additive identity)
5. There exists u  V  u  u  u  (u)  0 . (Existence of additive inverse)
6.  u  V,  R {closed under scalar multiplication}
7. (  )u   u   u
Scalar multiplication is distributive}
8.  (u  v)   u   v
9. ( u)  () u {Scalar multiplication is associative}
10. There exists 1 R such that 1 u  u .
Elements / members of V are called as ‘vectors’.
Theorem 1: For a vector space V
i) Zero vectors are unique. ii) u  V is unique such that u  (u)  0.
Theorem 2: Let V be a vector space and let x, y be vectors in V, then
i) x  y  x  y  0 ii) 0  x  0 iii) k  0  0 for any k  R.
iv)  x is uniqueand  x  (1) x v) If k x  0, then k  0 or x  0.
Examples of Vector Spaces
1) V  {0} (Set consisting of zero vector only)
2) Euclidian space R n  {( x1 , x2 , , xn ) / x1, x2 , x3 , , xn  R}
(Set of all ordered n-tuple of real or complex numbers)is a vector space under
component wise addition and scalar multiplication, i. e.,
( x1 , x2 , , xn )  ( y1 , y2 , , yn )  ( x1  y1, x2  y2 , , xn  yn )
 ( x1 , x2 , , xn )  ( x1,  x2 , ,  xn ) .
3) Pn ( x)  Set of all polynomials in x , up to degree ‘n’
 {a0 xn  a1 x n1   an / a0 , a1 , , an  R}
is a vector space under usual addition and scalar multiplication of polynomials, i.e.
n n1 n n1 n n1
( a0 x  a1x   an )  (b0 x  b1x   bn )  (a0  b0 ) x  (a1  b1 ) x   (an  bn )

 (a0 x n  a1x n1   an )  ( a0 ) x n  ( a1 ) x n1   ( an ) .

4) M m  n (R)  {[ai j ] m  n / ai j  R, i  1, 2, , m ; j  1, 2, , n} is a vector space
with usual addition and scalar multiplication of matrices, i. e.,
[ai j ]  [bi j ]  [ai j  bi j ] and [ai j ]  [ ai j ] .
5) V  C[a, b]  { f : [a, b]  R} set of all real valued continuous functions is a vector
space under addition and scalar multiplication of functions, i.e.,
( f  g )( x)  f ( x)  g ( x) and ( f )( x)    f ( x) .
Examples of sets which are not vector spaces
1. P2  Set of polynomials of exactly degree 2 is not closed with respect to vector addition.

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
For Example: Let p( x)   x 2  2 x  5, q( x)  x 2  3
.
 p( x)  q( x)  2 x  8  P2 as 2 x  8 is not a polynomial of degeree 2.
2. The set of integers is not a vector space. Because the set is not closed with respect to
1 2
scalar multiplication. For example (2)   is not an integer .
3 3
3. Let V  ( x, y, z) : x, y, z  R , with addition as
( x1 , y1 , z1 )  ( x2 , y2 , z2 )  ( x1  x2 , y1  y2 , z1  z2 ) and scalar multiplication as
c ( x, y, z)  (cx, 0, 0) [Ans.: 1 x, y, z    x, 0, 0    x, y, z  ]

4. Let V  ( x, y) : x, y  R , with standard operation of addition and nonstandard

operation scaler multiplication defined as c ( x, y)  (cx, y) is not a vector space.
[Ans.: In this example all the axioms are satisfied except axiom number 10.
0  1, 1 =  0 1, 1  (0, 1)   0,0  V is not a vector space. ]
Subspace: - Let V be a vector space and V  0, U  V , U is said to be a subspace of V if
U itself is a vector space under the same ‘addition’ and ‘scalar multiplication’ operations
as defined on V.
Theorem1.4: - A non-empty subset U of vector space V is a subspace of V if and only if
1) U is closed under addition, i. e., u1  u2  U for all u1 , u2  U
2) U is closed under scalar multiplication, i. e.,  u  U for every   R and
uU
Note: If 0 V is not a member of U  V then U is not a subspace of V .
Illustrative Examples:
Q 1) Let A be m  n matrix, then V   X  R n : AX  0 , is a subspace of R n .
Soln : Let x, y  V  Ax  0, and Ay  0 `
Consider, A( x  y )  Ax  Ay  0,  x  y  V and Let   R, then A( x)   A( x)  0,
  x  V.Therefore V is closed with respect to addtion and scalar multilication
V is a subsapce of R n .
Q 2) List all the subspaces of R  {( x, y) | x, y  R}
2

Soln. 1) {(0, 0)}

2) Set of all lines passing through origin {( x, y) | y  mx, m  R}
3) R 2 itself.
Q 3) List all the subspaces of R  {( x, y) | x, y, z  R}
3

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

2) Any plane passing through origin.
3) Any line passing through origin.
4) R 3 Itself.
Q 4) Is R 2 a subspace of R 3 ?
Soln. No, because R 2 is not even a subset of R 3
( R 2 has ordered pairs while R 3 has ordered triples)
Q 5) Let U and Waresubspaces of a vector space V.Sumof U and W is defined as
U  W  u  w  V : u  U and v  V Show that U  W is a subspaceof V.
Soln. Let x, y  U  W  x  u1  w1 and y  u2  w2 where u1 , u2  U and w1 , w2  W.

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
i) x  y   u1  w1    u2  w2 
  u1  u2    w1  w2  (by associativity and commutativity of V)
but  u1  u2   U and  w1  w2   W (as U and W aresubspaces of V)
 x  y  U  W.
ii) Let  beany real number,  x    u1  w1    u1   w1 (Distributive propertyof V)
but  u1  U and  w1  W (as U and W aresubspaces of V)
  x  U  W  U  W is a subspace of V.
Examples of sets which are not subspaces
Q 1) Is M the set of all singular matrices of order 2  2 a subspace of M 2  2 (R) ?
Soln. M is not a subspace because it is not closed under addition.
1 1  0 0  1 1 
0 0  1 2  1 2  M . Since addition matrix is non-singular
     
Q 2) Is {( x, y) | y  mx, m  R} a subspace of R 2 ?
Soln. ( x1 , y1 ), ( x2 , y2 )  y1  m1 x1 , y2  m2 x2 , y1  y2  m1 x1  m2 x2  m( x1  x2 )

Hence it is not closed under addition. It is not a subspace of R 2 .

Q 3) Is H  {( x, y) | y  mx, m is fixed real number} a subspace of R 2 ?
Soln. Yes, because fixed real number  a single line passing through origin.
Let ( x1 , y1 ),( x2 , y2 ) H  y1  mx1 , y2  mx2 .
Consider,  x1  x2 , y1  y2    x1  x2 , mx1  mx2    x1  x2 , m( x1  x2 )   H
and
  x1 , y1    x1 ,  (mx1 )    x1 , m ( x1 )   H as m,  both are real numbers.
Q 4) Is H1  {( x, y) | x 2  y 2  1} a subspace of R 2 ?
Soln. H1 is not a subspace because (0,0)  H1 .
Q 5) Is H 2  {( x, y) | x 2  y 2  1} a subspace of R 2 ?
Soln. H 2 is not a subspace because H 2 is not closed under addition. e.g. (1,0),(0,1)  H 2
but (1,0)  (0,1)  (1,1)  H 2 .

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces

Linear Combination (L.C.) of Vectors

Let H  {v1 , v2 , v3 , , vn } be a subset of a vector space V, then the sum
c1v1  c2v2   cnvn , where c1 , c2 , , cn  R is defined as a linear combination of
v1 , v2 , , vn .
Span of a Set
Let S  {v1 , v2 , v3 , , vn } be a subset of vector space V.
span (S )  {c1v1  c2v2   cnvn | c1 , c2 , , cn  R} = Set of all possible linear
combination of members of H
Theorem1.5: Let S  {v1 , v2 , v3 , , vn } be a subset of vector space V. Show that span S
is a subspace of V containing S .
n

h1   ai vi 
Proof. i) Let h1 , h2  span H   n n
ci vi , ci  R .
i 1
n  ai , bi  R, h1  h2   ( ai  bi ) vi  
h2   bi vi 
i 1 i 1

i 1


Therefore h1  h2  span(S)
n n
ii) Let   R and  h1   ( ai ) vi   di vi , di  R . Therefore  h1  span(S)
i 1 i 1

 Span S is a subspace of a vector space V.

Note That: Span S is a smallest subspace of V containing S .
Illustrative Examples
Q 1) Show that the set M of all symmetric matrices of order 2  2 is a subspace of
M 2  2 (R) .
Soln. Consider any symmetric matrix A  M . Then
a c  1 0  0 0 0 1 
A   a  b c  , where a, b, c  R .
 c b 0 0  0 1  1 0 
1 0   0 0  0 1 
Here A is a linear combination of   ,  and   of M 2  2 .
0 0  0 1  1 0 
 Set of symmetric matrices of order 2 is a subspace of M 2  2 (R) .
 a  b  c  
 
  2a  b  
Q 2) Show that H    is a subspace of R .
4

  a  b  5c  
  2a  c  
 a bc  1   1 1  1   1  1  
 2a  b   2  1 0       
Soln.    a    b    c    H  span  2  ,  1 ,  0    v1 , v2 , v3 
 a  b  5c  1   1  5  1   1  5  

 2a  c 
  
 2
 
0
 
 1  2   0   1  
where v1 , v2 , v3  R 4 .  H is subspace of R 4 .

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
 a  b  c  
 
 5   a subspace of R 4 ?
Q 3) Is H  
  a  b  5c  
  2a  c  
0
0
Soln. Since   is not a member of H, it is not a subspace of R 4 .
0
 
0
Spanning Set
Let S  {v1 , v2 , , vn } be a subset of vector space V. S is said to be a spanning set of V if
every element of V is expressible as linear combination of elements of S , i.e., v  span {S}
for all v  V , i.e., v  c1v1  c2v2   cnvn for some c1 , c2 , , cn is a consistent system of
linear equations.
Illustrative Examples
Q 1) Let S  {e1  (1, 0), e2  (0, 1)} . Is S spanning set of R 2 ?
Let ( x, y)  R . ( x, y)  xe1  ye2 is always consistent. S spans R 2 .
2
Soln.
Is S  {1, x, x } spans P2 ?
2
Q 2)
Soln. Let p( x)  P2 then p( x)  a0 x2  a1 x  a2 ; a0 , a1 , a2  R .  S spans P2 .
Q 3) i) For what value of h, will y be in the subspace of R 3 spanned by v1 , v2 , v3
1 5  3  4 
     
where v1  1 , v2  4 , v3  1 and y   3  .
       
 2  7   0   h 
ii) Is v1 , v2 , v3 span R 3 ?
Soln. i) Let y  span {v1 , v2 , v3} . Therefore y  c1v1  c2v2  c3v3 .
 4  1 5  3  c1  5c2  3c3  4
i.e., 3  c1 1  c2 4  c3  1 
     
c1  4c2  c3  3
       
 h   2  7   0  2c1  7c2  0c3  h
1 5 3 : 4 

Consider the augmented matrix [A : y ]  1 4 1 : 3  R2  R1 , R3  2 R1 

 2 7 0 : h 
1 5 3 4  1 5 3 4 
~ 0 1 2 1  R3  3R2  0 1 2 1  .
 
0 3 6 h  8 0 0 0 h  5
For h  5, [A]  [A : y] .  The system of equations is consistent. Hence,
y  span {v1 , v2 , v3} iff h  5 .
ii) {v1 , v2 , v3} does not span R 3 because the system of equations
v  c1v1  c2v2  c3v3 is not consistent for every v  V .

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
1  2  4  3
Q 3) Let v1  0 , v2  1  ,
  v3   2  , w  1 
 
   
 1  3   6   2
i) Is w belong to the set {v1 , v2 , v3} ?
ii) How many vectors are in the set {v1 , v2 , v3} ?
iii) How many vectors are in span{v1 , v2 , v3 } ?
iv) Is w  span {v1, v2, v3} ? Why?
v) Is span {v1 , v2 , v3}  R 3 ?
Soln. i) No. w is not a member of the set {v1 , v2 , v3} because w  v1  v2  v3 .
ii) Total number of vectors in the set {v1 , v2 , v3} are 3.
iii) There are infinite numbers of vectors in span{v1 , v2 , v3 } .
iv) w  span {v1 , v2 , v3}
Consider, w  c1v1  c2v2  c3v3
3 1  2  4 c1  2c2  c3  3
1   c  0   c 1   c  2  0c  c  2c  1
  1  2  3  1 2 3

 2   1  3   6  c1  3c2  6c3  2

Consider the augmented matrix,

 1 2 4 3 1 2 4 3 1 2 4 3 
R3  R1   R3  5R2
 
[A : B]   0 1 2 1   0 1 2 1   0 1 2 1 
 1 3 6 2  0 5 10 5 0 0 0 0 
ρ[A : B]  ρ[A]  The system of equations is consistent.
v) Consider v  c1v1  c2v2  c3v3
v  AC, as [A]  2  [A, v] for every v  R 3.  This system is not consistent
for every v  R .  Span {v1 , v2 , v3}  R 3 .
3

Linearly Dependent/Independent Set

Let H  {v1 , v2 , v3 , , vn } be a subset of a vector space V. H is said to be linearly
dependent if there exist scalars (real numbers) c1 , c2 , , cn not all zero such that
c1v1  c2v2  c3v3 
 cnvn  0 .
H is said to be linearly independent if c1v1  c2v2  c3v3   cnvn  0 implies
c1  c2   cn  0 .
Note: i) H is linearly independent if and only if the system c1v1  c2v2  c3v3   cnvn  0
has trivial solution only, i.e. otherwise the set is linearly dependent.
ii) A set containing zero vector is linearly dependent.
iii) Set consists of single non – zero vector is linearly independent.
Theorem: - If the set of vectors are linearly dependent then one of the vectors is
expressible as a linear combination of the remaining.
Proof:- The set is linearly dependent, c1v1  c2v2  c3v3   cnvn  0 has a non-trivial
solution
 At least one of c1 , c2 , , cn is non-zero.

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
1
Let us assume that c2  0 .Then v2  (c1v1  c3v3   cn vn ) .
c2
Method of checking Linearly Dependent / Independent Set
Step 1:Consider, c1v1  c2 v2  c3v3   cn vn  0
 c1 
c 
AC  0 where A   v1 v2 v3 ... v n  , C   2  .
 ... 
 
cn 
Step 2: Find rank of A. Let ρ(A)  r
Step 3: i) If (A)  r  n (Number of unknowns), then set is linearly independent .
ii) If (A)  r  n (Number of unknowns), then set is linearly dependent .
Step 3 : If dependent find relation between the vectors.
Illustrative Examples
Q 1) Determine whether S  {1  t , 2t  3t 2 , t 2  2t 3 , 2  t 3} is linearly dependent or
independent. If dependent, find the relation between them.
Sol . Let v1  1  t , v2  2t  3t 2 , v3  t 2  2t 3 , v4  2  t 3 .
n

Consider, c1v1  c2v2  c3v3  c4v4  0 .

c1 (1  t )  c2 (2t  3t 2 )  c3 (t 2  2t 3 )  c4 (2  t 3 )  0  0 t  0 t 2  0 t 3
c1  2c4  0 1 0 2
0  c1 
c1  2c2  0  1 2 0 0  c 
This is ideally zero for every‘t’ iff i.e.   2  0
3c2  c3  0 0 3 1 0  c3 
   
2c3  c4  0 0 0 2 1  c4 
Let
1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2  1 1 0 0 2 
 1 2 0 0  0 2 0 2  R2 0 1 0 1 
R2  R1 
A    
2 
0 3 1 0 0 3 1 0  0 3 1 0 
     
 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 1  0 0 2 1 
1 0 0 2  1 0 0 2 
0 1 0 1  0 1 0 1 
R3  3R2   R4  2 R3
     
0 0 1 3 0 0 1 3
   
0 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 
[ A]  4  number of unknowns.  The system has a trivial solution only.
 Set of vectors are linearly independent.
 1 0  2 1   3 4  3 3 
Q 2) Determine whether the set of vectors H     ,  1 0 ,  2 3 ,  1 3  
  2 3       
is linearly dependent or independent? If dependent, find the relation.
1 0   2 1  3 4  3 3
Soln.: Let v1    , v2    , v3    , v4   .
 2 3  1 0  2 3 1 3
Consider c1v1  c2v2  c3v3  c4v4  0 . ---------- (i)

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c1  2c2  3c3  3c4  0
1 0   2 1  3 4  3 3 c  4c3  3c4  0
c1    c2    c3    c4   0 2
 2 3  1 0  2 3 1 3 2c1  c2  2c3  c4  0
3c1  3c3  3c4  0
1 2 3 3 1 2 3 3
 0 1 4 3 0 1 4 3
  R3  2 R1 , R4  3R1 
A 
 2 1 2 1  0 0 16 16 
   
3 0 3 3  0 0 30 30 
1 1 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 3
R3 , R4 0 1 4 3  
(16) 30   R4  R3 0 1 4 3
   
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
   
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 
[ A]  3  number of unknowns  4 .  The system has a non-trivial solution.
 Vectors are linearly dependent. Equivalent system is
c1  2c2  3c3  3c4  0, c2  4c3  3c4  0, c3  c4  0
Let c4  k , k  0  c3  k
c2  4k  3k  0, c2  k , c1  2k  3k  3k  0, c1  2k
Put values of c1 , c2 , c3 , c4 in (i), 2kv1  kv2  kv3  kv4  0 .
2kv1  kv2  kv3  kv4  0 , i. e., 2v1  v2  v3  v4  0
Q 3) Let H  {v1 , v2 , , vk } spans V. Show that if H is linearly dependent then
H1  {v1 , v2 , , vk 1} also spans V.
Soln. Let v V then as H spans V , v  d1v1  d2v2   dk vk .
If H is linearly dependent, then any vector in H is expressible as the linear
combination of others. Therefore let vk  c1v1  c2v2   ck 1vk 1 .
Substituting this in v
v  (d1  dk c1 )v1  (d2  dk c2 )v2   (d k 1  d k ck 1 )vk
Thus v is expressible as linear combination of vectors in H1 . Hence H1 spans V.
Q 4) Determine by inspection if the given set is linearly independent
 1   4   1   3  0  1  2
      
a)  1 ,  7  ,  1  , 1   b) 0  ,  5  ,  3 
 6   2   2   4  0  7   1 
 2   5 
1  2  4  4  10
c) 1 , 3 ,
 
 6 
  d)   ,  
6  15
1  4   8    
10   25 
Soln. a)Set is linearly dependent, because it contains 4-vectors in R3 .

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b)Set is linearly dependent, because it contain zero vector.
2  4 
c)Set is linearly dependent, because  3     6  .
1
2
 4   8
d)Set is linearly independent as there is no relation between them.
Basis of a Vector Space
A subset B  {v1 , v2 , , vn } of a vector space V is a basis for V if
1) B is linearly independent. 2) V  span {B} , i.e. B spans V.
Note That:
i) A given vector space may have more than one basis.
e.g. B1  {e1  (1, 0) , e2  (0, 1)} , B2  {v1  (1, 1), v2  (1, 1)}
Both B1 & B2 are bases of R 2 .
ii) A set having maximum number of linearly independent vectors is the basis.
iii) Minimum number of vectors which spans the set is the basis.
iv) If B  {v1 , v2 , , vn } is basis for vector space V, then every vector in V can be written
in one and only one as a linear combination of vectors in B.
v) If a vector space V has one basis with n vectors, then every basis for V has n vectors.
Dimension of a vector space
Number of elements in a basis is known as the dimension of the vector space.
If basis of vector space V contains finite number of vectors, the vector space is finite
dimensional. Otherwise it is said to be infinite dimensional.
If basis of a vector space V has n-vectors then dimension of V  dim(V )  n & dim{0}  0 .
Note That: 1) In an n-dimensional vector space V, “ n  1 ” vectors are linearly dependent.
2) In an n-dimensional vector space V, “ n  1 ” vectors do not span vector space
V
 Standard Bases
1) V  R then the standard basis is B  {e1 , e2 , , en } , where, e1  (1, 0, , 0),
n

e2  (0, 1, , 0) , , en  (0, 0, , 0, 1) .  dim( Rn )  n .

In particular, for R 2 standard basis is (1,0),(0,1) and, for R 3 standard basis is
(1,0,0),(0,1,0),(0,0,1) .
 1 0   0 1   0 0   0 0  
2) V  M 2  2 ( R) . B     , 0 0 , 1 0 , 0 1    dim(M 2  2 ( R))  4 .
  0 0       
(Note: If V  M m  n ( R) then dim(M m  n ( R))  mn )
3) V  Pn ( x) : space of polynomials in x at most degree n or degree  n . Standard
basis of Pn ( x) is B  {1, x, x 2 , , x n }  dim( Pn ( x))  n  1 .
4) C[a, b]: space of all continuous functions defined on [a , b] is an infinite
dimensional vector space.
Illustrative Examples
1   1
1. Is B  {v1 , v2 } a basis of R , where v1  2 , v2   2  ?
3  
   
1   1 
Soln. No. Because dim(R 3 )  3 .

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1   1
2. Is B  {v1 , v2 } a basis of R , where v1  2 , v2   2  ?
2  
   
1   1 
Soln. No. Because v1 & v2 are not even the members of R 2 .
3. What is the span {B} in the above example?
Soln. It is a plane through origin. Since 3 non-collinear points viz., origin, point
corresponding to vector v1 and point corresponding to vector v2 forms a plane.
Note: If Basis of subsapce V of R n contains
i) 1-vector, then geometricallyit is a straight line in R n through origin.
ii) 2-vectors, then geometricallyit is a plane in R n through origin.
Illustrative Examples
Q 1) Determine whether the set is a basis for M 2  2 (R) ?
 1 0  1 0  2 1  1 1 
S   ,  ,  ,  
 0 1   1 1  1 0 0 1 
Soln. Since dim(M 2  2 (R))  4 and S contains 4 vectors, therefore S is a basis for
M 2  2 (R) if and only if given set of vectors are linearly independent.
1 0   1 0 2 1 1 1
Let v1    , v2    , v3    , v4   
0 1   1 1 1 0  0 1
Consider c1v1  c2v2  c3v3  c4v4  0 . i.e., AC  0 where
1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
0 0 0 0 1 1  0 1 1 0 
1 1  R4  R1  R2  R3
A    
0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1
     
1 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0
1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
0 1 1 0  0 1 1 0 
R4 2 R2 R4 4 R3
   
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
   
0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4
 (A)  4  number of unknowns. Hence given set of vectors are linearly independent.
Hence S is a basis for M 2  2 (R).
Q 2) Determine whether the set S  (1, t , 1  t 2 ) a basis for P2 ?
Soln. dim( P2 ( x))  3 and S has exactly 3 elements, it forms a basis for P2 ( x) iff
set of vectors are linearly independent.
Let v1  1, v2  t , v3  1  t 2
1 0 1 
Consider c1v1  c2v2  c3v3  0, where A  0 1 0   (A)  3  number
0 0 1 
of unknowns. Hence given set of vectors are linearly independent.
 S forms a basis for P2 .
Note: If W is a subspace of an n-dimensional vector space, then dimension of W is less
than or equal to n.

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UNIT II:Vector Spaces
Method of determining the dimension of a subspace: Dimension of a subspace can be
determined by finding a set of linearly independent vectors that spans the subspace. This
set is a basis for the subspace and its dimension is number of vectors in its basis.
Illustrative Examples
1. Determine the dimension of each subspace of R 4 .
a) S   a, a  b, b, a  c  : a, b , c  R b) S   3a, a, b, 0  : a, b R
Sol n . a)  a, a  b, b, a  c   a(1, 1, 0, 1)  b(0, 1, 1, 0)  c(0, 0, 0,  1)
we can see that S is spanned by (1, 1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1, 0) and (0, 0, 0,  1)
and can easily be shown that the set of vectors are linearly independent.
 B  (1, 1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1, 0), (0, 0, 0, 1) is a basis for S.  dim(S )  3.
b)  3a, a, b, 0   a(3, 1, 0, 0)  b(0, 0, 1, 0)
we can see that S is spanned by (3, 1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 1, 0)
and can easily be shown that the set of vectors are linearly independent.
 B  (3, 1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 1, 0) is a basis for S.  dim( S )  2.
a b  
2. If W    : a, b, c  R  is a subspace of M 22 . What is a dimension of W?
 0 c  
a b 1 0  0 1 0 0 
Sol n .    a  b  c 
0 c  0 0  0 0 0 1 
 1 0   0 1   0 0  
So, theset B    ,  ,    is a basis for W.  dim(W)  3.
 0 0 0 0 0 1  
  a  3b  2c  
  
  b  4c  3d  
3. Find the dimension of the subsapce W   : a, b, c, d  R 
  a  3c  2d  
  2a  5b  2c  d  
 a  3b  2c  1   3 2 0
 b  4c  3d  0 1  4  3
n
Sol .   a   b   c   d  
 a  3c  2d  1  0  3  2
         
 2a  5b  2c  5d  2 5  2 5

1   3 2 0

0  1  4   3
W is spanned by   ,  ,  ,  
1  0  3  2  ,i.e., these vectors are a basis for W if vectors
       
2 5  2  5

are Linearly independent.

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1 3 2
0  1 3 2 0 
 0 1 4
3  R3  R1 , R4  2 R1 0 1 4 3 

 consider A   
1 0 3
2  0 3 5 2 
   
 2 5 2
5  0 11 6 5 
1 3 2 0  1 3 2 0 
0 1 4 3  R  38 R 0 1 4 3 
R3 3 R2 , R4 11R2
     ( A)  3
4 3
7
0 0 7 7  0 0 7 7 
   
0 0 38 38  0 0 0 0 
basis for subspace W of R 4 pivote columns of A
 1   3  2  
      
 0 1 4 
basis for subspace W  B     ,   ,     dim(W)  3.
 1   0   3 
      
  2   5   2  

Column space, Row space and Null space of a Matrix
Column Space of a Matrix
Let A be m  n matrix. Column space of matrix A is the set of all possible linear
combinations of columns of A, denoted as col(A) , i.e., If A  v1 v2  vn 
then col (A)  span v1 v2  vn 
Note: 1) Number of columns of A  n
2) Number of vectors in col (A)  infinite.
3) col (A) is a subspace of R m .
4) y  col (A) means the system of linear equations y  AX for some
X  R n is consistent. i.e. col (A)   y  R m : y  AX for some X  R n 
5) Elementary row operation on a matrix does not affect the linear dependence
relation among the columns of the matrix.
6) The Pivot columns of matrix A form a basis for Col(A).
# Row Space of a Matrix
Let A be m  n matrix. Row space of matrix A is the set of all possible linear
combinations of rows of A, denoted as row (A) .
Note: 1) number of rows of A  m
2) number of vectors in row (A)  infinite
3) row (A) is a subspace of R n
4) y  row (A) means this system of linear equations y  A T X for some
X  R m is consistent.
# Null Space of a Matrix
Let A be m  n matrix. Null space of A is the set of all those vectors in R n which get
map on to zero by A, denoted as Null(A) , i. e., Null(A)  {x  R n | AX  0} .
Note: 1) Null (A) is a subspace of R n . 0  Null (A) .
Let x1 , x2  Null (A) , then

A x1  0, A x2  0  A( x1  x2 )  A x1  A x2  0  x1  x2  Null(A)

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
 (A x1 )   A x1  0   A  Null (A)
Null (A) is the subspace of R n (solution space of the homogeneous system AX  0 .)
2) If  (A)  r , then dim(Null A)  n  r  Nullity of A.
3) dim(col A)  dim(row A)  r .
Theorem: For any matrix A m  n , dim(Null A)  dim(col A)  number of columns of A.
Illustrative Examples
1. Determine the basis for Null (A), col (A) and row (A) and hence determine their
dimensions. Assume that A is row equivalent to B.
 1 3 4 1 9  1 3 0 5 7 
 2 6 6 11 10  0 0 2 3 8 
A   , B 
 3 9 6 6 3  0 0 0 0 5 
   
 3 9 4 9 0  0 0 0 0 0 
Solution: Given: A ~ B .
Each non-pivot columns of B is a linear combination of pivot columns.
In this example it is to observe that
3 3
b2  3b1 and b4  5b1  b3 a2  3a1 and a4  5a1  a3
2 2
by spanning set theorem we may discard a2 and a4 , to get Basis for column space of
A, is the set containing pivot columns of A.
 1   4   9  
     
  2  6  10 
Basis for col (A)   , ,  dim(col A)  3
  3  6  3  
  3   4   0  
Basis for row space of A, is the set containing pivot rows of B.
Therefore Basis for row (A) is (1, 3,0,5, 7),(0,0, 2, 3,8),(0,0,0,0,5) .
Therefore dim(row A)  3 .
Basis for Null (A)  is the solution space of AX  0 .

Equivalent system is x1  3x2  5x4  7 x5  0, 2 x3  3x4  8x5  0,5x5  0  x5  0

Let x4  k1 & x2  k2 , x1  3k2  5k1 .
 Solution vector
 x1  3k2  5k1   5  3
x   k  0 1 
 2  2     .
X   x3    3k1   k1  3   k2 0
       
 x4   k1  1 0
 x5   0   0  0
  5   3 
  1  
Basis for Null (A) is   0     . dim (Null (A))  2 .
 3  , 0 
 1   
  0 
  0   0  

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
2. Find k such that Null space of A is subsapce of R k and column space of A is subsapce
1 2 1 5 
3 1 1 1 

of R k , where A  7 6 5 2 .
 
1 2 3 1 
 2 0 1 3 
Sol n . i) Here A is 5  4 matrix and we know that Nullspaceis a subspace of R 4 ,  k  4.
ii) Here A is 5  4 matrix and we know that column spaceis a subspace of R 5 ,  k  5.
 8 2 9  2
3.Let A   6 4 8  and w   1  .
 
 4 0 4   2
i )determine if w is in column space of A. ii ) Is w in null space of A? iii ) Is w in row space of A?

ii ) w is in null (A) if and only if Aw  0

 8 2 9   2  0
Aw   6 4 8   1   0  w  null (A).
 4 0 4   2 0
iii ) w will be in row space of A, if there exists some vector x  R 3 such that AT x  w is consistant

 8 6 4 2   1 2 0 0  1 2 0 0 

 A , w  2 4 0 1 
T  R1  R3   R2  2 R1 , R3  9 R1
  2 4 0 1    0 0 0 1 
 
 9 8 4 2   9 8 4 2  0 10 4 2 

1 2 0 0 
 0 10 4 2    A, w    A .  w  Row(A).
R2  R3

0 0 0 1 
4.If AX  V and AX  W are both consistant. Is the equation AX  V  W consistant?
Soln . AX  V is consistant means V  col ( A), and AX  W is consistant means
W  col ( A). But col (A) is a subspace.
 V  W  Col ( A) AX  V  W is consistant.
5  1  2
5. Let H  Span v1 , v2  and W  u1 , u2  , where v1  3 , v2   3  , u1 
   1 ,
 
8  4  4 
0 
and u2  0  and K  H  W , find the basis for K .
1 
Sol n . Geometrically H and W are the plains in R3 . H  W is a line of intersection of the
planes H and W .  K can be written as c1v1  c2v2 and also as c3u1  c4u4 .

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 LINEAR ALGEBRA AND DIFFERENTIAL
E QUATIONS
Course Code: HS1071
UNIT II:Vector Spaces
5 1 2 0 (A)  3
Coefficient matrix A  3 3 1 0 
8 4 4 1
1 5 4 0
By reducing it to echelon form A  0 12 11 0 
0 0 3 1

Let c4  k  free variable 

1 11 7 7 11 1
c3   k , c2  k , c1   k .Thus c1   k , c2  k , c3   k , c4  k
3 36 36 36 36 3
Every vector in K is either c1v1  c2 v2 or c3u1  c4u2 .
5  1   24k / 36   2
7   11     k 
 k 3  k  3    12k / 36    1 
36 36 3
8  4  12k / 36  1
2 0  2   2 
 
OR  k  1  k 0    1  Basis for K    1   .
1     k 
3 3   1 
 4  1   1   

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