Chapter 20: Problem 14
If a vector space \(V\) is spanned by \(n\) vectors, show that any set of \(m\) vectors in \(V\) must be linearly dependent for \(m>n\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
Question: Prove that if a vector space V is spanned by n vectors, then any set of m vectors with m > n in V is linearly dependent.
Answer: We proved that when a vector space V is spanned by n vectors and we have a set S with m vectors, where m > n, there exists a nontrivial linear combination of the m vectors in S that results in the zero vector. This shows that the set S is linearly dependent.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the given information
Given a vector space \(V\) that is spanned by \(n\) vectors. It means that any vector in \(V\) can be represented as a linear combination of these \(n\) vectors. When a set of vectors in \(V\) has \(m\) elements, where \(m > n\), we want to prove that this set must be linearly dependent.
02
Define linear dependence
A set of vectors is linearly dependent if there is a nontrivial linear combination of the vectors that results in the zero vector. A nontrivial linear combination means that not all of the coefficients in the linear combination are zero.
03
Consider a set with \(m\) vectors where \(m>n\)
Let's consider a set \(S\) with \(m\) vectors in \(V\), where \(m > n\). We can represent each of these \(m\) vectors as a linear combination of the \(n\) vectors that span \(V\). Let the set \(B = \{b_1, b_2, ..., b_n\}\) be the basis of \(V\) that has \(n\) elements, and set \(S = \{v_1, v_2, ..., v_m\}\) have \(m\) elements. Then, we can write each \(v_i\) as:
\(v_i = \sum_{j=1}^n a_{ij} b_j\) for every \(i=1,2,...,m\).
04
Form a linear combination of the \(m\) vectors
We want to find a linear combination of the \(m\) vectors in \(S\) that results in the zero vector. In other words, we need to find coefficients \(c_1, c_2, ..., c_m\) such that:
\(\sum_{i=1}^m c_i v_i = 0.\)
Substitute each \(v_i\) with its representation using the basis vectors \(b_j\):
\(\sum_{i=1}^m c_i (\sum_{j=1}^n a_{ij} b_j) = 0.\)
05
Rearrange the expression and analyze the coefficients
Rearrange the expression, grouping the basis vectors:
\(\sum_{j=1}^n (\sum_{i=1}^m c_i a_{ij}) b_j = 0.\)
By definition, the basis vectors \(b_j\) are linearly independent. So, the only way for the linear combination to equal zero is if each of the coefficients is zero:
\(\sum_{i=1}^m c_i a_{ij} = 0\) for every \(j=1,2,...,n\).
Since this system of linear equations contains \(n\) equations with \(m\) unknowns (\(c_1, c_2, ..., c_m\)) and \(m > n\), there are more unknowns than equations. According to linear algebra, such a system has a nontrivial solution, meaning that at least one of the coefficients \(c_i\) is nonzero.
06
Conclude that the set is linearly dependent
We found a nontrivial linear combination of the \(m\) vectors in \(S\) that results in the zero vector. This means the set of \(m\) vectors (\(m>n\)) in \(V\) is linearly dependent.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vector space
A vector space is a fundamental concept in linear algebra and is essentially a collection of vectors. These vectors abide by specific mathematical rules for addition and scalar multiplication. In simpler terms, a vector space is a playground where vectors can be added together, and they can be stretched or shrunk by numbers, known as scalars. Let’s look at some key properties that define a vector space:
- Closure under addition and scalar multiplication: This means that if you take any two vectors in the vector space and add them, their sum is also in the vector space. Likewise, if a vector is multiplied by a scalar, the product is still within the space.
- Existence of a zero vector: This zero vector is like adding zero in numbers. Any vector added to the zero vector results in the original vector again.
- Existence of additive inverses: For any vector in the space, there must be another vector which, when added to it, will give the zero vector.
Basis of a vector space
To navigate and describe a vector space efficiently, we need a basis. A basis is a set of vectors that are both linearly independent and span the entire vector space. Think of it like the building blocks of the space.
- Linearly independent: This means that none of the vectors in the basis can be written as a linear combination of the other vectors. They are unique in terms of direction.
- Spanning the vector space: Every vector in the vector space can be expressed as a linear combination of the basis vectors. Essentially, with the basis vectors, you can create or describe any vector within that space.
Linear combination
A linear combination involves combining several vectors using scalar multipliers, called coefficients. This combination can form new vectors in a vector space. Let's break this down:
- Scalars: These are numbers that are used to multiply each of the vectors in the combination.
- Combining vectors: To form a linear combination, you multiply each vector with a corresponding scalar and then add them up. For example, in a simple vector space with vectors \(\vec{v}_1\) and \(\vec{v}_2\), a linear combination might look like \((a_1 \vec{v}_1 + a_2 \vec{v}_2)\), where \(a_1\) and \(a_2\) are scalars.