Chapter 2: Problem 9
Show that \(\mathbb{R}^{2}=\operatorname{span}\left(\left[\begin{array}{l}1 \\\ 1\end{array}\right],\left[\begin{array}{r}1 \\ -1\end{array}\right]\right)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Yes, \(\mathbb{R}^2\) is spanned by the given vectors.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We want to show that every vector in \(\mathbb{R}^2\) can be expressed as a linear combination of the two given vectors: \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix}\) and \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix}\). This means, for any vector \(\begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}\) in \(\mathbb{R}^2\), there exist scalars \(x\) and \(y\) such that:
02
Set Up Linear Combination
Express \(\begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}\) as a linear combination of \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix}\) and \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix}\): \[ x \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} + y \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}. \] Breaking this down, we have: \[ x \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} x \ x \end{bmatrix}, \quad y \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} y \ -y \end{bmatrix}. \] So, the linear combination becomes: \[ \begin{bmatrix} x + y \ x - y \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}. \]
03
Solve the System of Equations
From our linear combination, we derive the equations: 1. \(x + y = a\) 2. \(x - y = b\) Add the two equations: \[ x + y + x - y = a + b \Rightarrow 2x = a + b \Rightarrow x = \frac{a + b}{2}. \] Subtract the second equation from the first: \[ x + y - (x - y) = a - b \Rightarrow 2y = a - b \Rightarrow y = \frac{a - b}{2}. \]
04
Confirm the Linear Combination
Verify that our values for \(x\) and \(y\) work in the original equations. Substitute \(x = \frac{a + b}{2}\) and \(y = \frac{a - b}{2}\) back into the linear combination to ensure they satisfy: \[ \begin{bmatrix} x + y \ x - y \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix} \] by showing that \(\begin{bmatrix} \frac{a + b}{2} + \frac{a - b}{2} \ \frac{a + b}{2} - \frac{a - b}{2} \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}\). Both expressions simplify to \(a\) and \(b\) respectively.
05
Conclusion
Since we can express any vector \(\begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix}\) in \(\mathbb{R}^2\) as a linear combination of the given vectors with \(x = \frac{a + b}{2}\) and \(y = \frac{a - b}{2}\), we have shown that \(\mathbb{R}^2 = \operatorname{span}\left(\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix},\begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix}\right)\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Linear Combinations
In vector spaces, a linear combination involves taking several vectors and mixing them up with some coefficients, which are usually real numbers. If you imagine vectors as arrows, a linear combination is like taking these arrows and scaling them, then adding them up to form a new vector. Let's break it down further with an example from the exercise:
- We have two vectors: \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} \) and \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \) .
- Any vector \( \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix} \) in \( \mathbb{R}^2 \) can be expressed as a combination of the above vectors:
- \( x \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} + y \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix} \)
Span
Imagine the concept of 'span' as all possible points you can reach using a collection of vectors with linear combinations. It's like casting a net to capture as many vectors as possible by scaling and adding your starting set of vectors.
In our example, we aim to show that the vectors \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} \) and \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \) can be used to create any vector in \( \mathbb{R}^2 \).
In our example, we aim to show that the vectors \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} \) and \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \) can be used to create any vector in \( \mathbb{R}^2 \).
- If you can represent any vector \( \begin{bmatrix} a \ b \end{bmatrix} \) in the form of \( x \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} + y \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \), you have captured the entire space.
- This means that the span of these vectors is equal to \( \mathbb{R}^2 \).
Basis
A basis is a special set of vectors that can "build" all vectors in a space without any redundancy. Think of it as having just the right tools you need in your toolbox, no more, no less.
- In our example, a basis for \( \mathbb{R}^2 \) is given by our two vectors: \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} \) and \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \).
- Why are these vectors a basis? Because they span the space as shown before, and they are also linearly independent.
Linear Independence
Linear independence refers to vectors that do not "copy" one another in a certain sense. No vector in the set can be formed by a combination of the others.
In simpler terms:
In simpler terms:
- A set of vectors is called linearly independent if the only solution to \( c_1\mathbf{v}_1 + c_2\mathbf{v}_2 + ... + c_n\mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0} \) is \( c_1 = c_2 = ... = c_n = 0 \).
- In our exercise, with vectors \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ 1 \end{bmatrix} \) and \( \begin{bmatrix} 1 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \), there is no way to create one of these vectors from the other using multiplication and addition.