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Linear Independence in Vector Spaces

This document provides background on linear independence and defines linear independence of vectors. A set of vectors is linearly independent if the only solution to a linear combination of the vectors equaling the zero vector is if all coefficients are zero. It gives properties of linear independence, including that if any vector is the zero vector or a multiple of another, the set is dependent. It also provides examples of dependent and independent sets of vectors.

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130 views9 pages

Linear Independence in Vector Spaces

This document provides background on linear independence and defines linear independence of vectors. A set of vectors is linearly independent if the only solution to a linear combination of the vectors equaling the zero vector is if all coefficients are zero. It gives properties of linear independence, including that if any vector is the zero vector or a multiple of another, the set is dependent. It also provides examples of dependent and independent sets of vectors.

Uploaded by

Andrew Fong
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

ENGI 7825: Linear Algebra Review

Linear Independence

Adapted from Notes Developed by Martin Scharlemann

June 8, 2015

1/9
Background thoughts:

If two non-trivial vectors ~x1 , ~x2 both lie on the same line, then
Span{~x1 , ~x2 } is just that line.

On the other hand, if they don’t lie on the same line, then
Span{~x1 , ~x2 } consists of an entire plane.

So the span of two vectors may be a plane, or it could be


something simpler: either a line, or even just ~0 in the case that
~x1 = ~0 = ~x2 .

2/9
Similarly, if three non-trivial vectors ~x1 , ~x2 , ~x3 ∈ R3 all lie on the
same line, then Span{~x1 , ~x2 , ~x3 } is just that line.

If they don’t all lie on the same line, but lie on the same plane,
then Span{~x1 , ~x2 , ~x3 } is just that plane.

If they don’t all lie in the same plane, then Span{~x1 , ~x2 , ~x3 } is R3 .

3/9
Definition
A set of vectors {~v1 , . . . , ~vk } in Rm is linearly independent if and
only if the only solution to the equation

c1 ~v1 + · · · + ck ~vk = ~0

is the solution ci = 0 for 1 ≤ i ≤ k.


Conversely, the set of vectors {~v1 , . . . , ~vk } is linearly dependent if
there are real numbers c1 , ..., ck , not all zero, such that

c1 ~v1 + · · · + ck ~vk = ~0.

Idea: if the set is linearly independent, then the span is as big as


possible.
If the set is linearly dependent then the span is somehow “thinner”;
you could even remove some vectors and not change the span.

4/9
In pictures:

v2

v1

v3

{~v1 , ~v2 , ~v3 } linearly dependent.


5/9
v2
v1

v3

{~v1 , ~v2 , ~v3 } linearly independent.

6/9
Property 1: If even a single ~vi = ~0 then {~v1 , . . . , ~vk } is linearly
dependent. Why?
Suppose that ~v1 = ~0. Then

1~v1 + 0~v2 + 0~v3 · · · + 0~vk = ~0

yet c1 = 1 6= 0.

Property 2: If even a single ~vi is a multiple of a different ~vj then


{~v1 , . . . , ~vk } is linearly dependent. Example: Let ~v2 = 5~v1 . Then

5~v1 − ~v2 + 0~v3 · · · + 0~vk = ~0

yet c1 = 5 6= 0 (and also c2 = −1 6= 0).

Property 3: If any subset of {~v1 , . . . , ~vk } is linearly dependent, so


is the whole set.
Question: Is this set of vectors linearly dependent, or linearly
independent?    
 2 3 
3 , 4
4 5
 

A) Dependent since they are 2 vectors in R3 and 2 < 3.


B) Independent since they are 2 vectors in R3 and 2 < 3.
C) Dependent because one is a multiple of the other.
D) Independent because neither is a multiple of the other.
E) Independent because one is a multiple of the other.

Answer: D

8/9
Question: Is this set of vectors linearly dependent, or linearly
independent? (There are two correct answers.)
     
 1 2 −3 
2 ,  4  ,  −5 
5 10 −13
 

A) Independent since they are 3 vectors in R3 .


B) Dependent because one is a multiple of the other.
C) Dependent because a subset is dependent.
D) Independent because a subset is independent.

Answer: B and C

9/9

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