4.
4 Span
DEFINITION 4.7 If S = { v 1 , v 2 , … , v k } is a set of vectors in a vector space V. then
the set of all vectors in V that are linear combinations of the
vectors in S is denoted by span S or span { v 1 , v 2 , … , v k }.
Example: Consider the set S of 2 x 3 matrices given by
1 0 0 , 0 1 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
S= {[ ][ ][
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 ][ ]}
Then span S is the set in M 23 consisting of all vectors of the form
a [ 10 0 0
0 0
+b
0 1 0
0 0 0 ] [
+c
0 0 0
0 1 0
+d
0 0 0
] [ ] [ ]
0 0 1
a b 0
=[
0 c d]
, where a, b, c, and d are real numbers.
That is, span S is the subset of M 23 consisting of all matrices of
the form
[ a0 b 0
c d ]
, where a, b, c, and d are real numbers.
Theorem 4.4 Let S = { v 1 , v 2 , … , v k } be a set of vectors in a vector space V.
Then span S is a subspace of V.
Proof:
Let
k
u=∑ a j v j
j =1
and
k
w=∑ b j v j
j=1
for some real numbers a 1 , a2 , … , a and b 1 , b2 , … , bk . We have
k k
u+ w=∑ a j v j +∑ b j v j
j=1 j=1
using Exercise 17 (a) and (b) in Section 1.2. Moreover, for any
real number c.
k k
cu=c ( )
∑ a j v j =∑ c ¿¿ ¿
j=1 j=1
Since the slim u + w and the scalar multiple cu are linear
combinations of the vectors in S, then span S is a subspace of V.
DEFINITION 4.8 Let S be a set of vectors in a vector space V. If every vector in V
is a linear combination of the vectors in S, then the set S is said
to span V, or V is spanned by the sel S; that is, span S = V.
Example: In R3, let
2 1
[]
v1 = 1 and
Determine whether the vector
1 []
v 2= −1
3
1
v= 5
[] −7
belongs to span { v 1 , v 2 }.
Solution: If we can find scalars a 1 and a 2 such that
a 1 v 1 +a 2 v 2=v
then v belongs to span { v 1 , v 2 }. Substituting for v1 , v 2 and , we
have
2 1 1
1[] [ ] [ ]
a 1 1 +¿ a 2 −1 =¿ 5
3 −7
This expression corresponds to the linear system whose
augmented matrix is
2 1 1
[ 1−1 ⋮ 5
1 3 −7 ]
The reduced row echelon form of this system is (verify)
10 2
[ ] 0 1 ⋮−3
00 0
which indicates that the linear system is consistent, a 1= 2, and a 2
= 3. Hence v belongs 10 span { v 1 , v 2 } .
Example: In P2, let
v1 =2t 2 +t+2, v 2=t 2 −2t, v3 =5 t 2−5 t +2,
v 4=−t 2−3 t −2,
Determine whether the vector
v=t 2+t +2,
Belong to span { v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 }
Solution: If we can find scalars a 1 , a2 , a3 and a 4so that
a 1 v 1 +a 2 v 2+ a3 v 3+ a4 v 4=v
then v belongs to span { v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 } . Substituting for v1 , v 2 , v 3 and.
v 4 we have
a 1 ( 2 t 2 +t +2 ) +a2 (t 2−2 t)+a 3 (5t 2−5 t +2 ,)+a 4 (−t 2−3 t−2)=t 2+ t+2
or
( 2 a1 +a 2+5 a 3−a 4 ) t2 +(a1−2 a2 −5 a3−3 a 4 )t +(2 a1 +2 a3 −2 a4 )+¿ t2 +t +2
Now two polynomials agree for all values of t only if the
coefficients of respective powers of t agree. Thus we get the
linear system
2 a1 +a2 +5 a3 −a 4=1
a 1−2 a2−5 a3 −3 a4 =1
2 a1 +2 a3−2 a 4=2
To determine whether this system of linear equations is
consistent. We form the augmented matrix and transform it to
reduced row echelon form, obtaining (verify)
1 0 1 −1 0
[ 0 1 3 1 0
0 0 0 0 1 ]
which indicates that the system is inconsistent; that is, it has no
solution. Hence v does not belong to span { v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , v 4 } .
Exercises: 1. For each of the following vector spaces. give two different
spanning sets:
(a) R3 (b) M 22 (c) P2
2. In each part. determine whetrer the given vector p(t) in P2
belongs to span { p1 ( t ) , p2 ( t ) , p3 (t )} where
p1 (t )=¿ t 2+ 2t +1, p2 ( t )=¿ t 2+ 3, and p3 ( t ) =t−1
(a) p(t) = t 2+ t+2
(b) p(t) = 2 t 2 +2 t+3
(c) p(t) = −t 2+ t−4
(d) p(t) = −2 t 2 +3 t+ 1
3. Which of the following sets of vectors span R4 ?
(a) [ 1 0 0 1 ], [ 0 1 0 0 ] ,
[ 1 1 1 1] ,[ 1 1 1 0 ]
(b) [ 1 2 1 0 ], [ 1 1−1 0 ] , [ 0 0 0 1 ]
Answer key: 1. (a) Possible answers
1 1 1 0 0 1
{[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]}
0 , 1 , 1 , 0 , 1 , 1
0 0 1 1 1 1
(b) Possible answers
1 0 , 0 1 , 0 0 , 0 0 , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 1 , 1 1
{[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]}
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1
(c) Possible answers
{ t 2 ,t +1 ,t −1 } , { t 2+ t , t2−t , t+1 }
2. (a) Yes. (b) No. (c) Yes. (d ) No.
3. (a)
