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*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives an identity matrix, it is '''linearly independent'''<br>
 
*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives an identity matrix, it is '''linearly independent'''<br>
 
*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a parameter in the matrix, the vectors are '''linearly dependent.'''
 
*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a parameter in the matrix, the vectors are '''linearly dependent.'''
 
 
  
 
Tricks:  
 
Tricks:  
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If Dimension &gt; #No of vectors -&gt; '''it CANNOT span'''  
 
If Dimension &gt; #No of vectors -&gt; '''it CANNOT span'''  
  
If det(vectors)&nbsp;!= 0 ⇔ it spans<br>If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with all rows having leading 1's, '''it spans'''.&nbsp; For example: <math>rref(\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&2&3\\ 2&3&4 \end{smallmatrix} \right)) = \left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&0&-1\\ 0&1&2 \end{smallmatrix} \right)</math> spans R<sup>2</sup><br>  
+
*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with all rows having leading 1's, '''it spans'''.&nbsp
 +
*If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with not all rows having a leading 1, it '''does not span.'''
 +
 
 +
Tricks:
 +
If det(vectors)&nbsp;!= 0 ⇔ it spans<br>
 +
If det(vectors) = 0 ⇔ '''does not span'''<br>
  
If det(vectors) = 0 ⇔ '''does not span'''<br>If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with not all rows having a leading 1, it '''does not span.'''
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For example: <math>rref(\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&2&3\\ 2&3&4 \end{smallmatrix} \right)) = \left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&0&-1\\ 0&1&2 \end{smallmatrix} \right)</math> spans R<sup>2</sup><br>  
  
 
<u>'''Basis'''</u><br>  
 
<u>'''Basis'''</u><br>  
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If #No of vectors &gt; Dimension -&gt; it is not a basis.  
 
If #No of vectors &gt; Dimension -&gt; it is not a basis.  
  
If #No of vectors = Dimension -&gt; it has to be linearly independent to span<span class="texhtml" />
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If #No of vectors = Dimension -&gt; it has to be linearly independent to span
  
 
[[Category:MA265Spring2011Momin]]
 
[[Category:MA265Spring2011Momin]]
  
 
<br>
 
<br>

Revision as of 09:41, 1 May 2011

Tricks for checking Linear Independence, Span and Basis

Note: For this article, I am assuming number of vectors is equal to the dimension of the vector space for calculating the determinant. If it is not, you need to do rref.


Linear Independence

  • If end result of the rref(vectors) gives an identity matrix, it is linearly independent
  • If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a parameter in the matrix, the vectors are linearly dependent.

Tricks:

If det(vectors) != 0 ⇔ linearly independent

If det(vectors) = 0 ⇔ linearly dependent

If #No of vectors > Dimension ⇔ it is linearly dependent

Example: $ rref(\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&2&3\\ 2&3&4 \end{smallmatrix} \right)) = \left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&0&-1\\ 0&1&2 \end{smallmatrix} \right) $ is linearly dependent in R2 because the last column [-1 2]T i.e z is a parameter as there can be no leading 1 for that column. You can express x = z and y = -2z

Span

If Dimension > #No of vectors -> it CANNOT span

  • If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with all rows having leading 1's, it spans.&nbsp
  • If end result of the rref(vectors) gives you a matrix with not all rows having a leading 1, it does not span.

Tricks: If det(vectors) != 0 ⇔ it spans
If det(vectors) = 0 ⇔ does not span

For example: $ rref(\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&2&3\\ 2&3&4 \end{smallmatrix} \right)) = \left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1&0&-1\\ 0&1&2 \end{smallmatrix} \right) $ spans R2

Basis


If Dimension > #No of vectors ⇔ cannot span ⇔ is not a basis

If #No of vectors > Dimension -> it is not a basis.

If #No of vectors = Dimension -> it has to be linearly independent to span


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Questions/answers with a recent ECE grad

Ryne Rayburn