How to determine a basis given a set of vectors?

In summary, to determine a basis for the subspace V spanned by the given vectors, you can place them in a matrix and derive its reduced echelon form. If the vectors are linearly independent, they will form the basis for V. Otherwise, a subset of the vectors will form the basis.
  • #1
dmitriylm
39
2

Homework Statement


Let V be the subspace spanned by the following vectors:
[ 0]...[ 1 ]...[2]
[ 2]...[ 1 ]...[5]
[-1]...[3/4]...[0]

Determine a basis for V.



The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not quite sure how to start here. Would placing the vectors in a matrix and deriving its reduced echelon form give me a basis?
 
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  • #2
dmitriylm said:

Homework Statement


Let V be the subspace spanned by the following vectors:
[ 0]...[ 1 ]...[2]
[ 2]...[ 1 ]...[5]
[-1]...[3/4]...[0]

Determine a basis for V.



The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not quite sure how to start here. Would placing the vectors in a matrix and deriving its reduced echelon form give me a basis?

Are these row vectors or column vectors?
 
  • #3
Mark44 said:
Are these row vectors or column vectors?

These are column vectors.
 
  • #4
If the three vectors are linearly independent, they are your basis. If they're linearly dependent, some subset of them will be your basis.
 

FAQ: How to determine a basis given a set of vectors?

What is a basis?

A basis is a set of linearly independent vectors that span a vector space. This means that any vector in the vector space can be expressed as a linear combination of the basis vectors.

How do you determine if a set of vectors form a basis?

A set of vectors form a basis if they are linearly independent and span the entire vector space. This means that none of the vectors in the set can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors, and any vector in the vector space can be written as a linear combination of the basis vectors.

What is the process for determining a basis given a set of vectors?

To determine a basis given a set of vectors, you first need to check if the vectors are linearly independent. If they are not, you can use Gaussian elimination to reduce the vectors to their row echelon form. The non-zero rows of the row echelon form will form the basis. If the vectors are already linearly independent, they already form a basis.

Can a set of vectors have more than one basis?

Yes, a vector space can have multiple bases. This is because there can be different combinations of linearly independent vectors that span the same vector space.

How can I check my answer when determining a basis?

You can check your answer by confirming that the basis vectors are linearly independent and that any vector in the vector space can be written as a linear combination of the basis vectors. You can also use the basis to solve for the coefficients of a given vector to see if it can be expressed as a linear combination of the basis vectors.

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