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Linear Independence

Let S = \{v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n\} be a set of vectors in a vector space V.

Linear Independence

Let \(S = \{v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n\}\) be a set of vectors in a vector space \(V\). If there exist scalars \(\alpha_1, \alpha_2 \ldots \alpha_n \in F\) such that not all of the \(\alpha_i\)'s are zero and \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\], then \(S\) is said to be linearly dependent. If the set \(S\) is not linearly dependent, then it is said to be linearly independent. More specifically, \(S\) is a linearly independent set if \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\] implies that \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\] for any set of scalars \(\{ \alpha_1, \alpha_2 \ldots \alpha_n \}\).

The definition of linear dependence makes more sense if we consider the following proposition.

The following proposition is a consequence of the fact that any system of homogeneous linear equations with more unknowns than equations will have a nontrivial solution. We leave the details of the proof for the end-of-chapter exercises.

A set \(\{ e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_n \}\) of vectors in a vector space \(V\) is called a basis for \(V\) if \(\{ e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_n \}\) is a linearly independent set that spans \(V\).

Condensed — the full section is in Judson, Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications.

Symbols used here

x \in A,\ A \subseteq B
element of, subset
x belongs to A; every element of A is in B.
i
imaginary unit
i² = −1.
\neq
not equal
The two sides are different.
\mathbb{N},\ \mathbb{Z},\ \mathbb{Q},\ \mathbb{R},\ \mathbb{C}
number sets
Naturals, integers, rationals, reals, complex numbers.
\blacksquare\ \text{or}\ \square
end of proof (halmos)
Marks the point where the statement has been established.
a \equiv b \pmod n
congruent modulo n
n divides a − b; a and b have the same remainder.
a \mid b,\ \gcd(a,b)
divides, greatest common divisor
b is a multiple of a; the largest number dividing both.
(G, \cdot),\ e,\ g^{-1}
group, identity, inverse
A set with an operation; the do-nothing element; the element that undoes g.
G \cong H,\ G / N
isomorphic, quotient group
Same structure; the group of cosets of a normal subgroup N.
\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z},\ \mathbb{Z}_n
integers modulo n
The remainders 0…n−1 with clock arithmetic.
\operatorname{Hom}(A, B),\ f \circ g
arrows from A to B, composition
The set of morphisms; do g then f.

Questions people ask

What is a group, in plain words?

A set with one operation that is associative, has an identity, and lets every element be undone. Symmetries of any object form a group — that is where the idea came from.

What is the difference between a ring and a field?

A ring has addition and multiplication that behave like the integers (you cannot always divide); a field is a ring where every non-zero element has a reciprocal, like the rationals or the reals.

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Parts of this page are adapted from Judson, Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications (GFDL 1.3). Condensed and re-explained here; errors are ours.

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GroupsSubgroups, cosets and Lagrange's theoremCyclic groups and permutation groupsHomomorphisms, normal subgroups and quotient groupsRings and fieldsGalois theory: why the quintic has no formula