Vector Spaces

Lecture: 4 Span
By: Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Vector Spaces
1. Vectors in the Plane and in 3-Space
2. Vector Spaces
3. Subspaces
4. Span
5. Linear Independence
6. Basis and Dimension
Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Let S ={ v
1
, v
2
, A, v
k
} be a set of vectors in a vector
space V. A vector v e V is called a linear combination
of the vectors in S if v =a
1
v
1
+ a
2
v
2
+ A + a
k
v
k
for
some real numbers a
1
, a
2
, K, a
k


Definition: Linear Combinations
Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Consider the three-dimensional vectors






Express the vector as a linear combination
of v
1
, v
2
and v
3


1 2 3
1 1 1
2 , 0 , 1
1 2 0
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (

= = = v v v
2
1
5
(
(
(
(

= v
Example
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We need to find a
1
, a
2
, and a
3
such that
v =a
1
v
1
+ a
2
v
2
+ a
3
v
3








The linear system may be solved to yield a
1
= 1, a
2
= 2
and a
3
= 1. So, v = v
1
+ 2 v
2
v
3

Example (continued)

1 2 3
1 2 3 1 3
1 2
1 1 1 2
2 0 1 2 0 1
1 2 0 2 0 5
a a a
a a a a a
a a
( ( ( ( (
( ( ( ( (
( ( ( ( (
( ( ( ( (

+ +
+ + = + + =
+ +
Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
1 2 3
1 3
1 2
2
2 1
2 5
a a a
a a
a a
+ + =

+ =

+ =

Defn - Let S = { v
1
, v
2
, K, v
k
} be a set of vectors in a
vector space V. The span of S is the set of all linear
combinations of the elements of S

To determine if a vector v belongs to the span of S,
need to examine the corresponding system of linear
equations. If that system has a solution (or solutions)
then v belongs to the span of S
Span: Definition
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Span is a subspace
Theorem - Let S = { v
1
, v
2
, K, v
k
} be a set of vectors in a
vector space V. The span of S is a subspace of V.
Proof - To show that span(S) is a subspace of V, have to show
If u, v e span(S), then u+v e span(S)
If c is a real number and u e span(S), then cu e span(S)
Let u, v e span(S). Then for some
real numbers a
1
, a
2
, , a
k
and b
1
, b
2
, , b
k

e span(S).
Let c be real and u e span(S). Then for some
real numbers a
1
, a
2
, , a
k
.
1
k
i i
i
a
=
=

v u
1 1
,
k k
i i i i
i i
a b
= =
= =

v v u v
( )
1 1 1
k k k
i i i i i i i
i i i
a b a b
= = =
+ = + = +

u v v v v
1 1
k k
i i i i
i i
c c a ca
= =
= =

u v v
e
span(S).
Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Defn - Let S = { v
1
, v
2
, K, v
k
} be a set of vectors in a
vector space V. The set S spans V if every vector in
V is a linear combination of the vectors in S

If span S = V, then S is called a spanning set of V.
Span and linear combinations
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In R
3
, consider the vectors i<1,0,0>,
j<0,1,0>, k<0,0,1>. These vectors i, j, and
k span R
3
Proof. Suppose v=<x, y, z> is any vector in
R
3
.Then, we can express v as a linear
combination of the vectors I, j, k as:

Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh
Example 1
, , v x y z xi yj zk =< >= + +
Consider the
homogeneous system Ax =
0 where
Determine the set of
solutions of this system.
Form augmented matrix
and put it into reduced row
echelon form

Span: Examples

1 1 0 2
2 2 1 5
1 1 1 3
4 4 1 9
(
(
(
(
(
(


=

A
1 1 0 2 0
0 0 1 1 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
(
(
(
(
(
(

Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh

Example (continued)

Span: Examples
1 2 4
3 4
2 0
0
x x x
x x
+ + =
=
Set x
4
= s
x
3
= s
Set x
2
= r
x
1
= r 2s
2 1 2
1 0
0 1
0 1
r s
r
r s
s
s
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (
( ( (


= = + x
Spans the solution space
1 2
1 0
,
0 1
0 1
( (
( (
( (
( (
( (
( (


1 1 0 2 0
0 0 1 1 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
(
(
(
(
(
(

Span by Dr. Mai Duc Thanh