Basis and Dimensions of Vector Spaces

A set of vectors S = {v1, v2, , vn} are said to form a basis if the following
conditions are met.
1. The set S spans all of their vector space.
2. The set S is linearly independent.
To show that a set of vectors for a basis, just show that they span all of their
dimension OR show that they are linearly independent. Both concepts imply
each other because they both require the use of the determinant.
Example: Determine if the vectors (2,2,2), (0,0,3), and (0,1,1) form a basis for
R3.

Spanning: We must be able to write every vector as a linear combination of
the vectors given to us. Let v = (a, b, c) be an arbitrary vector in R3. Thus, we
have the following system of equations:
(a, b, c ) = c1 (2,2,2) + c2 (0,0,3) + c3 (0,1,1)

(a, b, c ) = (2c1 ,2c1 ,2c1 ) + (0,0,3c2 ) + (0, c3 , c3 )

(a, b, c ) = (2c1 ,2c1 + c3 ,2c1 + 3c2 + c3 )

a = 2c1

b = 2c1 + c3
c = 2c + 3c + c
1
2
3

Using Gaussian Elilmination, we have the following:

2 0 0 a R 2 2 R1 2 0 0 a 1
1 0 0 a / 2
1 0 0 a / 2

R 3 R1
2 R1
R 3 R 2

0 0 1 b a
0 3 1 c a
2 0 1 b 0 0 1 b a
2 3 1 c
0 3 1 c a
0 3 1 c a
0 0 1 b a

1 0 0
1 0 0 a / 2
a/2
1

R 2 3 R 3

0 1 1 / 3 c / 3 a / 3
0 1 0 c / 3 b / 3
0 0 1
0 0 1 b a
b a
1
R2
3

So we have the equations c1 = a/2, c2 = c/3 b/3, and c3 = b a. For any value
of a, b, c, the system always remain consistent. Therefore, the vectors span R3.


Linear Independence: We must be able to write the zero vector in R3 as a

linear combination of the vectors given to us and the ALL constants must be
equal to zero. Thus, we have the following equation:
(0,0,0) = c1 (2,2,2) + c2 (0,0,3) + c3 (0,1,1)

(0,0,0) = (2c1 ,2c1 ,2c1 ) + (0,0,3c2 ) + (0, c3 , c3 )

(0,0,0 ) = (2c1 ,2c1 + c3 ,2c1 + 3c2 + c3 )

0 = 2c1

0 = 2c1 + c3
0 = 2c + 3c + c
1
2
3

Using Gaussian Elilmination, we have the following:

2 0 0 0 R 2 2 R1 2 0 0 0 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0

R 3 R1
2 R1
R 3 R 2

0 0 1 0
0 3 1 0
2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2 3 1 0
0 3 1 0
0 3 1 0
0 0 1 0

1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
1

R 2 3 R3

0 1 1 / 3 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 1 0
So we have the equations c1 = 0, c2= 0, and c3 = 0. Clearly, we can see that c1 =
c2 = c3 = 0. Therefore, the vectors are linearly independent.
1
R2
3

We can also use the determinant to show that these vectors form a basis in R3.
The coefficient matrix associated with the system is given by. Computing the
determinant using cofactor expansion yields:
2 0 0
2 0
2 0 1 = (1) 3+ 2 (3)
= (3)(2) = 6 0
2 1
2 3 1
Therefore, the vectors form a basis for R3

Next, we talk about the dimensions of different types of vectors. The number of
vectors in any set given determines if it will be a basis for its vector space.
Vector Object
Vectors
(x1, x2, , xn)
Matrices
a11 a12 K a1n
a

21 a 22 K a 2 n
M
M O M

a m1 a m 2 K a mn
Polynomials
a0 + a1x + a2x2 + + a1xn

Dimension of Vector Space

n

mn

n+1