Vector Spaces of finite dimension

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ)

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 1 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 2 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Definition
The generated vector spaces by a finite number of vectors (called a set of
vectors) are said to be vector spaces of finite dimension.

Reminder
Let n ∈ N, n ≥ 1 and v1 , v2 , . . . , vn n vectors in a Vector Space E over K. Then
every vector u ∈ E of the form
u = λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + . . . + λn vn ,
with λ1 , λ2 , . . . , λn scalars in K, is called a linear combination of the vectors
v1 , v2 , . . . , vn , and the scalars λ1 , λ2 , . . . , λn are called coefficients of the linear
combination.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 3 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Definitions
A set of vectors {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } of a vector space E over K is said to be
linearly independent if and only if

λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + . . . + λn vn = 0E ⇒ λ1 = 0, λ2 = 0, . . ., and λn = 0
By contra-position, if
∃i ∈ {1, ..., n} such that λi 6= 0 and λ1 v1 + . . . + λi vi + . . . + λn vn = 0E
then we say that the set {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } is linearly dependent.
If a set of vectors is linearly dependent, we call dependence relation the
expression of one vector as function of the others.
In order to determine if a set of vectors {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } in the vector space
Rn is linearly dependent or independent, we need to solve a linear system.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 4 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Examples :
1) Determine whether the set of vectors {v1 , v2 , v3 } is linearly dependent or
independent in R3 :
! ! !
1 4 2
a) v1 = 2 , v2 = 5 and v3 = 1 ,
3 6 0

! ! !
1 2 2
b) v1 = 1 , v2 = −1 and v3 = 1 .
1 0 1

2) Determine whether the set of polynomials {P1 , P2 , P3 } is linearly dependent

or independent in R2 [x], with P1 (x) = 2 − x, P2 (x) = 1 − 2x + x 2 and
P3 (x) = 3 + 2x − x 2 .

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 5 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Proposition
Let E be a vector space over K, then
a set of one vector v ∈ E is linearly independent if v 6= 0E ,
a set {v1 , v2 } is linearly dependent if and only if v1 is a multiple of v2 or v2
is a multiple of v1 .

Theorem
Let E be a vector space over K. A set S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } (n ≥ 2) is linearly
dependent if and only if
∃i ∈ {1, . . . , n}, vi = nj=1,i6=j λj vj ,
P
i.e., at least one vector of S is a linear combination of the others.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 6 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Interpretations :
In R2 , two vectors are linearly dependent if they are colinear and form a
vectorial line,
In R3 , three vectors are linearly dependent if they are coplanar and form a
vectorial plane.

Proposition
Let S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vp } be a set of vectors in Rn . If p > n, then the set S is
linearly dependent.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 7 / 30

I) Independent and dependent sets

Exercise :

For which values of t ∈ R the set S is linearly independent ?

   
−1 t2
a) S = t
, −t in R2 ?

! ! !
1 t2 1

b) S = t , 1 , t in R3 ?
t2 1 1

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 8 / 30

 II) Generating set

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 9 / 30

II) Generating set

Definition
Let E be a Vector Space over K and v1 , v2 , . . . , vn vectors in E . We say that
S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } is a generating set (spanning set) of the Vector Space E if
∀v ∈ E , ∃λ1 , . . . , λn ∈ K, v = λ1 v1 + . . . + λn vn

We say that the set S generates (spans ) the Vector Space E .

Remark :
if a set S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vp } generates a Vector Space E , then we get back
the previous concept of a generated Vector Space by the vectors
v1 , v2 , . . . , vp :
E = Vect(v1 , v2 , . . . , vp )

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 10 / 30

II) Generating set

Examples :

1) Which Vector Space generates the set S ?

! ! !
1 0 0

a) S = 0 , 1 , 0 .
0 0 1

b) S = {1, X , X 2 , . . . , X n } the set of polynomials of degree n ≥ 1.

       
1 0 0
1 0 0 0 0
c) S = 0 0
, 0 0
, 1 0
, 0 1
.
   
1 1
2) Is S = 0
, 1 a generating set of R2 ?

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 11 / 30

II) Generating set

Proposition
Let S = {v1 , . . . , vn } a generating set of E . Then S 0 = {v10 , . . . , vn0 } is also a
generating set of E if and only if every vector in S 0 is a linear combination of
the vectors of S and vice-versa.

Exercise :
   
0 t
For which values of t ∈ R the set S = t−1
, −t is a generating set of
R2 ?

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 12 / 30

 III) Basis of a Vector Space

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 13 / 30

III) Basis of a Vector Space

Definition
Let E be a Vector Space over K. A set F = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } of vectors in E is
said to be a basis of E if it is :
a generating set of E , and
linearly independent.

Theorem
Let F = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } be a basis of a Vector Space E . Then, every vector
v ∈ E is expressed in a unique way as a linear combination of elements of F.
I.e.,
∀v ∈ E , ∃λ1 , λ2 , . . . , λn ∈ K, v = λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + . . . + λn vn .
⇒ (λ1 , λ2 , . . . , λn ) are called the coordinates of the vector v in the basis F.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 14 / 30

III) Basis of a Vector Space

Examples :
 
1 0
Let e1 = 0
and e2 = 1
. Then (e1 , e2 ) is the so-called canonical basis
2
of R ,
! ! !
1 0 0
Let e1 = 0 , e2 = 1 , e3 = 0 . Then (e1 , e2 , e3 ) is the so-called
0 0 1
3
canonical  of R 
basis .  
1 0 0
0 1 0
Let e1 = 
 ... , e2 =  ... , . . ., en =  ... . Then (e1 , e2 , . . . , en ) is the
  

0 0 1

so-called canonical basis of Rn .

The canonical basis of Rn [X ] is the set F = {1, X , X 2 , . . . , X n }.
The canonical
  basis  F = {A, 
 of M2 (R) isthe set D} where
B, C , 
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
A = 0 0 , B = 0 0 , C = 1 0 and D = 0 1 .

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 15 / 30

III) Basis of a Vector Space

Exercise :
! ! !
1 2 3
Let v1 = 2 , v2 = 2 and v3 = 3 . Show that the set F = {v1 , v2 , v3 } is
1 0 4

a basis of R3 .

Remarks :
To show that a set of n vectors F = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } is a basis of Rn , we
simply need to determine whether the matrix whose columns are the
vectors v1 , v2 , . . . , vn is invertible or not.
The basis of a Vector Space is not unique.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 16 / 30

III) Basis of a Vector Space

Theorem 1 : Existence of a basis

Every Vector Space with a generating set has a basis.

Theorem 2
Let E be a Vector Space over K with a finite generating set.
Incomplete basis theorem :
Every linearly independent set I in E can be completed to a basis. I.e.,
there exists a set of elements S in E such that I ∪ S is a generating and
linearly independent set.
Extracted basis theorem :
From every generating set G of E we can extract a basis of E . I.e., there
exists a set of elements B ⊂ G such that B is a generating and linearly
independent set of E .

Theorem 3
Let G a finite generating set and I a linearly independent set of E . Then, there
exists a set S ⊂ G such that I ∪ S is a basis of E .

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 17 / 30

III) Basis of a Vector Space

Exercise :

1) Let E be the Vector Subspace of the R-Vector Space R[X ] generated by the
set G = {P1 , P2 , P3 , P4 , P5 } defined as :
P1 (X ) = 1, P2 (X ) = X , P3 (X ) = X + 1, P4 (X ) = 1 + X 3 , P5 (X ) = X − X 3
Find a basis B of E .
2) Show that the set S = {v1 , v2 , v3 }, with v1 = (1, 0, 2, 3), v2 = (0, 1, 2, 3)
and v3 = (1, 2, 0, 3), can be completed to a basis.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 18 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 19 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

Definition
A Vector Space E over K with a basis of finite elements is said to be of finite
dimension.

Theorem
All the bases of a Vector Space E of finite dimension have the same number of
elements.

Definition
The dimension of a Vector Space of finite dimension, denoted dim(E ),
corresponds to the number of elements of a basis of E .

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 20 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

Remarks :
1) In order to determine the dimension of a Vector Space of finite dimension,
Find a basis of E (generating and linearly independent set),
determine the cardinal (number of elements) of this basis.
2) The dimension of the Vector Space {0E } is 0.

Examples :
1) Determine the dimension of R2 , Rn and Rn [X ],
2) The Vector Spaces R[X ] and F(R, R) are not of finite dimension.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 21 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

Exercise :

Let (S) be the following linear system :

2x1 +2x2 −x3 +x5 =0




 − x1 −x2

+2x3 −3x4 +x5 =0


x1 +x2 −2x3 −x5 =0

x3 +x4 +x5 =0

1) Is the solution set of S a Vector Space ?

2) Determine the solution set of S,
3) Determine the dimension of this Vector Space.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 22 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

Proposition 1
Let E be a Vector Space, I a linearly independent set and G a generating set
of E . Then card(I) ≤ card(G).

→ We admit this result.

Proposition 2
Let E be a Vector Space with a basis of n elements. Then,
Every linearly independent set of E has at most n elements,
Every generating set of E has at least n elements.

Proposition 3
If E is a Vector Space with a basis of n elements, then every basis of E is
composed of n elements.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 23 / 30

IV) Dimension of a Vector Space

Theorem
Let E be a Vector Space over K of dimension n, and S = (v1 , . . . , vn ) a set of
n elements of E . Then, the following statements are equivalent :
1 S is a basis of E ,
2 S is a linearly independent set of E ,
3 S is a generating set of E ,
I.e.,
(1) ⇔ (2) ⇔ (3)

Exercise :
3
For which values of t ∈ R the!set S = (v!
1 , v2 , v3 ) is a basis
! of R ?
1 1 1
v1 = 1 , v2 = 3 and v3 = 1
4 t t

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 24 / 30

V) Dimension of Vector Subspaces

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 25 / 30

V) Dimension of Vector Subspaces

Theorem
Let E be a K-Vector Space of finite dimension. Then
Every Vector Subspace F of E is of finite dimension,
dim(F ) ≤ dim(E ),
F = E ⇔ dim(F ) = dim(E )

Example :
Find the Vector Subspaces of the K-Vector Space E of dimension 2, and
determine their dimensions.
Definition
Let E be a K-Vector Space of dimension n. We call a hyperplane every Vector
Subspace of E of dimension n − 1.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 26 / 30

V) Dimension of Vector Subspaces

Proposition
Let E be a K-Vector Space of finite dimension and F , G Vector Subspaces of
E . If G ⊂ F or F ⊂ G , then
F = G ⇔ dim(F ) =dim(G )

Example :
Show that the following Vector Subspace of R3 :
F = {(x, y , z) ∈ R3 |2x − 3y + z = 0}
G = Vect(u, v ), where u = (1, 1, 1) and v = (2, 1, −1)
are equal.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 27 / 30

V) Dimension of Vector Subspaces

Theorem
Let E be a Vector Space of finite dimension and F , G Vector Subspaces of E .
Then
dim(F + G ) =dim(F )+dim(G )−dim(F ∩ G )

Proposition
If E = F ⊕ G , then dim(E ) =dim(F )+dim(G ).

Proposition
Every Vector Subspace of a Vector Space E of finite dimension has a
supplementary in E .

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 28 / 30

V) Dimension of Vector Subspaces

Exercise : Let v1 = (1, t, −1), v2 = (t, 1, 1) and v3 = (1, 1, 1), with t ∈ R.

Consider the following Vector Subspaces of R3 :
F = Vect(v1 , v2 ) and G = Vect(v3 )
Determine the dimensions of F , G , F ∩ G and F + G as function of t.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 29 / 30

 END

References :
-Sophie Chemla. Université Pierre et Marie Curie.
-Eva Bayer-Fluckiger, Philippe Chabloz and Lara Thomas. Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne.
-Alain Soyeur and Emmanuel Vieillard-Baron. Cours de Mathématiques, Sup MPSI
PCSI PSI TSI — Spé MP PC PSI TSI.

French-AZerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vector Spaces of finite dimension 30 / 30