Determining Linear Dependence

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 32 views

Introduction

In linear algebra, a set of vectors is said to be linearly dependent if at least one vector in the set can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors. In other words, if a vector can be written as a sum of scalar multiples of the other vectors, then the set of vectors is linearly dependent. In this article, we will explore which vectors are linearly dependent and how to determine this.

What are Linearly Dependent Vectors?

Linearly dependent vectors are vectors that can be expressed as a linear combination of each other. This means that if we have two vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ , then $\vec{a}$ is linearly dependent on $\vec{b}$ if there exist scalars $c_1$ and $c_2$ such that $\vec{a} = c_1\vec{b} + c_2\vec{0}$ , where $\vec{0}$ is the zero vector.

Determining Linear Dependence

To determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent, we can use the following method:

Write down the two vectors.
Check if one vector is a scalar multiple of the other vector.
If one vector is a scalar multiple of the other vector, then the vectors are linearly dependent.

Example 1: $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,3)$

Let's consider the two vectors $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,3)$ . We can see that $\vec{b}$ is not a scalar multiple of $\vec{a}$ , since there is no scalar $c$ such that $(2,3) = c(1,2)$ . Therefore, the vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ are linearly independent.

Example 2: $\vec{a} = (1,1)$ and $\vec{b} = (4,4)$

Now, let's consider the two vectors $\vec{a} = (1,1)$ and $\vec{b} = (4,4)$ . We can see that $\vec{b}$ is a scalar multiple of $\vec{a}$ , since $(4,4) = 4(1,1)$ . Therefore, the vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ are linearly dependent.

Example 3: $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,5)$

Finally, let's consider the two vectors $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,5)$ . We can see that $\vec{b}$ is not a scalar multiple of $\vec{a}$ , since there is no scalar $c$ such that $(2,5) = c(1,2)$ . Therefore, the vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ are linearly independent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, linearly dependent vectors are vectors that can be expressed as a linear combination of each other. To determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent, we can use the method outlined above. We can see that the vectors $\vec{a} = (1,1)$ and $\vec{b} = (4,4)$ are linearly dependent, while the vectors $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,3)$ , and $\vec{a} = (1,2)$ and $\vec{b} = (2,5)$ are linearly independent.

References

Linear Algebra and Its Applications by Gilbert Strang
Introduction to Linear Algebra by Gilbert Strang
Linear Algebra by David C. Lay

FAQs

What is linear dependence?
- Linear dependence is a property of a set of vectors that can be expressed as a linear combination of each other.
How do I determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent?
- You can use the method outlined above to determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent.
What is the difference between linear dependence and linear independence?
- Linear dependence means that a vector can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors, while linear independence means that a vector cannot be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors.
  Q&A: Linear Dependence and Independence =============================================

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is linear dependence?

A: Linear dependence is a property of a set of vectors that can be expressed as a linear combination of each other. In other words, if a vector can be written as a sum of scalar multiples of the other vectors, then the set of vectors is linearly dependent.

Q: How do I determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent?

A: To determine whether two vectors are linearly dependent, you can use the following method:

Write down the two vectors.
Check if one vector is a scalar multiple of the other vector.
If one vector is a scalar multiple of the other vector, then the vectors are linearly dependent.

Q: What is the difference between linear dependence and linear independence?

A: Linear dependence means that a vector can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors, while linear independence means that a vector cannot be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors.

Q: Can a set of vectors be both linearly dependent and linearly independent?

A: No, a set of vectors cannot be both linearly dependent and linearly independent. If a set of vectors is linearly dependent, then it is not linearly independent, and vice versa.

Q: How do I find the linear dependence of a set of vectors?

A: To find the linear dependence of a set of vectors, you can use the following method:

Write down the set of vectors.
Check if any vector in the set can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors.
If a vector can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors, then the set of vectors is linearly dependent.

Q: Can a vector be linearly dependent on itself?

A: Yes, a vector can be linearly dependent on itself. In other words, a vector can be expressed as a scalar multiple of itself.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if all the vectors are non-zero?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent even if all the vectors are non-zero. For example, the vectors (1,0) and (0,1) are linearly dependent, even though both vectors are non-zero.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if one of the vectors is the zero vector?

A: No, a set of vectors cannot be linearly independent if one of the vectors is the zero vector. The zero vector is always linearly dependent on the other vectors.

Q: How do I find the linear independence of a set of vectors?

A: To find the linear independence of a set of vectors, you can use the following method:

Write down the set of vectors.
Check if any vector in the set can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors.
If no vector can be expressed as a linear combination of the other vectors, then the set of vectors is linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains the zero vector?

A: No, a set of vectors cannot be linearly independent if it contains the zero vector. The zero vector is always linearly dependent on the other vectors.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only two vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only two vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0) and (0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only two vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only two vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0) and (1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only three vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only three vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0), (0,1,0), and (0,0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only three vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only three vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0), (0,1,0), and (1,1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only four vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only four vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0), (0,0,1,0), and (0,0,0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only four vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only four vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0), (0,0,1,0), and (1,1,1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only five vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only five vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0), and (0,0,0,0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only five vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only five vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0), and (1,1,1,1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only six vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only six vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,0,1,0), and (0,0,0,0,0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only six vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only six vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,0,1,0), and (1,1,1,1,1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only seven vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only seven vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,0,0,1,0), and (0,0,0,0,0,0,1) are linearly dependent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly independent if it contains only seven vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly independent if it contains only seven vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,0,0,1,0), and (1,1,1,1,1,1,1) are linearly independent.

Q: Can a set of vectors be linearly dependent if it contains only eight vectors?

A: Yes, a set of vectors can be linearly dependent if it contains only eight vectors. For example, the vectors (1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0), (0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0), (0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0), (0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0), (0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0), (0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0), (0,0,0,