- #1
srfriggen
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Homework Statement
This is from Serge Lang's "Linear Algebra, 3rd Edition", page 15.
Consider the vector space of all functions of a variable t. Show that the following pairs of functions are linearly independent:
(a) 1,t
(b) t, t2
(c) t, 4
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I understand how to DO the problems and attain the correct results, but I don't understand WHY it works. Looking for some insight please.
For example, for part (b) my answer would be to set up an equation with two numbers a and b:
at + bt2=0.
I would first set t = 1 which shows a+b=0.
Then I would set t =-1, showing a=b, therefore a=b=0, showing the two functions cannot be written as linear combinations of one another.
Thanks in advance. Trying to learn this on my own so don't have a teacher to reach out to.