Can a Change of Basis Matrix be Pre-multiplied with a Transformation Matrix?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical operations involving a change of basis matrix and a transformation matrix, specifically addressing the implications of pre-multiplying these matrices and the dimensionality of the involved vector spaces. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications related to linear transformations and basis changes.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the process of pre-multiplying a vector in space W by a change of basis matrix P, suggesting that it may require extending the vector's dimension by adding zeros.
  • Another participant clarifies that regardless of the basis used in V, the transformation T is applied to a vector in V, resulting in a vector in W, and discusses the dimensions of the matrices involved.
  • A third participant outlines a sequence of transformations from basis B to basis B' and then to W, raising questions about the application of T to vectors in different bases and the relationship between P(Tv) and (PT)v.
  • One participant challenges the validity of writing PT, noting the dimensional mismatch between the matrices P and T, emphasizing that P is n x n while T is m x n, with no implication that m equals n.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity and implications of pre-multiplying the change of basis matrix with the transformation matrix. There is no consensus on the correct interpretation or application of these operations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential limitations regarding the assumptions about dimensionality and the definitions of the matrices involved, which remain unresolved.

Sumanta
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Hello this is not a new thread but a continutaion of the thread of 6th april which I posted. I do not know how to continue the thread and so was not sure and so started as a new topic again. Please refer to my last post also.

This is regarding P(Tv) where T is the transfromation from V -> W and P is the change of basis from V -> V.


The points which siddharth etal mention is clear but what is unclear is the following What is unclear is that when u are doing this u are actually trying to premultiply a vector which is already in the space W. So does it mean if W ism dim space and P is n x n and m < n then when u multiply the P with Tv do u assume that the u extend the dimension of a vector in W to n by adding n -m 0 s to the end
 
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What do you mean by "premultiply a vector which is already in the space W"? Whatever basis you use in V, you are multiplying a vector in V by a matrix to get a vector in W.
If V has dimension n and W dimension m, then, yes, P is n by n but T? is n by m: n columns and m rows. T(Pv)= (TP)v where v is in V and TP is also n by m.
 
Hi ,

What is understandable is the following

v in basis B -----------> v in basis B' -------------> W(on application of T)

v is in B and so Pv takes it to another basis in B'
so T(v) w.r.t basis B' is nothing but T (Pv) with respect to basis B.

q1. Can u apply T to a vector on another basis? Prob u can.

Is it P(Tv) or is it (PT)v that is being equated to T(Pv) ?

Probably second one. In that case I am not clear about the physical meaning of PT.


If not so then I am not clear what is the meaning of applying P on a vector in W since Tv is already a vector in W.

Thanks a lot for the help and putting up with me.
 
This doesn't make any sense.

If P is a change of basis in V, you can't in general write down PT. since P is nxn and T is mxn. (V is n dim and W is m dim, and there is nothing that implies m=n).
 

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