How to Express a Vector in Terms of Basis Vectors?

In summary, expressing a vector as a basis means representing it as a linear combination of other vectors. This is important because it simplifies vector operations and allows for easier manipulation. To express a vector as a basis, we need to identify a set of linearly independent basis vectors and use their coefficients to write the original vector. A vector can have multiple different basis representations, each with different coefficients. Some applications of expressing vectors as a basis include linear algebra, physics, engineering, vector calculus, computer graphics, and machine learning.
  • #1
939
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Homework Statement



Given the basis vector:

e1 = 1 0 0 0
e2 = 0 1 0 0
e3 = 0 0 1 0
e4 = 0 0 0 1

Express the following vector in terms of the basis:

y = 3 1 2 5

Homework Equations



e1 = 1 0 0 0
e2 = 0 1 0 0
e3 = 0 0 1 0
e4 = 0 0 0 1

y = 3 1 2 5

The Attempt at a Solution



= 3(e1) + 0.5(e2) + 2(e3) + 5(e4)
 
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  • #2
939 said:

Homework Statement



Given the basis vector:

e1 = 1 0 0 0
e2 = 0 1 0 0
e3 = 0 0 1 0
e4 = 0 0 0 1

Express the following vector in terms of the basis:

y = 3 1 2 5

Homework Equations



e1 = 1 0 0 0
e2 = 0 1 0 0
e3 = 0 0 1 0
e4 = 0 0 0 1

y = 3 1 2 5

The Attempt at a Solution



= 3(e1) + 0.5(e2) + 2(e3) + 5(e4)

Why the .5?
 
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  • #3
Yeah, what he said ^^
 
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  • #4
(3, 1, 2, 5)= (3, 0, 0, 0)+ (0, 1, 0, 0)+ (0, 0, 2, 0)+ (0, 0, 0, 5)
= 3(1, 0, 0, 0)+ 1(0, 1, 0, 0)+ 2(0, 0, 1, 0)+ 5(0, 0, 0, 1)
= 3e1+ 1e2+ 2e3+ 5e4
 

Related to How to Express a Vector in Terms of Basis Vectors?

1. What does it mean to express a vector as a basis?

Expressing a vector as a basis means representing the vector as a linear combination of other vectors, known as basis vectors. This allows us to break down a vector into its component parts, making it easier to analyze and manipulate.

2. Why is it important to express a vector as a basis?

Expressing a vector as a basis is important because it allows us to simplify complex vector operations and calculations. By representing a vector as a linear combination of basis vectors, we can easily manipulate and transform the vector using basic algebraic operations.

3. How do you express a vector as a basis?

To express a vector as a basis, we first need to identify a set of linearly independent vectors that can serve as the basis. Then, we can use the coefficients of these basis vectors to write the original vector as a linear combination. The coefficients can be found by solving a system of equations using the given vector and the basis vectors.

4. Can a vector have multiple different basis representations?

Yes, a vector can have multiple different basis representations. This is because there are many possible combinations of basis vectors that can be used to express a given vector. However, the coefficients used in each representation will differ.

5. What are some applications of expressing vectors as a basis?

Expressing vectors as a basis is commonly used in linear algebra, physics, and engineering. It is particularly useful in vector calculus, where it allows for simplification of calculations and visualizing vector fields. It is also used in computer graphics and machine learning algorithms for representing and manipulating data.

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