Help me in this question

1. Mar 10, 2009

chealsealee

help me in this question!!!!

given the following vectors,

1. (8 0 4),(0 2 0),(4 0 2),(0 4 0)

2.(0 3 4),(-3 0 5),(-4 5 0)

linearly independent or linearly independent? why??

Last edited: Mar 10, 2009
2. Mar 10, 2009

csprof2000

Re: help me in this question!!!!

Too easy. This is HW, isn't it?

Make the three vectors the three columns of a 3x3 matrix. Find the determinant. If the determinant is zero, linearly dependent. Else, linearly independent.

3. Mar 10, 2009

sutupidmath

Re: help me in this question!!!!

I'm afraid you should have first given a definiton of easy...(sorry for this)

To the OP: if you are interested in another method without utilizing determinants then here we go. What does it mean for a set of vectors to be lin. dependent or lin. independent?

Let:

$$v_1,v_2,....,v_n$$ be a set of vectors in R^n. Then this set of vectors is said to be lineraly independent if there exists a trivial linear combination equal to zero. In other words, if the following dependence relation:

$$c_1v_1+...+c_nv_n=0$$ ----(@)

is possible only and only for $$c_i=0,\forall i \in N$$

Now,the question, naturally, might arise how to determine c_i's? right?

Well, let's look at it this way, if we would define a matrix A, such that v_i's are its columns, i.e

$$A=[v_1,v_2,...,v_n]$$

Then (@) actually is the following homogeneous matrix equation Ax=0 ---(@@)

Where $$x=[c_1,...,c_n]^T$$

Now, all you need to do is solve (@@), and see whether you have one unique solution(which will be your trivial solution, and thus the vectors will be lin. independent), or it will have infinitely many solutions,(in which case the vectors will be lin. dependent).

4. Mar 11, 2009

HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Re: help me in this question!!!!

There always "exists a trivial linear combination equal to zero"!

You should say "if there does NOTexist a non-trivial linear combination equal to zero".

5. Mar 11, 2009

sutupidmath

Re: help me in this question!!!!

You are right Halls as always. Yeah, what i meant to say is that if the only linear combination equal to zero is the trivial one.

6. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

Re: help me in this question!!!!

You guys do realize you are doing the homework for the OP....?