Linear Algebra - Transformations

In summary, linear transformations in geometry involve projecting onto a subspace, which can be treated the same regardless of dimension. For projections onto a line in three dimensional space, the transformation can be simplified using the inner product. A recommended textbook for learning linear algebra is Linear Algebra - David C. Lay. Additionally, when projecting onto a plane, it can be broken down into two line projections.
  • #1
merlinMan
13
0
We are doing linear transformations in geometry. We have a projection in three dimensional space onto a line. Do we basically treat this as the same as a two dimensional projection?

Also, anyone know of a really good linear algebra textbook that you could basically teach yourself from?

I'm stuck with a gradstudent who quite frankly is more concerned with his Phd process than putting effort into his teaching.

Thanks alot!
 
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  • #2
So you have a line in 3d space, which is just a 3x1 matrix.

when you want to transform this line you act on it with a transformation matrix, just the same as you would for a 2d line.

I think that a really good linear algebra book is LInear Algebra - David C. Lay
 
  • #3
Any projection onto a subspace W of some vector space V can be treated the same.
But for projection on a line, the transformation matrix can be written in a more simple form, using the inner product (or dot product in R^3).

Also, for projection on plane, you can project along any two basis vectors in the plane and add the corresponding projections to get the answer.
So it basically becomes two line projections.
 

1. What is a transformation in linear algebra?

A transformation in linear algebra is a function that takes in a vector as input and produces another vector as output. It can also be thought of as a way to map points from one space to another. Transformations are often represented by matrices and can involve operations such as rotation, scaling, and reflection.

2. How is a linear transformation different from a non-linear transformation?

A linear transformation is a type of transformation that preserves the properties of linearity, meaning that the output vector is a scaled version of the input vector. This can be represented by a linear equation, where the output is a linear combination of the input variables. On the other hand, a non-linear transformation does not have this property and can involve more complex relationships between the input and output vectors.

3. What is the importance of transformations in linear algebra?

Transformations are essential in linear algebra because they allow us to manipulate vectors and matrices in ways that are meaningful and useful. They are used to solve systems of linear equations, find eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and understand the geometric properties of matrices. Many real-world problems in physics, engineering, and computer graphics can also be modeled and solved using transformations.

4. How do you represent a transformation using a matrix?

A transformation can be represented by a matrix through a process called matrix multiplication. The columns of the transformation matrix correspond to the basis vectors of the output space, and the rows correspond to the basis vectors of the input space. The resulting matrix is then used to transform any vector in the input space to its corresponding vector in the output space.

5. Can a transformation be reversed?

In general, a transformation cannot be reversed, but there are some exceptions. For example, a rotation transformation can be reversed by applying its inverse rotation. However, some transformations, such as scaling and shearing, cannot be reversed. It is also important to note that even if a transformation can be reversed, the original input vector may not be recoverable due to the loss of information during the transformation process.

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