Linear combination of linear combinations?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the notation and meaning of [[S]] in the context of linear combinations within vector spaces. Participants explore the implications of this notation, particularly in relation to the span of a set S and its properties in finite-dimensional vector spaces.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the meaning of [[S]], suggesting it refers to a linear combination of at least one or more linear combinations from [S].
  • Another participant clarifies that [S] is the set of all vectors in a vector space V that can be expressed as linear combinations of members of S, and that [[S]] similarly represents linear combinations of members of [S].
  • A participant proposes that [[S]] could be interpreted as taking linear combinations of elements from a set R, which consists of all linear combinations of [S].
  • There is a suggestion that [[S]] is equivalent to [S], although the exact reasoning behind this equivalence is debated.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the notation and its implications, particularly regarding whether [[S]] should be interpreted in relation to S or [S].

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that [[S]] relates to linear combinations of [S], but there is no consensus on the precise interpretation of this notation or its implications. Multiple competing views remain regarding the definitions and relationships between the sets involved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note potential confusion regarding the notation and its application, particularly in relation to whether S must be a subspace of V. There are also references to alternative notations for [S], which may affect the understanding of [[S]].

bonfire09
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When the book says "Members of [] are linear combinations of linear combinations of members of S". basically means the span of the members in subspace S. Since
= {c1s1 +... + cnsn|c1...cnεR and s1...snεS} what does [] mean? does it mean a linear combination of atleast one linear or more linear combinations from ?
 
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Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space. For all subsets S⊂V, is the set of all v in V such that v is equal to a linear combination of members of S. Since that makes a subset of V, the definition applies to as well. So [] is the set of all v in V such that v is equal to a linear combination of members of .

It's possible to prove that if E,F⊂V, the following statements are equivalent (i.e. they're either all true or all false).

(a) E is the set of all v in V such that v is a linear combination of members of F.
(b) E is the intersection of all subspaces that have F as a subset.
(c) E is the smallest subspace that has F as a subset. (This means that if E' is a subspace that has F as a subset, E⊂E').

A set E for which these statements are true is, in your notation, denoted by [F]. If you only look at (a), it's not obvious that []=, but if you look at the other two statements, it is.

Two alternative notations for : span S, ##\bigvee S##.
 
Yeah I forgot to mention []=. But the book states that [] is a linear combination of linear combinations of the members of . Does this let's say set R={c1,1s1+...+cn,1sn,...,c1,m s1+...+cn,m sn} which is the set of all linear combinations of . And [] just means taking a linear combination of those members in R such as
r1(c1,1s1+...+cnsn)+...+rn(c1,m s1+...+c n,m sn) ? Oh s1,...sn. are elements of S and S is a subspace of V
 
bonfire09 said:
Yeah I forgot to mention []=.

I thought that was what you were asking about, not something you already knew.

bonfire09 said:
But the book states that [] is a linear combination of linear combinations of the members of

You mean "of S", right? (Not "of ").

bonfire09 said:
Does this let's say set R={c1,1s1+...+cn,1sn,...,c1,m s1+...+cn,m sn} which is the set of all linear combinations of .

What does that mean? And did you again mean S when you wrote ?

bonfire09 said:
And [] just means taking a linear combination of those members in R such as
r1(c1,1s1+...+cnsn)+...+rn(c1,m s1+...+c n,m sn) ?

I don't understand what you're asking, but the meaning of [] is given by the definition of the [] notation.

Maybe you meant to ask this: If we define R=, does that make []=[R]? The answer is of course yes. The [[]] notation isn't something entirely different from the [] notation. It's just the [] operation done twice.

bonfire09 said:
S is a subspace of V
It doesn't have to be.

I recommend that you start using LaTeX, or at least vBulletin's sup and sub tags. (Like this: E=mc2).
 

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