# Linear combination of vectors

HI everyone,

v1=[1 4 2 8]^t
v2=[2 5 3 9]^t
v3=[11 14 12 18]^t
v4=[4 3 2 1]^t

I have to express vector v=[7 9 6 8]^t in two ways as a linear combination v=c1v1+c2v2+c3v3+c4v4 of {v1,v2,v3,v4}

Please reply as soon as possible.

Thank You in advance.

## Answers and Replies

HallsofIvy
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
HI everyone,

v1=[1 4 2 8]^t
v2=[2 5 3 9]^t
v3=[11 14 12 18]^t
v4=[4 3 2 1]^t

I have to express vector v=[7 9 6 8]^t in two ways as a linear combination v=c1v1+c2v2+c3v3+c4v4 of {v1,v2,v3,v4}

Please reply as soon as possible.

Thank You in advance.
Reply how? Tell you the answer? I won't do that! Have you tried anything yourself?

Have you for example, replace v, v1, v,2, v3, and v4 in the equation
v=c1v1+c2v2+c3v3+c4v4 by [7 9 6 8]^t, [1 4 2 8]^t, etc. to get
[7 9 6 8]^t= c1[1 4 2 8]^t+ c2[2 5 3 9]^t+ c3[11 14 12 18]^t+ c4[4 3 2 1]^t.

Go ahead and do the vector calculation on the right and set each component on the left equal to the corresponding component on the right. That will give you four equations to solve for the four numbers c1, c2, c3, and c4.

Hi HallsOfIvy

Ya i did tried it by myself.
Bu am not able to find values for "c1,c2,c3,c4".

According to me it gives no solution.

So how can I express "v" as linear combination of "v1,v2,v3,v4"?

HallsofIvy
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
As long as you refuse to show what you have done, we cannot see or explain what you have done wrong! I see no problem with solving the equations
c1+ 2c2+ 11c3+ 5c4= 7
4c1+ 5c2+ 14c3+ 3c4= 9
2c1+ 3c2+ 12c3+ 2c4= 6
8c1+ 9c2+ 18c3+ c4= 8

D H
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
As long as you refuse to show what you have done, we cannot see or explain what you have done wrong! I see no problem with solving the equations
c1+ 2c2+ 11c3+ 5c4= 7
4c1+ 5c2+ 14c3+ 3c4= 9
2c1+ 3c2+ 12c3+ 2c4= 6
8c1+ 9c2+ 18c3+ c4= 8
I do. Two problems. That 5 in the first row should be 4, and more importantly, that you had a typo in that particular element doesn't matter.

krocks, are you sure you have the numbers correct?

Hi

Ya the question i mentioned is absolutely correct.
The equation is:

7=c1+2c2+11c3+4c4
9=4c1+ 5c2+ 14c3+ 3c4
6=2c1+3c2+12c3+2c4
8=8c1+9c2+18c3+c4

This equation is showing no answer becuse the matrix formed by using coefficients of "c1,c2,c3,c4" is singular.

So is there any way to represent "v" as linear combination of "v=c1v1+c2v2+c3v3+c4v4" ??

D H
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
The matrix is indeed singular. What is its null space?

Hey
Please reply friends.

Just tell me the answer only. i am in need of it.
Please

HallsofIvy
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Looks to me like there is an error in the problem.

After correcting my previous mis-copy, I get the augmented matrix
$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 2 & 11 & 4 & 7 \\ 4 & 5 & 14 & 3 & 9 \\ 2 & 3 & 12 & 2 & 6 \\ 8 & 9 & 18 & 1 & 8\end{bmatrix}$$

But after row-reducing, I get
$$\begin{bmatrix}1 & 2 & 11 & 4 & 7 \\ 0 & 1 & 10 & \frac{13}{3} & \frac{19}{3} \\ 0 & 0 & 0& 1& 1\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}$$
and, because of that "1" in the last row, there is no solution. Are you sure you have all of the numbers right? Those vectors are not independent so do not span all of R4 and the "target" vector, <7, 9, 6, 8>, is not in their span- it cannot be written as a linear combination of the given vectors.

If it were in their span, then, because they are not independent, you would be able to write it as a linear combination of them in infinitely many ways.

Hey HALLSOFIVY

Thanks a ton for help. The question which i got from my professor is exactly the same which I mentioned. I think there's some problem in question itself. i will ask about it from my professor and will post the reply soon here.

Thanks :)

HallsofIvy
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Hey HALLSOFIVY

Thanks a ton for help. The question which i got from my professor is exactly the same which I mentioned. I think there's some problem in question itself. i will ask about it from my professor and will post the reply soon here.

Thanks :)
This was schoolwork? Why wasn't it posted under the homework section?

You should talk to Derillo- he posted exactly this question under the homework section!

This row operation is not difficult. Even you got the answer, you better try it again by yourself.

Hi

I apologize for posting a homework question here.
Actually i was new to this site that's why i wasn't aware of such rules.

But i'll keep that in mind in future