Undergrad Proving Linear Transformation of V with sin(x),cos(x) & ex

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To prove that the differential operator T: V → V, defined as T(f) = df/dx, is a linear transformation, it is essential to demonstrate that T maps functions in the subspace V to functions within the same subspace. The operator is linear if it satisfies T(f + g) = Tf + Tg and T(λf) = λT(f) for all functions f, g in V and any scalar λ. The discussion emphasizes that since the differential operator is linear for all differentiable functions, it must also be linear for the subset V. Clarification is provided that the inclusion of trigonometric functions is not necessary for the proof, as the linearity holds for the entire span of functions in V. Understanding these concepts is crucial for confirming the linear transformation properties of T.
Lauren1234
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Linear transformations prove including trig functions
Let A={ex,sin(x),excos(x),sin(x),cos(x)} and let V be the subspace of C(R) equal to span(A).

Define
T:V→V,f↦df/dx.
How do I prove that T is a linear transformation?
(I can do this with numbers but the trig is throwing me).
 
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Lauren1234 said:
Summary:: Linear transformations prove including trig functions

Let A={ex,sin(x),excos(x),sin(x),cos(x)} and let V be the subspace of C(R) equal to span(A).

Define
T:V→V,f↦df/dx.
How do I prove that T is a linear transformation?
(I can do this with numbers but the trig is throwing me).
:welcome:

How far can you get before you're stuck?

You might also like to use Latex:

https://www.physicsforums.com/help/latexhelp/

Then you can do things like:

##A = \{e^x, \cos x, \sin x \dots \}##

If you reply you'll see how I typed that.
 
To show something is a linear transformation, you need to show two things:

1) It's well defined, in the sense that it maps functions (or vectors) to functions (or vectors) of the correct type.

In this case, you have to check that ##T## maps functions in ##V## to functions in ##V##. If ##T## maps a function in ##V## to a function outside ##V## then it's not a mapping from ##V## to ##V##.

2) That it's linear. Which means that ##\forall \ f, g \in V## and ##\lambda \in \mathbb{R}##:

##T(f + g) = Tf + Tg##

##T(\lambda f) = \lambda T(f)##
 
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PeroK said:
To show something is a linear transformation, you need to show two things:

1) It's well defined, in the sense that it maps functions (or vectors) to functions (or vectors) of the correct type.

In this case, you have to check that ##T## maps functions in ##V## to functions in ##V##. If ##T## maps a function in ##V## to a function outside ##V## then it's not a mapping from ##V## to ##V##.

2) That it's linear. Which means that ##\forall \ f, g \in V## and ##\lambda \in \mathbb{R}##:

##T(f + g) = Tf + Tg##

##T(\lambda f) = \lambda T(f)##
Got you. With mine I am confused as to why I haven’t included the trig functions when proving this. Should I have? Also the bottom bit where I have the trig functions I’m not sure at all what I’m showing there or why I did it
 

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Lauren1234 said:
Got you. With mine I am confused as to why I haven’t included the trig functions when proving this. Should I have? Also the bottom bit where I have the trig functions I’m not sure at all what I’m showing there or why I did it

The differential operator is generally linear. That is to say is it a linear operator on the set of all differentiable functions. Although, if you're sharp you may see a subtlety here that is not mentioned by the proof you have quoted.

In any case, if it's linear on all functions then it must be linear on a subset of those functions. I.e. it must be linear on ##V##.
 
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PeroK said:
The differential operator is generally linear. That is to say is it a linear operator on the set of all differentiable functions. Although, if you're sharp you may see a subtlety here that is not mentioned by the proof you have quoted.

In any case, if it's linear on all functions then it must be linear on a subset of those functions. I.e. it must be linear on ##V##.
Right so I have to state that at the start so then I don’t need to include the trig functions? And that proves it is a linear transformation? Is what I’ve done a good solution?
 
Lauren1234 said:
Right so I have to state that at the start so then I don’t need to include the trig functions? And that proves it is a linear transformation? Is what I’ve done a good solution?

Well, the solution you posted is clearly out of a textbook of some sort.
 
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PeroK said:
Well, the solution you posted is clearly out of a textbook of some sort.
Well from a different help forum yeah. But I wanted to fully understand what I was doing and not just copy it down exact. Also from the bottom bit could I use this to verify if one of the functions is contain T(V) or is that something different again?
 
Lauren1234 said:
Well from a different help forum yeah. But I wanted to fully understand what I was doing and not just copy it down exact. Also from the bottom bit could I use this to verify if one of the functions is contain T(V) or is that something different again?
The bottom four lines show that ##T## maps ##V## into/onto ##V##. This can also be written as ##T(V) = V##. That's just another way of saying what I said in post #3:

PeroK said:
In this case, you have to check that ##T## maps functions in ##V## to functions in ##V##. If ##T## maps a function in ##V## to a function outside ##V## then it's not a mapping from ##V## to ##V##.
 
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PeroK said:
The bottom four lines show that ##T## maps ##V## into/onto ##V##. This can also be written as ##T(V) = V##. That's just another way of saying what I said in post #3:
Right ok so that just ties everything together to show why we can use a f(x) and g(x)? Sorry for the questions I’m very new to this and am finding the terms hard to get my head around
 

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