Nonlinear Transformations from R to R: Meeting & Breaking Linearity Rules

  • Thread starter Thread starter randommacuser
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Transformations
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around identifying two nonlinear transformations from R to R that meet specific criteria regarding linearity. One transformation must satisfy the additive property (T(x+y) = T(x) + T(y)) while violating the scalar multiplication property (T(ax) = aT(x)). The other transformation should do the opposite, violating the additive property but satisfying the scalar multiplication property. Participants share examples and clarify misconceptions about the properties of these transformations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the implications of each property. The conversation highlights the learning process involved in grasping the fundamentals of linear transformations.
randommacuser
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
We know that a transformation from V to W is linear if the following hold:
1.) For every x, y in V, T(x+y) = T(x) + T(y)
2.) For every x in V and for every a in R (real numbers), T(ax) = aT(x)

I need two nonlinear transformations from R to R. One must satisfy #1 above and violate #2. The other must violate #1 and satisfy #2.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sounds like homework, so I'm moving it there. What have you done so far on this problem?
 
The second one is really simple.Just take a nonlinear operator

T(x)=x^{2}

I'll let a mathematician deal with the difficult issue.

Daniel.


EDIT:The above is wrong.I'll let a mathematician deal with the whole problem.
 
Last edited:
So are you claiming that T(ax) = aT(x) for your function?
 
Ooops,sorry,Hurkyl,didn't see it. :redface: That nasty quadratic breaks both if them...

Daniel.
 
I think T(u) = u + k works for #1 but not #2.

I don't know about the other one.
 
No, it doesn't. With that,

T(u+v) = u+v+k \neq u+v+2k = T(u) + T(v).
 
Here's a hint...

Suppose T(x) satisfies #1, and that you know T(x). Then, you also know T(2x) and T(3x), right? What about T(x/2)? T(47x/163)?
 
PS, this is a standard method of attack, and it's a good way to learn what things "really" mean.

The whole point is to learn precisely what property #1 tells you, so you can find out what you can "break" so that property #2 fails. (and vice versa)
 
  • #10
Data said:
No, it doesn't. With that,

T(u+v) = u+v+k \neq u+v+2k = T(u) + T(v).

Data,

Touche! What was I thinking?
 
  • #11
It's a mistake we all make at least once -- the trick is to catch it before you tell anybody. :smile:
 
Back
Top