# Vector Spaces

1. Dec 22, 2008

### latentcorpse

HI. Okay
Consider
$$\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 0\\ 0\end{array}\right)$ , $\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 1\\ 0\end{array}\right)$ , $\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0\\ 1\end{array}\right)$ , $\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 1\\ 1\end{array}\right)$ as a subspace of \mathbb{Z}_{2}^{3}$
In my notes I've written that this is a 2 dimensional subspace. How?
As far as I can see they are all linealry dependent vectors as if you add 1 of each of them you get back to the zero vector. No?

2. Dec 22, 2008

### Defennder

Firstly note that the zero vector (the first one) doesn't factor into the dimension of the subspace. Just look at the other 3 vectors. Note that any set of vectors containing the zero vector is necessarily linearly dependent.

What happens if you add the 2nd vector to the 3rd one? After considering this, ask yourself if it's possible to express each of the remaining (non-zero) vectors in terms of the others.

And what do you mean by "adding of each of them"? Doing so only shows that the 4 vectors are linearly dependent, but doesn't help much in showing that dim=2.

3. Dec 22, 2008

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
A set of vectors is linearly independent if and only if the only sum $a_1v_1+ a_2v_2+ \cdot\cdot\cdot+ \a_nv_n= 0$ is if $a_1= a_2= \cdot\cdot\cdot= a_n= 0$. Obviously you can immediately drop the 0 vector, but you need to look at $a_1(1, 1, 0)+ a_2(1, 0, 1)+ a_3(0, 1, 1)= (a_1+ a_2, a_1+ a_3, a_2+ a_3)= (0, 0, 0)$.
In other words, $a_1+ a_2= 0$, $a_1+ a_3= 0$, $a_2+ a_3= 0$ has the obvious (trivial) solution $a_1= a_2= a_3= 0$. Does it have any other, non-trivial, solutions?

4. Dec 23, 2008

### latentcorpse

yes $a_1 = a_2 = a_3 = 1$ is also a solution giving linear independence. So if the o vector doesn't contribut to dimension then as the other 3 vectors are linearly dependent, their span is a 1-dimensional subspace as opposed to a 2-dimensional one????

5. Dec 23, 2008

### sutupidmath

As Halls already elaborated in detail, what you ought to do is look if the given vectors are linearly dependent or independent by considering the dependence relation, which Halls perfectly well stated. Now if W is the subspace that is spanned by the given vectors, then in order to be able to find dim(W) we shall eliminate all dependent vectors in the set. That is we shall take only those that are linearly independent. And as far as i can see, the three last vectors, are all lin. independent, which would make dim(W)=3 insdead of 2.

6. Dec 23, 2008

### Defennder

Remember that the field has only 2 elements 1 and 0, so that means that 1 is its own additive inverse. So adding vectors 2 and 3 gives 4 so dim=2.

7. Dec 23, 2008

### sutupidmath

Hmm, i didn't see this. Well, yeah, then like you said, dim(W) would be 2.