What are the basis subsets of a 5-element vector space with additional vectors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying all subsets of a vector space with a 5-element basis, augmented by additional vectors. Participants explore the conditions under which these subsets can form a basis of the vector space, examining various combinations and replacements of basis elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the subsets listed in the initial post include valid bases of the vector space.
  • Others argue that additional subsets should be considered, including those that incorporate multiple vectors from the set of additional vectors.
  • A participant suggests that the elements of the basis can be replaced by the additional vectors while maintaining linear independence, leading to new valid bases.
  • There is a suggestion that the total number of valid subsets may exceed those initially listed, with one participant claiming to have identified more combinations.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about whether all possible sets have been accounted for, indicating a potential for oversight in the enumeration of bases.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the initial sets proposed are valid bases, but multiple competing views remain regarding the completeness of the list and the potential for additional valid subsets. The discussion remains unresolved as to whether all possible bases have been identified.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the possibility of mistakes in identifying valid bases, highlighting the complexity of ensuring linear independence when substituting basis elements with additional vectors.

mathmari
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Hey! :o

Let $V$ be a vector space with with a 5-element basis $B=\{b_1, \ldots , b_5\}$ and let $v_1:=b_1+b_2$, $v_2:=b_2+b_4$ and $\displaystyle{v_3:=\sum_{i=1}^5(-1)^ib_i}$.

I want to determine all subsets of $B\cup \{v_1, v_2, v_3\}$ that form a basis of $V$.
Are the desired subsets the following ones?

- $B$
- $\{v_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_2, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_5\}$
- $\{v_2, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4\}$
- $\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_5\}$
- $\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_3, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_3, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, v_2, b_2, b_3, b_5\}$ Are there also more sets? (Wondering)
 
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Hey mathmari!

Yep. Those are all a basis of $V$.
And yes, there are more sets.
Currently you have all the ones with exactly one of $\{v_1,v_2,v_3\}$, but only those.
For starters, shouldn't $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$ be in the list?
And how about $\{v_1, v_2, b_1, b_3, b_5\}$? (Wondering)
 
Klaas van Aarsen said:
Currently you have all the ones with exactly one of $\{v_1,v_2,v_3\}$, but only those.
For starters, shouldn't $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$ be in the list?

That is the set $B$, so I have added that one. (Thinking)
Klaas van Aarsen said:
And how about $\{v_1, v_2, b_1, b_3, b_5\}$? (Wondering)

The elements $b_1$ and $b_2$ can be replaced by $v_1$, the elements $b_2$ and $b_4$ can be replaced by $v_2$ and the all the elements $b_i$ can be replaced by $v_3$, right? (Wondering)

So, we get the following sets:

- $B=\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{v_3, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_3, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, v_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, v_3, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, v_3\}$
- $\{v_1, v_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_2, b_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_1, b_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, v_3, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_2, v_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_2, b_3, v_3, b_5\}$
- $\{v_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, v_3\}$
- $\{v_3, v_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_1, v_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_1, b_3, v_3, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_1, b_3, b_4, v_3\}$
- $\{v_3, v_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_2, v_3, b_4, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_2, b_3, v_3, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_2, b_3, b_4, v_3\}$
- $\{v_3, b_2, b_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, v_3, b_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, v_3, v_2, b_5\}$
- $\{b_1, b_2, b_3, v_2, v_3\}$

I think I have now all the popssible sets, or not? (Wondering)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You have 29 sets, but I think there are 33. (Thinking)

I have:
\begin{align*}
\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, b_1, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, b_2, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_1, b_3\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_1, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_2, b_3\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_2, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_3, b_4\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_2, v_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_1, b_3, b_4\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_1, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_1, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_2, b_3, b_4\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_2, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_2, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_1, v_3, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_1, b_2, b_3\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_1, b_2, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_1, b_3, b_4\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_1, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_2, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_2, v_3, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4\} \\
\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_3, b_5\} \\
\{v_3, b_1, b_2, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_3, b_1, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\{v_3, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\} \\
\end{align*}
 
Ahh ok! But the idea is the following, or not?

We consider the basis $B=\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$. The vector $v_1$ replace each of the vectors $b_1$ and $b_2$, the vector $v_2$ can replace each of the vectors $b_2$ and $b_4$, the vector $v_3$ can replace each of the 5 vectors $b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5$, and the set that we get is again a basis since the elements remain linearly independent.

(Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
Ahh ok! But the idea is the following, or not?

We consider the basis $B=\{b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5\}$. The vector $v_1$ replace each of the vectors $b_1$ and $b_2$, the vector $v_2$ can replace each of the vectors $b_2$ and $b_4$, the vector $v_3$ can replace each of the 5 vectors $b_1, b_2, b_3, b_4, b_5$, and the set that we get is again a basis since the elements remain linearly independent.

That sounds about right.
I also think that it's easy to make mistakes. (Worried)
 
Klaas van Aarsen said:
I also think that it's easy to make mistakes. (Worried)

What do you mean? (Wondering)
 

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