Vectors don't need to be a single entity. It can be created by different vectors as well. However, one of the biggest concerns of mathematicians is that whether the vectors can be linearly dependent or not? It is very important since it shows the relationship of vectors. Many students think that only linear dependence matters but, in fact, linear independence matters a lot as well. It has its own importance. One of its biggest application is in research work and computer languages. In this lesson, you will learn all the fundamentals of linear dependence and independence.

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Linear Combination

Suppose you have three vectors, , and . Although, these vectors have different points but there might be a linear combination between them. If we add and then we observed that the answer is equal to vector .

Hence, we can conclude that . It means that vector and have a linear combination. Furthermore, they are linearly dependent as well but we will talk about it later in this resource. If you change any element of any vector, it will cause changes in other vectors. In nutshell, given the numbers and the vectors , a linear combination is each of the vectors of the form:

 

Given the vectors and , calculate the linear combination vector

 

Can the vector be expressed as a linear combination of the vectors and  ?

After solving the above equations simultaneously, we will get:

 

Linearly Dependent Vectors

Vectors are linearly dependent if there is a linear combination of them that equals the zero vector, without the coefficients of the linear combination being zero.

 

Properties

1.If several vectors are linearly dependent, then at least one of them can be expressed as a linear combination of the others.

If a vector is a linear combination of others, then all the vectors are linearly dependent.

2.Two vectors in the plane are linearly dependent if, and only if they are parallel.

3.Two vectors in the plane  and  are linearly dependent if their components are proportional.

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Linearly Independent Vectors

Several vectors are linearly independent if none of them can be expressed as a linear combination of the others. For example, there are three vectors, they are not scalar multiples of each other neither any relation was observed by performing mathematical operations. It means that all three vectors are lineraly independent vectors. In nutshell, they will have no relation with each.

 

Determine if the vectors are linearly dependent or independent:

and

Hence, both vectors are Linearly independent

 

Determine if the vectors are linearly dependent or independent:

and

Are vectors are linearly dependent for .

 

Determine if the vectors are linearly dependent or independent:

and

They are linearly dependent for and

 

Check that the line segment joining the midpoints of sides AB and AC of the triangle: are parallel to the side BC and equal to its half.

 

 

 

 

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Emma

Emma

I am passionate about travelling and currently live and work in Paris. I like to spend my time reading, gardening, running, learning languages and exploring new places.