MATH 2220 LINEAR ALGEBRA
Spanning Space
Section 4. 3
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Definition
If w is a vector in a vector space V , then w is said to be a linear
combination of the vectors v1 , v2 , . . . , vr in V if w can be expressed in
the form w = k1 v1 + k2 v2 + · · · + kr vr where k1 , k2 , . . . , kr are scalars.
These scalars are called the coefficients of the linear combination.
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Definition
If S = {w1 , w2 , . . . , wr } is a nonempty set of vectors in a vector space
V , then the subspace W of V that consists of all possible linear
combinations of the vectors in S is called the subspace of V generated
by S, and we say that the vectors w1 , w2 , . . . , wr span W . We denote
this subspace as
W = span {w1 , w2 , . . . , wr } or W = span(S)
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Example
The Standard Unit Vectors Span R n Recall that the standard unit
vectors in R n are
e1 = (1, 0, 0, . . . , 0), e2 = (0, 1, 0, . . . , 0), . . . , en = (0, 0, 0, . . . , 1)
These vectors span R n since every vector v = (v1 , v2 , . . . , vn ) in R n
can be expressed as
v = v1 e1 + v2 e2 + · · · + vn en
which is a linear combination of e1 , e2 , . . . , en . Thus, for example, the
vectors
i = (1, 0, 0), j = (0, 1, 0), k = (0, 0, 1)
span R 3 since every vector v = (a, b, c) in this space can be
expressed as
v = (a, b, c) = a(1, 0, 0) + b(0, 1, 0) + c(0, 0, 1) = ai + bj + ck
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Example
A Spanning Set for Pn The polynomials 1, x, x 2 , . . . , x n span the vector
space Pn defined in Example 10 since each polynomial p in Pn can be
written as
p = a0 + a1 x + · · · + an x n
which is a linear combination of 1, x, x 2 , . . . , x n . We can denote this by
writing n o
Pn = span 1, x, x 2 , . . . , x n
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Linear Combinations
Example
Consider the vectors u = (1, 2, −1) and v = (6, 4, 2) in R 3 . Show that
w = (9, 2, 7) is a linear combination of u and v and that w′ = (4, −1, 8)
is not a linear combination of u and v.
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Solution
In order for w to be a linear combination of u and v, there must be
scalars k1 and k2 such that w = k1 u + k2 v; that is,
(9, 2, 7) = k1 (1, 2, −1) + k2 (6, 4, 2) = (k1 + 6k2 , 2k1 + 4k2 , −k1 + 2k2 )
Equating corresponding components gives
k1 + 6k2 = 9
2k1 + 4k2 = 2
−k1 + 2k2 = 7
Solving this system using Gaussian elimination yields k1 = −3, k2 = 2,
so
w = −3u + 2v
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Solution
Similarly, for w′ to be a linear combination of u and v, there must be
scalars k1 and k2 such that w′ = k1 u + k2 v; that is,
(4, −1, 8) = k1 (1, 2, −1) + k2 (6, 4, 2) = (k1 + 6k2 , 2k1 + 4k2 , −k1 + 2k2 )
Equating corresponding components gives
k1 + 6k2 = 4
2k1 + 4k2 = −1
−k1 + 2k2 = 8
This system of equations is inconsistent (verify), so no such scalars k1
and k2 exist. Consequently, w′ is not a linear combination of u and v.
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Testing for Spanning
Example
Determine whether the vectors v1 = (1, 1, 2), v2 = (1, 0, 1), and
v3 = (2, 1, 3) span the vector space R 3 .
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Solution
We must determine whether an arbitrary vector b = (b1 , b2 , b3 ) in R 3
can be expressed as a linear combination
b = k1 v1 + k2 v2 + k3 v3
of the vectors v1 , v2 , and v3 . Expressing this equation in terms of
components gives
(b1 , b2 , b3 ) = k1 (1, 1, 2) + k2 (1, 0, 1) + k3 (2, 1, 3)
or
(b1 , b2 , b3 ) = (k1 + k2 + 2k3 , k1 + k3 , 2k1 + k2 + 3k3 )
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Solution
or
k1 + k2 + 2k3 = b1
k1 + k3 = b2
2k1 + k2 + 3k3 = b3
Thus, our problem reduces to ascertaining whether this system is
consistent for all values of b1 , b2 , and b3 . One way of doing this is to
use parts (e) and (g) of Theorem 2.3 .8 , which state that the system
is consistent if and only if its coefficient matrix
1 1 2
A= 1 0 1
2 1 3
has a nonzero determinant. But this is not the case here since
det(A) = 0 (verify), so v1 , v2 , and v3 do not span R 3 .
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Testing for Spanning in P2
Example
Determine
whether the set S spans P2 .
a. S = 1 + x + x 2 , −1 − x, 2 + 2x + x 2
b. S = x + x 2 , x − x 2 , 1 + x, 1 − x
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Solution
(a) An arbitrary vector in P2 is of the form p = a + bx + cx 2 , and so (2)
becomes
k1 1 + x + x 2 + k2 (−1 − x) + k3 2 + 2x + x 2 = a + bx + cx 2
which we can rewrite as
(k1 − k2 + 2k3 ) + (k1 − k2 + 2k3 ) x + (k1 + k3 ) x 2 = a + bx + cx 2
Equating corresponding coefficients yields a linear system whose
augmented matrix is
1 −1 2 a
1 −1 2 b
1 0 1 c
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Solution
and whose coefficient matrix is
1 −1 2
A = 1 −1 2
1 0 1
Since the matrix A has two identical rows it follows that det(A) = 0, so
parts (e) and (g) of that theorem imply that the system is inconsistent
for some choice of a, b, and c; and this tells us that S does not span
P2 .
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Solution
Solution (b) Using the same procedure as in part (a), the augmented
matrix corresponding to (2) is
0 0 1 1 a
1 1 1 −1 b
1 −1 0 0 c
−a+b+c
1 0 0 0 2
0 1 0 −a+b−c
0 2
0 0 1 −1 a
so is consistent for every choice a, b, and c. Thus, the vectors in S
span P2 , which we can express by writing span(S) = P2 .
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Testing for Spanning in M 22
Example
In each
part, determine
whether
the set
S spans
M22 . a.
1 2 1 0 1 2 1 1
S= , , ,
0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 1
b. S = , , ,
0 0 1 0 1 0 −1 1
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Solution
a b
Solution (a) An arbitrary vector in M22 is of the form , so
c d
Equation (2) becomes
1 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 a b
k1 + k2 + k3 + k4 =
0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 c d
which we can rewrite as
k1 + k2 + k3 + k4 2k1 + 2k3 + k4 a b
=
k3 + k4 k1 + k2 + k4 c d
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Solution
Equating corresponding entries produces a linear system whose
augmented matrix is
1 1 1 1 a 1 1 1 1
2 0 2 1 b 2 0 2 1
0 0 1 1 c and whose coefficient matrix is A = 0 0
1 1
1 1 0 1 d 1 1 0 1
det(A) = −2 ̸= 0, so the system is consistent forevery choice of a, b, c,
and d, which implies that span(S) = M22 .
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