5-Vector Equations VU

Lecture 5
Vector Equations
This lecture is devoted to connect equations involving vectors to ordinary systems of
equations. The term vector appears in a variety of mathematical and physical contexts,
which we will study later, while studying “Vector Spaces”. Until then, we will use vector
to mean a list of numbers. This simple idea enables us to get to interesting and important
applications as quickly as possible.
Column Vector:
“A matrix with only one column is called column vector or simply a vector”.
⎡ w1 ⎤
⎡ 2⎤ ⎢w ⎥
⎡3⎤
u = [3 − 1] = ⎢ ⎥ , v = [2 3 5] = 3⎥ ,
⎢ w4 ⎤⎦ = ⎢ ⎥
T
e.g.
T T
⎢ ⎥
w = ⎡⎣ w1 w2 w3
⎢ w3
2

⎥
⎣ −1⎦ ⎢⎣ 5 ⎥⎦ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ w4 ⎥⎦
are all column vectors or simply vectors.
Vectors in R2:
If R is the set of all real numbers then the set of all vectors with two entries is denoted

by R = R × R .
2

⎡3⎤
For example: the vector u = [3 − 1] = ⎢ ⎥ ∈ R
T 2

⎣ −1⎦
Here real numbers are appeared as entries in the vectors, and the exponent 2 indicates that
the vectors contain only two entries.
Similarly R3 & R4 contains all vectors with three and four entries respectively. The
entries of the vectors are always taken from the set of real numbers R. The entries in
vectors are assumed to be the elements of a set, called as Field. It is denoted by F .
Algebra of Vectors:

Equality of vectors in R :
2

Two vectors in R2 are equal if and only if their corresponding entries are equal.
⎡u ⎤ ⎡v ⎤
If u = ⎢ 1 ⎥ , v = ⎢ 1 ⎥ ∈ R 2 then u = v iff u1 = v1 ∧ u2 = v2
⎣ u2 ⎦ ⎣v2 ⎦
⎡4⎤ ⎡ 4⎤
So ⎢ ⎥ ≠ ⎢ ⎥ as 4 = 4 but 6 ≠ 3
⎣ 6 ⎦ ⎣3 ⎦

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⎡x ⎤
Note: In fact, vectors ⎢ ⎥ in R2 are nothing but ordered pairs ( x, y ) of real numbers
⎣ y⎦
both representing the position of a point with respect to origin.
Addition of Vectors:
Given two vectors u and v in R2, their sum is the vector u + v obtained by adding
corresponding entries of the vectors u and v.

⎡u1 ⎤ ⎡v1 ⎤ ⎡u ⎤ ⎡ v ⎤ ⎡ u + v ⎤
For u = ⎢ ⎥ , v = ⎢ ⎥ ∈ R 2 Then u + v = ⎢ 1 ⎥ + ⎢ 1 ⎥ = ⎢ 1 1 ⎥ ∈ R 2
⎣ u2 ⎦ ⎣v2 ⎦ ⎣u2 ⎦ ⎣v2 ⎦ ⎣u2 + v2 ⎦

⎡ 1 ⎤ ⎡ 2 ⎤ ⎡ 1 + 2 ⎤ ⎡3⎤
For example, ⎢ ⎥ + ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥=⎢ ⎥
⎣ −2 ⎦ ⎣ 5 ⎦ ⎣ −2 + 5 ⎦ ⎣ 3⎦

Scalar Multiplication of a vector:

Given a vector u and a real number c, the scalar multiple of u by c is the vector cu
obtained by multiplying each entry in u by c.
⎡3⎤ ⎡ 3 ⎤ ⎡15 ⎤
For example, if u = ⎢ ⎥ and c = 5, then cu = 5 ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎣ −1⎦ ⎣ −1⎦ ⎣ −5⎦
Notations: The number c in cu is a scalar; it is written in lightface type to distinguish it
from the boldface vector u.
⎡1⎤ ⎡2⎤
Example 1: Given u = ⎢ ⎥ and v = ⎢ ⎥ , find 4u, (-3) v, and 4u + (-3) v
⎣ −2 ⎦ ⎣ −5 ⎦

⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ 4 × 1 ⎤ ⎡ 4 ⎤ ⎡ 2 ⎤ ⎡ −6 ⎤
Solution: 4u == 4 ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥, (−3)v = (−3) ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎣ −2 ⎦ ⎣ 4 × (−2) ⎦ ⎣ −8⎦ ⎣ −5⎦ ⎣15 ⎦

⎡ 4 ⎤ ⎡ −6 ⎤ ⎡ −2 ⎤
And 4u + (−3)v = ⎢ ⎥ + ⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎣ −8⎦ ⎣15 ⎦ ⎣ 7 ⎦

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⎡3⎤
Note: Sometimes for our convenience, we write a column vector ⎢ ⎥ in the form
⎣ −1⎦
(3, –1). In this case, we use parentheses and a comma to distinguish the vector (3, –1)
from the 1 × 2 row matrix [3 –1], written with brackets and no comma.
⎡3⎤ ⎡3⎤
Thus ⎢ −1⎥ ≠ [3 −1] but ⎢ −1⎥ = (3, –1)
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
Geometric Descriptions of R2:
Consider a rectangular coordinate system in the plane. Because each point in the plane is
determined by an ordered pair of numbers, we can identify a geometric point (a, b) with
⎡a ⎤
the column vector ⎢ ⎥ . So we may regard R2 as the set of all points in the plane.
⎣b ⎦
See Figure 1. x2

.(2, 2)
x1
(-2, -1). .(3, –1)

Figure 1 Vectors as points.

Vectors in R3:
Vectors in R3 are 3 × 1 column matrices with three entries. They are represented
geometrically by points in a three-dimensional coordinate space, with arrows from the
origin sometimes included for visual clarity.
Vectors in Rn:
If n is a positive integer, Rn (read “r-n”) denotes the collection of all lists (or ordered
n- tuples) of n real numbers, usually written as n ×1 column matrices, such as

u = [u1 u2 " un ]
T

The vector whose entries are all zero is called the zero vector and is denoted by O.
(The number of entries in O will be clear from the context.)

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Algebraic Properties of Rn:

For all u, v, w in Rn and all scalars c and d:

(i) u + v = v + u (Commutative)
(ii) (u + v) + w = u + (v + w) (Associative)
(iii) u+0=0+u=u (Additive Identity)
(iv) u + (–u) =( –u) + u = 0 (Additive Inverse)
where –u denotes (–1)u
(v) c(u + v) = cu + cv (Scalar Distribution over Vector Addition)
(vi) (c + d)u = cu + du (Vector Distribution over Scalar Addition)
(vii) c(du) = (cd)u
(viii) 1u=u
Linear Combinations: Given vectors v1, v2, …, vp in Rn and given scalars c1, c2, …, cp
the vector defined by
y = c1v1 + c2v2 + " + c p v p
is called a linear combination of v1, … , vp using weights c1, ... , cp.
Property (ii) above permits us to omit parentheses when forming such a linear
combination. The weights in a linear combination can be any real numbers, including
zero.
Example:
⎡ −1⎤ ⎡2⎤ 5 1
For v1 = ⎢ ⎥ , v2 = ⎢ ⎥ , if w = v1 − v2 the we say that w is a linear combination of
⎣1 ⎦ ⎣1 ⎦ 2 2
v1 and v2.
Example: As (3, 5 , 2) = 3(1, 0 , 0) + 5(0, 1 , 0) + 2(0, 0 , 1)
(3, 5 , 2) = 3 v1 + 5 v2 + 2 v3 where v1 = (1, 0 , 0) , v2 = (0, 1 , 0) v3 = (0, 0 , 1)

So (3, 5 , 2) is a vector which is linear combination of v1 , v2 , v3

⎡1⎤ ⎡ 2⎤ ⎡7⎤
Example 5: Let a1 = ⎢ −2 ⎥ , a2 = ⎢⎢ 5 ⎥⎥ , and
⎢ ⎥ b = ⎢⎢ 4 ⎥⎥ .
⎢⎣ −5⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 6 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −3⎥⎦

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Determine whether b can be generated (or written) as a linear combination of a1 and a2.
That is, determine whether weights x1 and x2 exist such that
x1 a1 + x2 a2 = b (1)
If the vector equation (1) has a solution, find it.
Solution: Use the definitions of scalar multiplication and vector addition to rewrite the
vector equation
⎡1⎤ ⎡ 2⎤ ⎡ 7 ⎤
x1 ⎢ −2 ⎥ + x2 ⎢⎢ 5 ⎥⎥ = ⎢⎢ 4 ⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥

⎣⎢ −5⎦⎥ ⎢⎣ 6 ⎦⎥ ⎣⎢ −3⎦⎥

a1 a2 b
⎡ x1 ⎤ ⎡ 2 x2 ⎤ ⎡ 7 ⎤
⇒ ⎢ −2 x ⎥ + ⎢ 5 x ⎥ = ⎢ 4 ⎥
⎢ 1⎥ ⎢ 2⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −5 x1 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 6 x2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −3⎥⎦

⎡ x1 + 2 x2 ⎤ ⎡ 7 ⎤
⇒ ⎢ −2 x + 5 x ⎥ = ⎢ 4 ⎥ (2)
⎢ 1 2⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −5 x1 + 6 x2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −3⎥⎦

x1 + 2 x2 = 7
⇒ −2 x1 + 5 x2 = 4 (3)
−5 x1 + 6 x2 = −3

We solve this system by row reducing the augmented matrix of the system as follows:
⎡1 2 7⎤
⎢ −2 5 4 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −5 6 −3⎥⎦
By R2 + 2 R1 ; R3 + 5R1

⎡1 2 7 ⎤
⎢0 9 18 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 16 32 ⎥⎦
⎛1⎞ ⎛1⎞
By ⎜ ⎟ R2 ; ⎜ ⎟ R3/
⎝9⎠ ⎝ 16 ⎠

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⎡1 2 7 ⎤
⎢0 1 2⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 1 2 ⎥⎦

By R3 − R2 ; R1 − 2 R2

⎡1 0 3 ⎤
⎢0 1 2⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 0 0 ⎥⎦

The solution of (3) is x1 = 3 and x2 = 2. Hence b is a linear combination of a1 and a2, with
weights x1 = 3 and x2 = 2.
Spanning Set:
If v1, . . . , vp are in Rn, then the set of all linear combinations of v1, . . . , vp is
denoted by Span { v1, . . . , vp } and is called the subset of Rn spanned (or generated) by
v1, . . . , vp . That is, Span { v1, . . . , vp} is the collection of all vectors that can be written
in the form c1v1 + c2v2 + … + cpvp, with c1, . . . , cp scalars.
If we want to check whether a vector b is in Span {v1, . . . , vp } then we will see whether
the vector equation
x1v1 +x2v2 + ... + xpvp = b has a solution, or
Equivalently, whether the linear system with augmented matrix [ v1, … , vp b] has a
solution.
Note:
(1) The set Span { v1, . . . , vp} contains every scalar multiple of v1
because cv1 = cv1 + 0v2 + …. + 0vp i.e every cvi can be written as a linear
combination of v1, . . . , vp
(2) Zero vector = 0 ∈ Span{v , v ," v } as
1 2 n
0 can be written as the linear combination of

v , v ," v that is 0 = 0 F v + 0 F v + " + 0 F v here for the convenience it is mentioned

1 2 n
v 1 2 n
that 0v is the vector(zero vector) while 0 F is zero scalar (weight of all v1 , v2 ," vn ) and in

particular not to make confusion that 0v and 0 F are same!

A Geometric Description of Span {v} and Span {u, v}:

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Let v be a nonzero vector in R3. Then Span {v} is the set of all linear combinations of v
or in particular set of scalar multiples of v, and we visualize it as the set of points on the
line in R3 through v and 0.
If u and v are nonzero vectors in R3, with v not a multiple of u, then Span {u, v} is the
plane in R3 that contains u, v and 0. In particular, Span {u, v} contains the line in R3
through u and 0 and the line through v and 0.
⎡1⎤ ⎡ 5 ⎤ ⎡ −3⎤
Example 6: Let a1 = ⎢ −2 ⎥ , a2 = ⎢ −13⎥ , and b = ⎢⎢ 8 ⎥⎥ .
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ 3 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −3 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 1 ⎥⎦

Then Span {a1, a2} is a plane through the origin in R3. Is b in that plane?

Solution: First we see the equation x1a1 + x2a2 = b has a solution?

To answer this, row-reduce the augmented matrix [a1 a2 b]:
⎡1 5 −3 ⎤
⎢ −2 −13 8 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ 3 −3 1 ⎥⎦
By R2 + 2 R1

⎡1 5 −3⎤
⎢0 −3 2 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 18 10 ⎥⎦

By R3 + 6 R2

⎡1 5 −3⎤
⎢0 −3 2 ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣0 0 −2 ⎥⎦

Last row ⇒ 0x2 = −2 which can not be true for any value of x2 ∈ R

⇒ Given system has no solution

∴ b ∉ Span{a1 , a2 } and

in geometrical meaning, vector b does not lie in the plane spanned by vectors
a1 and a2

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Linear Combinations in Applications:

The final example shows how scalar multiples and linear combinations can arise when a
quantity such as “cost” is broken down into several categories. The basic principle for the
example concerns the cost of producing several units of an item when the cost per unit is
known:

⎧ number ⎫ ⎧ cos t ⎫ ⎧ total ⎫

⎨ ⎬⋅⎨ ⎬=⎨ ⎬
⎩ of units ⎭ ⎩ per unit ⎭ ⎩ cos t ⎭
Example 7: A Company manufactures two products. For one dollar’s worth of product
B, the company spends $0.45 on materials, $0.25 on labor, and $0.15 on overhead. For
one dollar’s worth of product C, the company spends $0.40 on materials, $0.30 on labor
and $0.15 on overhead.
⎡.45⎤ ⎡.40 ⎤
Let b = ⎢⎢.25⎥⎥ and c = ⎢⎢.30 ⎥⎥ , then b and c represent the “costs per dollar of income”
⎢⎣.15⎥⎦ ⎢⎣.15⎥⎦

for the two products.

a) What economic interpretation can be given to the vector 100b?

b) Suppose the company wishes to manufacture x1 dollars worth of product B and x2
dollars worth of product C. Give a vector that describes the various costs the
company will have (for materials, labor and overhead).
Solution:
⎡.45⎤ ⎡ 45⎤
(a) We have 100b = 100 ⎢⎢.25⎥⎥ = ⎢⎢ 25⎥⎥
⎢⎣.15⎥⎦ ⎢⎣15 ⎥⎦

The vector 100b represents a list of the various costs for producing $100 worth of product
B, namely, $45 for materials, $25 for labor, and $15 for overhead.

(b) The costs of manufacturing x1 dollars worth of B are given by the vector x1b and the
costs of manufacturing x2 dollars worth of C are given by x2c. Hence the total costs
for both products are given by the vector x1b + x2c.

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Vector Equation of a Line:

Let x0 be a fixed point on the line and v be a nonzero vector that is parallel to the required
line. Thus, if x is a variable point on the line through x0 that is parallel to v, then the
vector x – x0 is a vector parallel to v as shown in fig below,

So by definition of parallel vectors x– x0 = tv for some scalar t.

t is also called a parameter which varies from − ∞ to + ∞ . The variable point x traces
out the line, so the line can be represented by the equation
x– x0 = tv --------------(1) ( −∞ < t < +∞ )
This is a vector equation of the line through x0 and parallel to v.
In the special case where x0 = 0, the line passes through the origin, it simplifies to
x = tv ( −∞ < t < +∞ )
Parametric Equations of a Line in R2:
Let x = (x, y) ∈ R 2 be a general point of the line through x0 = (x0, y0) ∈ R 2 which is
parallel to

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v = (a, b) ∈ R 2 , then eq. 1 takes the form

(x, y) - (x0, y0) = t(a, b) ( −∞ < t < +∞ )
⇒ (x - x0 , y - y0) = (ta , tb) ( −∞ < t < +∞ )
⇒ x = x0 + at, y = y0 + bt ( −∞ < t < +∞ )

These are called parametric equations of the line in R 2 .

Parametric Equations of a Line in R3:
Similarly, if we let x = (x, y, z) ∈ R 3 be a general point on the line through
x0 = (x0, y0 , z0) ∈ R 3 that is parallel to v = (a, b, c) ∈ R 3 , then again eq. 1 takes the form
(x, y, z) = (x0, y0, z0) + t(a, b, c) ( −∞ < t < +∞ )
⇒ x= x0 + at, y = y0 + bt, z = z0 + ct ( −∞ < t < +∞ )

These are the parametric equations of the line in R3

Example 8:

(a) Find a vector equation and parametric equations of the line in R2 that passes
through the origin and is parallel to the vector v = (–2, 3).

(b) Find a vector equation and parametric equations of the line in R3 that passes
through the point P0(1, 2, –3) and is parallel to the vector v = (4, –5, 1).

(c) Use the vector equation obtained in part (b) to find two points on the line that are
different from P0.
Solution:

(a) We know that a vector equation of the line passing through origin is x = tv.
Let x = (x, y) then this equation can be expressed in component form as
(x, y) = t (–2, 3)
This is the vector equation of the line.
Equating corresponding components on the two sides of this equation yields the
parametric equations x = – 2t, y = 3t

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(b) The vector equation of the line is x = x0 + tv.

Let x = (x, y, z), Here x0 = (1, 2, –3) and v = (4, –5, 1), then above equation can
be expressed in component form as
(x, y, z) = (1, 2, –3) + t (4, –5, 1)

Equating corresponding components on the two sides of this equation yields the
parametric equations

x = 1 + 4t, y = 2 – 5t, z = –3 + t

(d) Specific points on a line can be found by substituting numerical values for the
parameter t.

For example, if we take t = 0 in part (b), we obtain the point (x, y, z) = (1, 2, –3),
which is the given point P0.
t = 1 yields the point (5, –3, –2) and
t = –1 yields the point (–3, 7, – 4).
Vector Equation of a Plane:
Let x0 be a fixed point on the required plane W and v1 and v2 be two nonzero vectors that
are parallel to W and are not scalar multiples of one another. If x is any variable point in
the plane W, Suppose v1 and v2 have their initial points at x0, we can create a
parallelogram with adjacent sides t1v1 and t2v2 in which x – x0 is the diagonal given by the
sum
x – x0 = t1v1 + t2v2

or, equivalently, x = x0 + t1v1 + t2v2 ---------------------(1)

where t1 and t2 are parameters varying independently from − ∞ to + ∞ .

This is a vector equation of the plane through x0 and parallel to the vectors v1 and v2. In
the special case where x0 = 0, the vector equation of the plane passing through the origin
takes the form

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x = t1v1 + t2v2 (−∞ < t1 < +∞, −∞ < t2 < +∞)

Parametric Equations of a Plane:

Let x = (x, y, z) be a general or variable point in the plane passing through a fixed point
x0 = (x0, y0, z0) and parallel to the vectors v1 = (a1, b1, c1) and v2 = (a2, b2, c2), then the
component form of eq. 1 will be
(x, y, z) = (x0, y0, z0) + t1(a1, b1, c1) +t2(a2, b2, c2)
Equating corresponding components, we get
x = x0 +a1t1 + a2t2
y = y0 + b1t1 + b2t2 (−∞ < t1 < +∞, −∞ < t2 < +∞)
z = z0 + c1t1 + c2t2
These are called the parametric equations for this plane.

Example 9: (Vector and Parametric Equations of Planes)

(a) Find vector and parametric equations of the plane that passes through the origin of
R3 and is parallel to the vectors v1 = (1, –2, 3) and v2 = (4, 0, 5).

(b) Find three points in the plane obtained in part (a).

Solution:

(a) As vector equation of the plane passing through origin is x = t1v1 + t2v2.
Let x = (x, y, z) then this equation can be expressed in component form as
(x, y, z) = t1(1, –2, 3) + t2 (4, 0, 5)
This is the vector equation of the plane.
Equating corresponding components, we get
x = t1 + 4t2, y = –2t1, z = 3t1 + 5t2
These are the parametric equations of the plane.

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(b) Points in the plane can be obtained by assigning some real values to the
parameters t1 and t2:

t1 = 0 and t2 = 0 produces the point (0, 0, 0)

t1 = –2 and t2 = 1 produces the point (2, 4, –1)

t1 = ½ and t2 = ½ produces the point (5/2, –1, 4)

Vector equation of Plane through Three Points:
If x0, x1 and x2 are three non collinear points in the required plane. Then obviously the
vectors v1 = x1 – x0 and v2 = x2 – x0 are parallel to the plane. So a vector equation of the
plane is
x = x0 + t1(x1 – x0) + t2(x2 – x0)
Example: Find vector and parametric equations of the plane that passes through the
points. P(2, – 4, 5), Q (–1, 4, –3) and R(1, 10, –7).
Solution:
Let x = (x, y, z), and if we take x0, x1 and x2 to be the points P, Q and R respectively, then
JJJG JJJG
x1 − x0 = PQ = (−3,8, −8) and x2 − x0 = PR = (−1,14, −12)
So the component form will be
( x, y, z ) = (2, −4,5) + t1 (−3,8, −8) + t2 (−1,14, −12)
This is the required vector equation of the plane.
Equating corresponding components, we get
x = 2 − 3t1 − t2 , y = −4 + 8t1 + 14t2 , z = 5 − 8t1 − 12t2
These are the parametric equations of the required plane.

Question: How can you tell from here that the points P, Q and R are not collinear?
Finding a Vector Equation from Parametric Equations
Example 11: Find a vector equation of the plane whose parametric equations are

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x = 4 + 5t1 − t2 , y = 2 − t1 + 8t2 , z = t1 + t2

Solution: First we rewrite the three equations as the single vector equation

( x, y, z ) = (4 + 5t1 − t2 , 2 − t1 + 8t2 , t1 + t2 )

⇒ ( x, y, z ) = (4, 2, 0) + (5t1 , −t1 , t1 ) + (−t2 ,8t2 , t2 )

⇒ ( x, y, z ) = (4, 2, 0) + t1 (5, −1,1) + t2 (−1,8,1)

This is a vector equation of the plane that passes through the point (4, 2, 0) and is parallel
to the vectors v1 = (5, –1, 1) and v2 = (–1, 8, 1).

Finding Parametric Equations from a General Equation

Example 12: Find parametric equations of the plane x – y + 2z = 5.

Solution: First we solve the given equation for x in terms of y and z

x = 5 + y – 2z
Now make y and z into parameters, and then express x in terms of these parameters.
Let y = t1 and z = t2
Then the parametric equations of the given plane are
x = 5 + t1 – 2t2, y = t1, z = t2

Exercises:
1. Prove that u + v = v + u for any u and v in Rn.

2. For what value(s) of h will y be in Span {v1, v2, v3} if

⎡1⎤ ⎡5⎤ ⎡ −3⎤ ⎡ −4⎤

v1 = ⎢⎢ −1⎥⎥ , v2 = ⎢⎢ −4 ⎥⎥ v3 = ⎢⎢ 1 ⎥⎥ , and y = ⎢⎢ 3 ⎥⎥
⎢⎣ −2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −7 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 0 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ h ⎥⎦

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Determine if b is a linear combination of a1, a2, and a3.

⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ −2 ⎤ ⎡ −6 ⎤ ⎡11 ⎤
3. a1 = ⎢0 ⎥ , a2 = ⎢3 ⎥ , a3 = ⎢7 ⎥ , b = ⎢⎢ −5⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣1 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣5 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣9 ⎥⎦

⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ −4⎤ ⎡2 ⎤ ⎡3 ⎤
4. a1 = ⎢0 ⎥ , a2 = ⎢3 ⎥ , a3 = ⎢5 ⎥ , b = ⎢⎢ −7 ⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣8 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −4⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −3 ⎥⎦

Determine if b is a linear combination of the vectors formed from the columns of the
matrix A.

⎡ 1 0 2⎤ ⎡ −5 ⎤ ⎡1 0 5⎤ ⎡2 ⎤
5. A = ⎢ −2 5 0 ⎥ , b = ⎢⎢11 ⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥ 6. A = ⎢ −2 1 −6 ⎥ , b = ⎢ −1⎥⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢
⎢⎣ 2 5 8 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −7 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 0 2 8 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 6 ⎥⎦

In exercises 3-6, list seven vectors in Span {v1, v2}. For each vector, show the weights on
v1 and v2 used to generate the vector and list the three entries of the vector. Give also
geometric description of the Span {v1, v2}.

⎛5⎞ ⎛1⎞ ⎛ −2 ⎞ ⎛1⎞

⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
7. v1 = ⎜ −1⎟ , v2 = ⎜ 1 ⎟ 8. v1 = ⎜ 0 ⎟ , v2 = ⎜ 0 ⎟
⎜3⎟ ⎜ −5 ⎟ ⎜1⎟ ⎜ 2⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

⎛ 2⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛ −3.7 ⎞ ⎛ 5.8 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
9. v1 = ⎜ 6 ⎟ , v2 = ⎜ −9 ⎟ 10. v1 = ⎜ −0.4 ⎟ , v2 = ⎜ 2.1⎟
⎜ −4 ⎟ ⎜ 6⎟ ⎜ 11.2 ⎟ ⎜ 5.3 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

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5-Vector Equations VU

⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ −5⎤ ⎡3 ⎤
11. Let a1 = ⎢3 ⎥ , a2 = ⎢ −8⎥ , b = ⎢⎢ −5⎥⎥ . For what value(s) of h is b in the plane spanned
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −1⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ 2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ h ⎥⎦

by a1 and a2?

⎡1 ⎤ ⎡ −2⎤ ⎡h ⎤
12. Let v1 = ⎢ 0 ⎥ , v2 = ⎢1 ⎥ , and y = ⎢⎢ −3⎥⎥ . For what value(s) of h is y in the plane
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ −2 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣7 ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ −5⎥⎦

generated by v1 and v2?

⎡2⎤ ⎡ 2⎤ ⎡h ⎤
13. Let u = ⎢ ⎥ and ⎢ ⎥ . Show that ⎢ k ⎥ is in Span{u, v} for all h and k.
⎣ −1⎦ ⎣1 ⎦ ⎣ ⎦

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