Lecture 2

Content: Spanning

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

In linear algebra, sets of all possible linear combinations of a

set of vectors are very important.

Definition
The set S of all possible linear combinations of a set of vectors

B = {
v 1, . . . ,
v k } in Rn is called the span of the set B and
we write

S = Span B = Span{
v 1, . . . ,
v k}

= {t1 v 1 + + tk v k | t1 , . . . , tk R}
We also say that S is spanned by B and that B is a spanning
set for S.

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

We will sometimes want to write a set differently. For a set

t1 v 1 + + tk v k + b | t1 , . . . , t k R
we will just write

x = t1
v 1 + + tk
vk+ b,

t1 , . . . , tk R

and call this a vector equation of the set.

Notice that the vector equation gives us the general form of
any vector in the set.

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

1

Which of the following sets contains the vector

x = 2.
1

0
0
1

0 , 1 , 0
(a) S = Span

0
0
1
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

1

Which of the following sets contains the vector

x = 2.
1

2
1

1 , 1
(b) T = Span

1
2
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

1

Which of the following sets contains the vector

x = 2.
1

1
2

0 , 0
(c) U = Span

1
1
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

Describe geometrically the set S = Span


1
in R2 .
1

Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

0
1
Describe geometrically the set S = Span 0 , 1 in R3 .

1
0
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example
Find a simplified vector equation of the following sets and
describe the
set
geometrically.

2
1
(a) Span 2 , 4

1
2
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example
Find a simplified vector equation of the following sets and
describe the
geometrically.
set

0
1
1
(b) Span 1 , 3 , 2

2
1
3
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

What
are
some
other
possible
simplified vector equations for
0
1
1
Span 1 , 3 , 2 ?

2
1
3

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example
Find a simplified vector equation of the following sets and
describe the
set
geometrically.

0
1
(c) Span 1 , 0

1
0
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo

Example
Find a simplified vector equation of the following sets and
describe the
set
geometrically.

0
0
1
(d) Span 0 , 1 , 0

1
0
1
Solution:

Math 136

Dan Wolczuk Faculty of Mathematics University of Waterloo