1.3.

Linear Combination of Vectors

Observe that any vector (𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐) in the vector space can be

written as
(𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐) = 𝑎(1,0,0) + 𝑏(0, 1 ,0) + 𝑐(0, 0,1)
The vector 1,0,0 , 0,1,0 and (0,1,0) in some sense
characterize the vector space ℝ3 . We pursue this approach
to understanding vector spaces in terms of certain vectors
that represent the whole space.
Definition: Let 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 be vectors in a vector space 𝑉.
We say that 𝑣 , a vector in 𝑉 , is a linear combination of
𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 if there exists scalars of 𝑐1 , 𝑐2 , … , 𝑐𝑚 such that ‘𝑣’
can be written as
𝑣 = 𝑐1 𝑣1 + 𝑐2 𝑣2 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑚 𝑣𝑚
Example: The vector (5,4,2) is a linear combination of the
vectors 1,2,0 (3,1,4) and (1,0,3). Since it can be written as
(5,4,2) = (1,2,0) + 2(3,1,4) − 2(1,0,3).
DEFINITION: The vectors 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … … … . , 𝑣𝑚 are said to span
a vector space if every vector in the space can be expressed
as a linear combination of these vectors.
A spanning set of vectors in a sense defines the vector
space, since every vector in the space can be obtained from
this set.
 We have developed the mathematics for looking at a
vector space in terms of a set of vectors that spans the
space. It is also useful to be able to do the converse,
namely to use a set of vectors to generate a vector space.
THEOREM: Let 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 be vectors in a vector space 𝑉.
Let 𝑈 be the set consisting of all linear combinations of
𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 . Then 𝑈 is a subspace of 𝑉 spanned by the
vectors 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 . 𝑈 is said to be the vector space
generated by 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 .
Proof: Let 𝑢1 = 𝑎1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑚 𝑣𝑚 and 𝑢2 = 𝑏1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑏𝑚 𝑣𝑚
be arbitrary elements of 𝑈. Then
𝑢1 + 𝑢2 = 𝑎1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑚 𝑣𝑚 + 𝑏1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑏𝑚 𝑣𝑚
= 𝑎1 + 𝑏1 𝑣1 + 𝑎𝑚 + 𝑏𝑚 𝑣𝑚 .
𝑢1 + 𝑢2 is a linear combination of 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 . Thus 𝑢1 + 𝑢2
is in 𝑈. vector addition.
Let ‘𝑐’ be an arbitrary scalar. Then
𝑐𝑢1 = 𝑐 𝑎1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑚 𝑣𝑚 = 𝑐𝑎1 𝑣1 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑎𝑚 𝑣𝑚
𝑐𝑢1 is a linear combination of 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 . Therefore 𝑐𝑢1
is in 𝑈. 𝑈 is closed under scalar multiplication. Thus 𝑈 is a
subspace of 𝑣.
By the definition of 𝑈, every vector in 𝑈 can be written
as a linear combination of 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚 . Thus 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑚
span 𝑈.
Problem: Determine whether or not the vector (−1,1,5) is a
linear combination of the vectors (1,2,3)(0,1,4) and (2,3,6)
Solution: We examine the identity
𝐶1 (1,2,3) + 𝐶2 (0,1,4) + 𝐶3 (2,3,6) = (−1,1,5)
Can we find scalars 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 and 𝐶3 such that this identity
holds?
Using the operations of addition and scalar multiplication
we get
(𝐶1 + 2𝐶3 , 2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 , 3𝐶1 + 4 𝐶2 + 6𝐶3 ) = (−1, ,5)
Equating components leads to the following system of
linear equations.
𝐶1 + 2𝐶3 = −1
2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 = 1
3𝐶1 + 4 𝐶2 + 6𝐶3 = 5
It can be shown that this system of equations has the
unique solution.
𝐶1 = 1, 𝐶2 = 2, 𝐶3 = −1.
Thus the vector (−1,1,5) has the following linear
combination of the vectors (1,2,3)(0,1,4) and (2,3,6)
(−1,1,5) = (1,2,3) + 2(0,1,4) − 1(2,3,6).
Problem: Express the vector (4,5,5) as a linear combination
of the vectors (1,2,3), (−1,1,4) and (3,3,2)
Solution: Examine the following indentify for values of 𝐶1 ,
𝐶2 and 𝐶3 .
𝐶1 (1,2,3) + 𝐶2 (−1,1,4) + 𝐶3 (3,3,2) = (4,5,5)
We get (𝐶1 − 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 , 2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 , 3𝐶1 + 4 𝐶2 + 2𝐶3 ) =
( 4,5,5)
Equating components leads to the following system of
linear equations.
𝐶1 − 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 = 4
2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 3𝐶3 = 5
3𝐶1 + 4 𝐶2 + 2𝐶3 = 5
This system of equations has many solutions,
𝐶1 = −2𝑟 + 3, 𝐶2 = 𝑟 − 1, 𝐶3 = 𝑟
Thus the vector can be expressed in many ways as a linear
combination of the vectors (1,2,3), (−1,1,4) and (3,3,2)
( 4,5,5) = (−2𝑟 + 3) (1,2,3) + (𝑟 − 1) (−1,1,4) + 𝑟(3,3,2)
For example,
𝑟 = 3 gives ( 4,5,5) = −3 (1,2,3) + 2(−1,1,4) + 3(3,3,2)
𝑟 = −1 gives ( 4,5,5) = 5 (1,2,3) − 2(−1,1,4) − (3,3,2).
Problem: Show that the vector (3, −4, −6) cannot be
expressed as a linear combination of the vectors
(1,2,3) (−1, −1, −2) and (1,4,5)
Solution: Consider the identity
𝐶1 (1,2,3) + 𝐶2 (−1, −1, −2) + 𝐶3 (1,4,5) = (3, −4, −6)
This identity leads to the following system of linear
equations.
𝐶1 − 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 = 3
2𝐶1 − 𝐶2 + 4𝐶3 = −4
3𝐶1 − 2 𝐶2 + 5𝐶3 = 6
This system has no solution. Thus (3, −4, −6) is not a linear
combination of the vectors
(1,2,3) (−1, −1, −2) and (1,4,5).
Problem: Show that the vectors (1,2,0), (0,1, −1) and (1, 1,2)
span ℝ3 .
Solution: Let (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) be an arbitrary element of ℝ3 .
We have to determine whether we can write (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
𝐶1 (1,2,0) + 𝐶2 (0,1, −1) + 𝐶3 (1, 1,2).
Multiply and add the vectors to get
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ( 𝐶1 + 𝐶3 , 2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 , −𝐶2 + 2𝐶3 )
Thus, 𝐶1 + 𝐶3 = 𝑥
2𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 = 𝑦
−𝐶2 + 2𝐶3 = 𝑧
This system of equations in the variables 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 and 𝐶3 is
solved by the method of Gauss-Jordon elimination. It is
found to have the solution
𝐶1 = 3𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧,
𝐶2 = −4𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧,
𝐶3 = −2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧.
We can write an arbitrary vector of ℝ3 as a linear
combination of these vectors as follows.
(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (3𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧) (1,2,0) + (−4𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧) (0,1, −1)
+ (−2𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧) (1, 1,2).
The vectors (1,2,0), (0,1, −1) and (1, 1,2) span ℝ3 .
Problem: Let 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 span a subspace 𝑈 of a vector space
𝑉 . Let 𝑘1 and 𝑘2 be non-zero scalars. Show that 𝑘1 𝑣1 and
𝑘2 𝑣2 also span 𝑈.
Solution: Let 𝑣 be a vector in
Since 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 span 𝑈. There exists scalars 𝑎 and 𝑏 such
that
𝑣 = 𝑎 𝑣1 + 𝑏 𝑣2
we can write
𝑎 𝑏
𝑣= 𝑘1 𝑣1 + 𝑘2 𝑣2
𝑘1 𝑘2

Thus the vectors 𝑘1 𝑣1 and 𝑘2 𝑣2 span 𝑈.

Problems: Let ‘𝑈’ be the subspace generated by the vectors
(1, 2, 0) and (−3,1,2). Let 𝑉 be the subspace of ℝ3 generated
by the vectors (−1,5,2) and (4,1, −2). Show that 𝑈 = 𝑉.
Solution: Let ‘𝑢’ be a vector in 𝑈. Let us show that 𝑢 is in
𝑉.
Since 𝑢 is in 𝑈, there exists scalars 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that
𝑢 = 𝑎 (1, 2, 0) + 𝑏 (−3,1,2)
= (𝑎 − 3𝑏, 2𝑎 + 𝑏, 2𝑏)
Let us see if we can write u as a linear combination of
(−1,5,2) and (4,1, −2)
𝑢 = 𝑝(−1,5,2) + 𝑞 (4,1, −2)
= (−𝑝 + 4𝑞, 5𝑝 + 𝑞, 2𝑝 − 2𝑞)
Such 𝑝 and 𝑞 would have to satisfy
−𝑝 + 4𝑞 = 𝑎 − 3𝑏
5𝑝 + 𝑞 = 2𝑎 + 𝑏
2𝑝 − 2𝑞 = 2𝑏.
𝑎+𝑏 𝑎−2𝑏
This system of eqs has unique solution 𝑝 = ,𝑞 = .
3 3

Thus 𝑢 can be written as

𝑎+𝑏 𝑎−2𝑏
𝑝= −1,5,2 + (4,1, −2).
3 3

Therefore 𝑢 is a vector in 𝑉. Conversely, let 𝑣 be a vector in

𝑉 . Similar to the above we can show that 𝑣 is in 𝑈 .
Therefore 𝑈 = 𝑉.
Exercise
1. Let 𝑈 be the vector space generated by the functions
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3. Show that the function
𝑕 𝑥 = 6𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 5 lies in 𝑈.
2. In the following sets of vectors, determine whether the
first vector is a linear combination of the other vectors.
(a) −3,3,7 ; 1, −1,2 , 2,1,0 , (−1,2,1)
(b) 0,10,8 ; −1,2,3 , 1,3,1 , (1,8,5)

3. Determine whether the following vectors span ℝ3 .

(a) 2,1,0 , −1,3,1 , (4,5,0)
(b) 1,2,1 , −1,3,0 , (0,5,1)

4. Give three other vectors in the subspace of ℝ3 generated

by the vectors 1,2,3 , (1,2,0).
5. Let 𝑈 be the subspace of ℝ3 generated by the vectors
(3, −1,2) and (1,0,4). Let 𝑉 be the subspace of ℝ3 generated
by the vectors (4, −1,6) and (1, −1, −6). Show that 𝑈 = 𝑉.
6. In each of the following, determine whether the first
function is a linear combination of the functions that
follow:

(a)𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 9; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 1, 𝑕 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3
(b) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 5; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1, 𝑕 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1
7. Let 𝑣, 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 . be vectors in a vector space 𝑉. Let v be
a linear combination of 𝑣1 and 𝑣2 . If 𝑐1 and 𝑐2 are nonzero
scalars, show that 𝑣 is also a linear combination of 𝑐1 𝑣1 and
𝑐2 𝑣2 .

Answers
2. (a) −3,3,7 = 2 1, −1,2 − 2,1,0 + 3 −1,2,1
(b) 0,10,8 = 2 − 𝑐 −1,2,3 + 2 − 2𝑐 1,3,1 + 𝑐 1,8,5 ,
whether c is any real number

3. (a) Span (b) Do not span

4. e.g., 1,2,3 + 1,2,0 = 2,4,3 , 1,2,3 − 1,2,0

= 0,0,3 , 2 1,2,3 = (2,4,6).