MATH 3201: Linear Algebra

Alfred P. Phiri

The Catholic University of Malawi

Faculty of Science

Department of Mathematical Sciences

September 11, 2025

Outline

In today’s lecture, we will discuss

1. Spanning Sets

2. Linear Independence and Dependence

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Spanning Sets

Definition
A set of vectors S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vk } in a vector space V is
called a spanning set (or that it spans V ) if every vector in
V can be written as a linear combination of vectors from S .

Span(S ) = a1 v1 + a2 v2 + · · · + ak vk | ai ∈ F
where F is the underlying field (like R or C ).

Theorem
If the set S spans V , then for every v ∈ V , there exist
scalars a1 , . . . , ak such that

v = a1 v1 + a2 v2 + · · · + ak vk

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Example 1: Spanning in Matrix Spaces
( ! ! ! !)
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Let S = , , , .
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Does S span the space M2×2 (R) of all 2 × 2 real matrices?

SOLUTION:

Alfred P. Phiri Vector spaces over R September 11, 2025 3 / 18

Example 1: Spanning in Matrix Spaces
( ! ! ! !)
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Let S = , , , .
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Does S span the space M2×2 (R) of all 2 × 2 real matrices?

SOLUTION:
!
a b
Any 2 × 2 matrix A = can be written as:
c d
! ! ! !
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
a +b +c +d
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
So, every matrix in M2×2 (R) can be written as a linear
combination of elements of S .

Therefore, S spans M2×2 (R).

Alfred P. Phiri Vector spaces over R September 11, 2025 3 / 18

Example 2: Spanning in Matrix Spaces
( ! ! !)
1 2 0 1 1 0
Let S = , , in M2×2 (R). Does S span all of
0 1 1 0 1 1
M2×2 (R) ? If not, describe the subspace it spans.

SOLUTION:

Alfred P. Phiri Vector spaces over R September 11, 2025 4 / 18

Example 2: Spanning in Matrix Spaces
( ! ! !)
1 2 0 1 1 0
Let S = , , in M2×2 (R). Does S span all of
0 1 1 0 1 1
M2×2 (R) ? If not, describe the subspace it spans.

SOLUTION:

Let an arbitrary 2 × 2 real matrix be

!
a b
A=
c d
Suppose
! ! !
1 2 0 1 1 0
A =x +y +z
0 1 1 0 1 1
Let’s expand:
! ! !
1 2 0 1 1 0
=x +y +z
0 1 1 0 1 1
! ! !
x 2x 0 y z 0
= + +
0 x y 0 z z

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Cont’d

!
x +z 2x + y
=
y +z x +z
!
a b
So, equate this to :
c d


 x +z = a

 2x + y = b




 y +z = c

x +z = d
Notice a = d must hold for a solution to exist. Therefore, only those
matrices with equal diagonal entries can be written as linear
combinations of vectors in S .

Therefore; S does not span all of M2×2 (R). It spans the subspace of
matrices with equal diagonal entries:
( ! )
a b
a, b , c ∈ R
c a

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Example 3
Let V be the space of all polynomials of degree at most 3 . Does
n o
S = 1 + x, 1 − x, x 2 , x 3
span V ?

SOLUTION:

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Example 3
Let V be the space of all polynomials of degree at most 3 . Does
n o
S = 1 + x, 1 − x, x 2 , x 3
span V ?

SOLUTION:

The general form for a polynomial in V is

p(x) = a + bx + cx 2 + dx 3 , a, b , c, d ∈ R
Let’s try to express p(x) as a linear combination

α(1 + x) + β(1 − x) + γx 2 + δx 3
Expand:

= α(1 + x) + β(1 − x) + γx 2 + δx 3
= α + αx + β + (−β)x + γx 2 + δx 3
= (α + β) + (α − β)x + γx 2 + δx 3

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Cont’d

So, matching coefficients:

Constant: a = α + β

x: b = α−β

x2 : c =γ

x3 : d =δ

Solving for the Coefficients

Given any a, b , c, d , solve for α, β, γ, δ :

From above:

γ =c

δ=d

From α + β = a and α − β = b

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Cont’d
Solve for α, β

Add equations:
a +b
(α + β) + (α − β) = a + b =⇒ 2α = a + b =⇒ α =
2
Subtract equations:
a −b
(α + β) − (α − β) = a − b =⇒ 2β = a − b =⇒ β =
2
So for any a, b , c, d ,

α = a+b
2

β = a−b
2
γ =c

δ=d

Therefore, S spans V since every polynomial a + bx + cx 2 + dx 3 can be

written as a linear combination of the elements of S .
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Linear Independence and Dependence

Definition: Linear Independence

A set of vectors {v1 , v2 , . . . , vk } in a vector space V is linearly
independent if the only solution to

a1 v1 + a2 v2 + · · · + ak vk = 0
is
a1 = a2 = · · · = ak = 0.

Definition: Linear Dependence

A set is linearly dependent if there exist scalars, not all
zero, such that

a1 v1 + a2 v2 + · · · + ak vk = 0

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Example 4: Linear Dependence in Matrix Space

! ! !
1 2 2 4 0 1
Are the matrices A1 = , A2 = , A3 =
0 1 0 2 0 0
linearly dependent in M2×2 (R) ?

SOLUTION:

Alfred P. Phiri Vector spaces over R September 11, 2025 10 / 18

Example 4: Linear Dependence in Matrix Space

! ! !
1 2 2 4 0 1
Are the matrices A1 = , A2 = , A3 =
0 1 0 2 0 0
linearly dependent in M2×2 (R) ?

SOLUTION:

Suppose a1 A1 + a2 A2 + a3 A3 = 0 :
! ! ! !
1 2 2 4 0 1 0 0
a1 + a2 + a3 =
0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Combine:
! !
a1 + 2a2 2a1 + 4a2 + a3 0 0
=
0 a1 + 2a2 0 0

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Cont’d

So:

a1 + 2a2 = 0 (for both (1, 1) and (2, 2) entries)

2a1 + 4a2 + a3 = 0

From first: a1 = −2a2

Substitute into the second:

2 (−2a2 ) + 4a2 + a3 = −4a2 + 4a2 + a3 = a3 = 0

So a3 = 0 and a1 = −2a2 . So, for any a2 , let’s say a2 = 1,
then a1 = −2, a3 = 0, which is not all zero.

Therefore, the matrices are linearly dependent.

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Example 5: Linear Independence in Polynomial
Space
n o
Determine if the set x 3 + x, x 2 − x, 2x 3 + 3x 2 is linearly
independent in P3 (space of real polynomials of degree ≤ 3
).
SOLUTION:

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Example 5: Linear Independence in Polynomial
Space
n o
Determine if the set x 3 + x, x 2 − x, 2x 3 + 3x 2 is linearly
independent in P3 (space of real polynomials of degree ≤ 3
).
SOLUTION:
    
Suppose a x 3 + x + b x 2 − x + c 2x 3 + 3x 2 = 0 for all x.
Expand:

     
a x 3 + x +b x 2 − x +c 2x 3 + 3x 2 = (a+2c)x 3 +(b +3c)x 2 +(a−b )x
Set coefficients to zero:

a + 2c = 0
b + 3c = 0
a −b = 0
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Cont’d

From the third Eqn: a = b

Substitute b = a in the first two:

a + 2c = 0 =⇒ a = −2c

b + 3c = a + 3c = 0 =⇒ a = −3c

So, −2c = −3c =⇒ c = 0 =⇒ a = 0, b = 0.

Therefore, the set is linearly independent.

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Example 6: Linear Independence in R 3
Determine whether the vectors

v1 = (1, −2, 3), v2 = (5, 6, −1), v3 = (3, 2, 1)

are linearly independent or linearly dependent in R 3 .
SOLUTION:

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Example 6: Linear Independence in R 3
Determine whether the vectors

v1 = (1, −2, 3), v2 = (5, 6, −1), v3 = (3, 2, 1)

are linearly independent or linearly dependent in R 3 .
SOLUTION:
The linear independence or linear dependence of these vectors is
determined by whether there exist nontrivial solutions of the vector
equation

av1 + b v2 + cv3 = 0
or, equivalently, of

a(1, −2, 3) + b (5, 6, −1) + c(3, 2, 1) = (0, 0, 0)

Equating corresponding components on the two sides yields the
homogeneous linear system

a + 5b + 3c = 0
−2a + 6b + 2c = 0
3a − b + c = 0
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Row Reduction (Gaussian Elimination)

Write the coefficient matrix and row-reduce:

 
 1 5 3 

 −2 6 2 

 
3 −1 1
Let us use elementary row operations.

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Cont’d
   
 1 5 3 0 
R ←R +2R
 1 5 3 0 
  2 2 1 
 −2 6 2 0  −−−−−−−−−−−→ 

0 16 8 0 
   
3 −1 1 0 3 −1 1 0
 
R3 ←R3 −3R1 
 1 5 3 0 
−−−−−−−−−−−→ 
 
0 16 8 0 
 
0 −16 −8 0
 
1
R2 ← 16 R2  1 5 3 0 
1
−−−−−−−−−→  0

1 2
0 
 
0 −16 −8 0
 1 
R1 ←R1 −5R2 
 1 0 2
0 

−−−−−−−−−−−→  0 1 
1 2
0 
 
0 −16 −8 0
 1 0 21 0 
 
R3 ←R3 +16R2 
−−−−−−−−−−−−→  0 1 12 0  .
 
 
0 0 0 0
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Cont’d

Now read off the equations from the nonzero rows:

1 1
a + c = 0, b+ c =0
2 2
Let c = t (free).

Then a = b = − 21 t.

Choose t = −2 ⇒ (a, b , c) = (1, 1, −2), so

v1 + v2 − 2v3 = 0
Therefore, the vectors are linearly dependent.

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 ∼∼ End of Lesson ∼∼

Thank You!!

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