Linear Transformations

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 1/9

Definition. Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F . A linear transformation from V
into W is a function T from V into W such that T (cα + β) = c(T α) + T β for all α and β
in V and all scalars c in F .

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 2/9

Definition. Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F . A linear transformation from V
into W is a function T from V into W such that T (cα + β) = c(T α) + T β for all α and β
in V and all scalars c in F .

Example 1. If V is any vector space, the identity transformation I , defined by I α = α, is a

linear transformation from V into V . The zero transformation 0 , defined by 0α = 0, is a
linear transformation from V into V .

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 2/9

Definition. Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F . A linear transformation from V
into W is a function T from V into W such that T (cα + β) = c(T α) + T β for all α and β
in V and all scalars c in F .

Example 1. If V is any vector space, the identity transformation I , defined by I α = α, is a

linear transformation from V into V . The zero transformation 0 , defined by 0α = 0, is a
linear transformation from V into V .
Note: T : V → W , then T (0) = T (0 + 0) = T (0) + T (0) or T (0) = 0.

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 2/9

Definition. Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F . A linear transformation from V
into W is a function T from V into W such that T (cα + β) = c(T α) + T β for all α and β
in V and all scalars c in F .

Example 1. If V is any vector space, the identity transformation I , defined by I α = α, is a

linear transformation from V into V . The zero transformation 0 , defined by 0α = 0, is a
linear transformation from V into V .
Note: T : V → W , then T (0) = T (0 + 0) = T (0) + T (0) or T (0) = 0.
Example 2. Let T : R 3 (R) → R 2 (R) defined by,
(i) T(x,y,z)= (x+y,z) (is a Linear transformation)
(ii) T(x,y,z) = (2,x+y+z) (is not a Linear transformation)
(ii) T(x,y,z) = (xy,z) (is not a Linear transformation)

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 2/9

Example 3. Let F be a field and V = P(x) be the space of all polynomials of the form
p(x) = c0 + c1 x + c2 x 2 + · · · + ck x k . Let

(Dp)(x) = D(p(x)) = c1 + 2c2 x + · · · + kck x k−1

Then D is a linear transformation from V into V - the differentiation transformation.

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 3/9

Example 3. Let F be a field and V = P(x) be the space of all polynomials of the form
p(x) = c0 + c1 x + c2 x 2 + · · · + ck x k . Let

(Dp)(x) = D(p(x)) = c1 + 2c2 x + · · · + kck x k−1

Then D is a linear transformation from V into V - the differentiation transformation.

Example 4. Let R be the field of real numbers and let V be the space of all functions from R
into R which are continuous. Define T by
Z x
(Tf )(x) = f (t)dt
0

Then T is a linear transformation from V into V .

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 3/9

Theorem 1
Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space over the field F and let {α1 , . . . , αn } be an ordered
basis for V. Let W be a vector space over the same field F and let β1 , . . . , βn be any vectors
in W. Then there is precisely one linear transformation T from V into W such that

Tαj = βj , j = 1, . . . , n

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 4/9

Theorem 1
Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space over the field F and let {α1 , . . . , αn } be an ordered
basis for V. Let W be a vector space over the same field F and let β1 , . . . , βn be any vectors
in W. Then there is precisely one linear transformation T from V into W such that

Tαj = βj , j = 1, . . . , n

Problem : Let T : R 2 (R) → R 3 (R). Let α1 = (1, 2), α2 = (3, 4). Find the linear
transformation T for which T α1 = (3, 2, 1), T α2 = (6, 5, 4).

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 4/9

Range (or Image) and Nullspace (or kernel) of a Linear Transformation.

Let T : V (F ) → W (F ) be a linear transformation, then,

Range(T ) = {T α|α ∈ V }
Nullspace(T ) = {α ∈ V |T α = 0}

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 5/9

Range (or Image) and Nullspace (or kernel) of a Linear Transformation.

Let T : V (F ) → W (F ) be a linear transformation, then,

Range(T ) = {T α|α ∈ V }
Nullspace(T ) = {α ∈ V |T α = 0}

Range(T ) and Nullspace(T ) are subspaces of W and V respectively.(check)

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 5/9

Range (or Image) and Nullspace (or kernel) of a Linear Transformation.

Let T : V (F ) → W (F ) be a linear transformation, then,

Range(T ) = {T α|α ∈ V }
Nullspace(T ) = {α ∈ V |T α = 0}

Range(T ) and Nullspace(T ) are subspaces of W and V respectively.(check)

dim(Range(T )) = RankT
dim(Nullspace(T )) = nullityT

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 5/9

A linear transformation T : V → V is called a linear operator.
Question: Let T be the function from R3 into R3 defined by

T (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = (x1 − x2 + 2x3 , 2x1 + x2 , −x1 − 2x2 + 2x3 )

(a) Verify that T is a linear transformation.

(b) If (a, b, c) is a vector in R3 , what are the conditions on a, b, and c that the vector be in
the range of T ? What is the rank of T ?
(c) What are the conditions on a, b, and c that (a, b, c) be in the null space of T ? What is
the nullity of T ?
Note: Suppose α1 , α2 , . . . , αm span a vector space V , and suppose T : V → U is linear. Then
T (α1 ) , T (α2 ) , . . . , T (αm ) span Range(T ).

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 6/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

• T : V → W is said to be non-singular if T γ = 0 =⇒ γ = 0 i.e the nullspace of T is {0}

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

• T : V → W is said to be non-singular if T γ = 0 =⇒ γ = 0 i.e the nullspace of T is {0}

• T is one-one : T α = T β =⇒ α = β

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

• T : V → W is said to be non-singular if T γ = 0 =⇒ γ = 0 i.e the nullspace of T is {0}

• T is one-one : T α = T β =⇒ α = β
T is one-one iff T is non-singular

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

• T : V → W is said to be non-singular if T γ = 0 =⇒ γ = 0 i.e the nullspace of T is {0}

• T is one-one : T α = T β =⇒ α = β
T is one-one iff T is non-singular
• T is onto if Range(T ) = W

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Theorem 2
Let V and W be vector spaces over the field F and let T be a linear transformation from V
into W. Suppose that V is finite-dimensional. Then

rank(T) + nullity (T) = dim V

• T : V → W is said to be non-singular if T γ = 0 =⇒ γ = 0 i.e the nullspace of T is {0}

• T is one-one : T α = T β =⇒ α = β
T is one-one iff T is non-singular
• T is onto if Range(T ) = W
• T is invertible iff T is one-one and onto

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 7/9

Assignment Questions:
1. Let V be the vector space of all n × n matrices over the field F , and let B be a fixed n × n
matrix. If T (A) = AB − BA verify that T is a linear transformation from V into V .
2. Is there a linear transformation T from R 3 into R 2 such that T (1, −1, 1) = (1, 0) and
T (1, 1, 1) = (0, 1)?
3. Which of the following functions T from R 2 into R 2 are linear transformations?
(a) T (x1 , x2 ) = (1 + x1 , x2 );
(b) T (x1 , x2 ) = (x2 , x1 );
(c) T (x1 , x2 ) = x12 , x2 ;

(d) T (x1 , x2 ) = (sin x1 , x2 );

(e) T (x1 , x2 ) = (x1 − x2 , 0).

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 8/9

4. Let F : R4 → R3 be the linear mapping(linear transformation) defined by
F (x, y , z, t) = (x − y + z + t, x + 2z − t, x + y + 3z − 3t).
Find a basis and the dimension of (a) the image of F , (b) the kernel of F .

Dr. A V Prajeesh October 11, 2021 9/9