Thus 4a - 2b + 3c = 0 represents a plane through (0, 0, 0).

Hence the subspace W is the plane

4a - 2b + 3c = 0.
 Q. Find an equation defining the subspace W of spanned by

Solution:
 Q. Find an equation defining the subspace W of spanned by

Solution: Every vector (x, y, z) of W is a linear combination of u, v, w. Hence there are real
numbers a, b, c such that
(x, y, z) = au + bv + cw
= a 2) + b + c
 Q. Find an equation defining the subspace W of spanned by

Solution: Every vector (x, y, z) of W is a linear combination of u, v, w. Hence there are real
numbers a, b, c such that
(x, y, z) = au + bv + cw
= a 2) + b + c
The system of equations in a, b, c are
x = a – 2b -3c
y = -3a + b - c
z = 2a + 2b + 6c
 Q. Find an equation defining the subspace W of spanned by

Solution: Every vector (x, y, z) of W is a linear combination of u, v, w. Hence there are real
numbers a, b, c such that
(x, y, z) = au + bv + cw
= a 2) + b + c
The system of equations in a, b, c are
x = a – 2b -3c
y = -3a + b - c
z = 2a + 2b + 6c
After reducing in Echelon Form, above system takes the form
a – 2b – 3c = x
b + 2c = x + y + z
0 = 8x + 6y + 5z
 Q. Find an equation defining the subspace W of spanned by

Solution: Every vector (x, y, z) of W is a linear combination of u, v, w. Hence there are real
numbers a, b, c such that
(x, y, z) = au + bv + cw
= a 2) + b + c
The system of equations in a, b, c are
x = a – 2b -3c
y = -3a + b - c
z = 2a + 2b + 6c
After reducing in Echelon Form, above system takes the form
a – 2b – 3c = x
b + 2c = x + y + z
0 = 8x + 6y + 5z
Which will be consistent if 8x + 6y + 5z = 0. This represents a plane through (0, 0, 0). Thus the
subspace W is the plane 8x + 6y + 5z = 0.
 Remark 5: If the determinant of the coefficient matrix A of the vector equation (*) is equals
to zero then the given vectors are Linear Dependent.
 Remark 7: If the coefficient matrix A of the vector equation (*) has Rank less then number of
unknowns, i.e:
Rank A < Number of unknowns
Then the system must have a nontrivial solution (means: must have free variable/s) and hence the
given vectors are Linear Dependent.
 Remark 7: If the coefficient matrix A of the vector equation (*) has Rank less then number of
unknowns, i.e:
Rank A < Number of unknowns
Then the system must have a nontrivial solution (means: must have free variable/s) and hence the
given vectors are Linear Dependent.

Remark 8: Suppose we have three vectors u, v and w and if Echelon form of that vector
equation (*) doesn't has a pivot in the third column (i.e: for third vector w) then w can be written
as a linear combination of the other two vectors and hence the given vectors are Linear
Dependent.
 Remark 7: If the coefficient matrix A of the vector equation (*) has Rank less then number of
unknowns, i.e:
Rank A < Number of unknowns
Then the system must have a nontrivial solution (means: must have free variable/s) and hence the
given vectors are Linear Dependent.

Remark 8: Suppose we have three vectors u, v and w and if Echelon form of that vector
equation (*) don't have a pivot in the third column (i.e: for third vector w) then w can be written
as a linear combination of the other two vectors and hence the given vectors are Linear
Dependent.
  Remark 9: In any more then 3 vectors must be Linearly Dependent.
[See Page 144: Q. 4.20 (a)].
 Practice Questions:
Book: Linear Algebra, 4th Edition (2009) Lipschutz-Lipson (uploaded @ LMS)

Linear Dependence/Independence:
Page # 143 Questions: 4.17 - 4.20
Page # 164 Questions: 4.89 - 4.92