I am trying to prove that, given two linearly independent vectors v_1,v_2, the sum of vectors v_3+v_4 (both being some linear combination of v_1,v_2) is linearly dependent with v_1,v_2. It makes sense to me intuitively since if we have x_1v_1+x_2v_2=v_3 and y_1v_1+y_2v_2=v_4, then v_3+v_4=x_1v_1+x_2v_2+y_1v_1+y_2v_2, but I'm struggling to formulate a proof using the definition of linear dependency. Any suggestions on how I might do so?

Damon Campos

Damon Campos

Answered question

2022-08-11

I am trying to prove that, given two linearly independent vectors v 1 , v 2 , the sum of vectors v 3 + v 4 (both being some linear combination of v 1 , v 2 ) is linearly dependent with v 1 , v 2
It makes sense to me intuitively since if we have x 1 v 1 + x 2 v 2 = v 3 and y 1 v 1 + y 2 v 2 = v 4 , then v 3 + v 4 = x 1 v 1 + x 2 v 2 + y 1 v 1 + y 2 v 2 , but I'm struggling to formulate a proof using the definition of linear dependency. Any suggestions on how I might do so?

Answer & Explanation

Macie Melton

Macie Melton

Beginner2022-08-12Added 19 answers

Let v 3 = v 1 + v 2 . Then the set { v 1 , v 2 , v 3 } is linearly dependent since
v 1 + v 2 v 3 = v 1 + v 2 ( v 1 + v 2 ) = 0.
Remark: It does not make sense to say that a vector is linearly dependent without specifying what other vectors it is linearly dependent on. Therefore, we typically talk about linearly dependent sets.

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