LINEAR COMBINATION OF VECTORS

A vector v is linear combination of vectors

v1, v2,…,vn if we can find scalars c1,c2,…,cn such that
v=c1v1+c2v2+….+cnvn.
Examples:
1. Express (5 ,8 ) as a linear combination of
(-2,1) and (3,2).
Solution:
(5,8)=a(-2,1)+b(3,2)
………………..determine if a and b exist…
(5,8)=(-2a,a)+(3b,2b)
(5,8)=(-2a+3b,a+2b)…….
…………………equate each elements………………………….
5=-2a+3b
8=a+2b…………..solve this system…..
You will get a=2 and b=3……Thus,

(5,8)=2(-2,1)+3(3,2).
***(5,8) is a linear combination of (2,-1) and (3,2).
For second example, watch the link below…..
Note that the system of equations you will obtain
may be solved using Gaussian Elimination or
the usual elimination…..
In this example, the scalars do not exist……
Thus, the given vector is not a linear combination
of the other vectors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGSajg1m-FU

Example 3 on the next page…..

Example 3.
Express 5t2-5t+6 as a linear combination of
t2-t+4,2t2-1 and t2+3t.

Solution:
a(t2-t+4)+b(2t2-1)+c(t2+3t)= 5t2-5t+6….
at2-at+4a+2bt2-b+ct2+3ct=5t2-5t+6…..
Equate numerical coefficients…..
For t2: a+2b+c=5
For t: -a-b+3c=-5
For constant: 4a-b =6
Solve this system of equations by any method
gives a=2 b=2 c=-1……….sub these values…..
Thus,
5t2-5t+6= 2(t2-t+4)+2(2t2-1)-1(t2+3t).