What is Linearly: Definition and 226 Discussions

Linearity is the property of a mathematical relationship (function) that can be graphically represented as a straight line. Linearity is closely related to proportionality. Examples in physics include the linear relationship of voltage and current in an electrical conductor (Ohm's law), and the relationship of mass and weight. By contrast, more complicated relationships are nonlinear.
Generalized for functions in more than one dimension, linearity means the property of a function of being compatible with addition and scaling, also known as the superposition principle.
The word linear comes from Latin linearis, "pertaining to or resembling a line".

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. A

    Why is this linearly independent?

    Homework Statement Determine whether the given vector functions are linearly dependent or independent on the interval (-\infty, \infty) \begin{pmatrix} t \\ 3 \end{pmatrix}, \begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I computed the wronskian to be t-12...
  2. A

    The dimension of the span of three linearly independent R^3 vectors

    Homework Statement Given x_{1}= \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 1 \\ 3 \end{pmatrix}, x_{2}= \begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ -1 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix}, x_{3}= \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 6 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} Find the dimension of Span(x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}) Homework Equations If V is a vector space...
  3. S

    Linearly Independent Solutions

    Say f is a continuous function on R. How could I find two linearly independent solutions of (y' + f(x)y)' = 0? Notice that there is no hypothesis about f being differentiable, so the obvious method of attack (taking the derivative of each term in the parenthesis and working off the resultant...
  4. E

    Linear Independence and Proving Linear Dependence of Vector Sets

    I have a final tomorrow. Can anyone guide my through this proof? I know i have to wirite the set of vectors as a linear combo, but what can I do nect? Prove that any set of vectors containing the zero vector is linearly dependent.
  5. N

    Linear algebra and linearly independence

    Homework Statement I have three vectors in R^(2x2): (1 0 , 0 1) (That is "1 0" horizontal first line, and "0 1" horizontal second line), (0 1, 0 0) and (0 0, 1 0). I have to determine if they are linear independent or not. I know how to do it in R^(2x1), but not in R^(2x2). What's the...
  6. E

    Prove Linear Dependence for Set of Vectors w/ Zero Vector

    I have to prove that any set of vectors containing the zero vector is linearly dependent. How can I approach this?
  7. J

    Linearly Dependent: Show {1,2,1,0},{3,-4,5,6},{2,-1,3,3},(-2,6,-4,-6)

    Homework Statement Show that the given set is linearly dependent and write one of the vectors as a linear combination of the remaining vectors. {(1,2,1,0), (3,-4,5,6), (2,-1,3,3), (-2,6,-4,-6) } Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I've tried setting up equations like (0,0,0,0) = c1 *...
  8. B

    Lin. Alg. - Is the set a linearly independent subset of R^3

    Homework Statement Is {(1,4,-6), (1,5,8), (2,1,1), (0,1,0)} a linearly independent subset of R^3. Justify your answerHomework Equations The Attempt at a SolutionI asssumed a(1,4,-6) + b(1,5,8) + c(2,1,1) + d(0,1,0) = 0 then i set up the system a + b + 2c = 0 4a + 5b + c + d = 0 -6a + 8b + c...
  9. K

    Linearly dependent or independent functions?

    Are the functions y=0 and y=sinh(pi*x) linearly dependent or linearly independent on the intercal x>0? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do here, but I try to divide them: 0/sinh(pi*x). This is certainly 0, since sinh (pi*x) is positive when x>0. Since 0 is a constant, the functions must...
  10. G

    Prove that the list (x^3, sin(x), cos(x)) is linearly independent in V

    Question: Prove that the list (x^3, sin(x), cos(x)) is linearly independent in V (V being the vector space of real-valued functions. In other words... common everyday math) They're linearly independent, its pretty obvious. The issue is -- proving rigorously. This is not for an assignment, its...
  11. H

    Are Vectors a, b, and c Linearly Independent?

    just a quick one: Homework Statement Show that the vectors a=2i -2j, b=3j - k and c = i + 2j +k are linearly independant Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution What does 'linearly independent' mean and what's the test for it? Its from a really old exam paper so i might...
  12. K

    Linearly Independent Vectors: Same Plane?

    Three vectors are linearly independent iff The vectors are not on the same plane. Three vectors are linearly dependent ⇔ The vectors are on the same plane. Is this true.
  13. H

    Finding linearly independent solutions

    I'm having trouble understanding what to do for this problem. The question I'm trying to answer is: Find 3 linearly independent solutions to the following differential equation, y^(3) + 3y'' + 3y' + y = 0. I really don't know how to even start this problem and what I'm really looking for. I...
  14. C

    Linearly Independent Killing Fields in n-D Manifold

    A question on a General Relativity exam that I have asks how many linearly independent Killing fields there can be in an n-dimensional manifold. I'm sure I've seen this question before and I think that the answer is n(n+1)/2, but I can't remember why! Any help?
  15. U

    Can Vectors be Linearly Independent if Det Not Equal 0?

    I don't know if this is a rule, but can a set of vectors be linearly independent if their determinant is not equal to zero? say 4 vectors are given in R^4, if I took the determinant of the 4 vectors such that det{v1 , v2, v3, v4} is not equal to zero, could i say that these vectors are...
  16. U

    How to find a linearly independent vector?

    Find a linearly independent set of vectors that spans the same subspace of R^3 as that spanned by the vectors \left(\begin{array}{c} -2 & -1 & -2 \end{array}\right) , \left(\begin{array}{c} -2 & 3 & -8 \end{array}\right) , \left(\begin{array}{c} 0 & -2 & 3 \end{array}\right)...
  17. W

    Linearly Dependent Differential Equations

    Show directly that the following functions are linearly dependent on the real line. That is, find a nontrivial linear combination of the funtions that vanishes indetically. f(x)=17, g(x)= 2sin^2 x, h(x)= 3cos^2 x Do you just take the 1st and 2nd derivatives and do the determinate?? I am so...
  18. 2

    Linearly polarized light homework problem

    You need to rotate the polarization direction of some linearly polarized light by an angle φ. That is, the light is initially linearly polarized along some direction (let's call it the y direction), and you need to change it so that the polarization direction is φ away from the y direction. In...
  19. M

    Use identities to Prove linearly idenpendent

    determine following setd of vectors in F(-infinitity, infinitiy) are linearly independent (using appropriate identities) 0, [cos (pi*x)]^3 , [sin 3*pi*x]^5 pls help !
  20. S

    Prove whether or not the following are linearly independent

    f1(x)= (sqrtx) + 5, f2(x)= (sqrtx) + 5x f3(x)= x-1 i don't know how to start
  21. C

    [sin(t) , cos(t), e^t] are these linearly dependent?

    [sin(t) , cos(t), e^t] are these linearly dependent? can someone solve this q? I write Asint+BcosT+C(e^t) = 0 but then i cannot proceed...
  22. K

    Linearly Dependent? Clarifying Wronskian Results

    I just want to make sure I'm clear on the whole linearly dependent thing. If I find the Wronskian of a set of functions and it comes out: 12x^2 + 12x This would indicate that my set of functions is linearly dependent if the interval included x=0 and would be linearly independent if x...
  23. E

    Is a Subset of a Linearly Dependent Set Linearly Dependent?

    I HAVE searched the threads before posting this but I didn't find the same question. Anyway, the question is T-F: A subset of linearly dependent set is linearly dependent. I think it is F, because for non-zero linearly dep. set a proof can be constructed so that some...
  24. C

    Linearly Dependent Vectors: Exploring Dependence in Vector Spaces

    I have a couple of questions on this subject that I need help with. 1. Let v1, v2 and v3 be three linearly dependent vectors. Prove or disprove that the following vectors are also linearly dependent: v1+v2, v1+v3, v2+v3 2. Let S = {v1, v2, v3, v4, v5} be a set of five vectors in a vector...
  25. D

    How to prove a sequence converges linearly or quadractically?

    I have a question from my assignment which requires me to prove that a sequence converges to 0 linearly, and another sequence that converges quadractically. I have no idea how to do this. The prof didn't talk much about it neither have the TA. The textbook book just gives the following about...
  26. F

    On proving Linearly independence

    Hello. I want to ask questions... I hope you can guide me in showing the proof. 1. Let a, b and c be vectors in a vector space such that {a, b} is linearly independent. Show that if c does not belong to span {a, b} , then {a, b, c} is linearly independent. I know that is {a,b}...
Back
Top