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# Vector spaces
## Definition
> *Definition*: a **vector space** $V$ is a set on which the operations of addition and scalar multiplication are defined. Such that for all vectors $\mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{v}$ in $V$ the vectors $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}$ are in $V$ and for each scalar $a$ the vector $a\mathbf{v}$ is in $V$. With the following axioms satisfied.
>
> 1. Associativity of vector addition: $\mathbf{u} + (\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{w}) = (\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}) + \mathbf{w}$ for any $\mathbf{u},\mathbf{v}, \mathbf{w} \in V$.
> 2. Commutativity of vector addition: $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{v} + \mathbf{u}$ for any $\mathbf{u},\mathbf{v} \in V$.
> 3. Identity element of vector addition: $\exists \mathbf{0} \in V$ such that $\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{0}$ for all $\mathbf{v} \in V$.
> 4. Inverse element of vector addition: $\forall \mathbf{v} \in V \exists (-\mathbf{v}) \in V$ such that $\mathbf{v} + (-\mathbf{v}) = \mathbf{0}$.
> 5. Distributivity of scalar multiplication with respect to vector addition: $a(\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}) = a\mathbf{u} + a\mathbf{v}$ for any scalar $a$ and any $\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v} \in V$.
> 6. Distributivity of scalar multiplication with respect to field addition: $(a + b) \mathbf{v} = a \mathbf{v} + b \mathbf{v}$ for any scalars $a$ and $b$ and any $\mathbf{v} \in V$.
> 7. Compatibility of scalar multiplication with field multiplication: $a(b\mathbf{v}) = (ab) \mathbf{v}$ for any scalars $a$ and $b$ and any $\mathbf{v} \in V$.
> 8. Identity element of scalar multiplication: $1 \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{v}$ for all $\mathbf{v} \in V$.
Some important properties of a vector space can be derived from this definition in the following proposition a few have been listed.
> *Proposition*: if $V$ is a vector space and $\mathbf{u}$, $\mathbf{v}$ is in $V$, then
>
> 1. $0 \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{0}$.
> 2. $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{0} \implies \mathbf{u} = - \mathbf{v}$.
> 3. $(-1)\mathbf{v} = - \mathbf{v}$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
For 1, suppose $\mathbf{v} \in V$ then it follows from axioms 3, 6 and 8
$$
\mathbf{v} = 1 \mathbf{v} = (1 + 0)\mathbf{v} = 1 \mathbf{v} + 0 \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{v} + 0\mathbf{v},
$$
therefore
$$
\begin{align*}
-\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{v} &= - \mathbf{v} + (\mathbf{v} + 0\mathbf{v}) = (-\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{v}) + 0\mathbf{v}, \\
\mathbf{0} &= \mathbf{0} + 0\mathbf{v} = 0\mathbf{v}.
\end{align*}
$$
For 2, suppose for $\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v} \in V$ that $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{0}$ then it follows from axioms 1, 3 and 4
$$
- \mathbf{v} = - \mathbf{v} + \mathbf{0} = - \mathbf{v} + (\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{u}),
$$
therefore
$$
-\mathbf{v} = (-\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{v}) + \mathbf{u} = \mathbf{0} + \mathbf{u} = \mathbf{u}.
$$
For 3, suppose $\mathbf{v} \in V$ then it follows from 1 and axioms 4 and 6
$$
\mathbf{0} = 0 \mathbf{v} = (1 + (-1))\mathbf{v} = 1\mathbf{v} + (-1)\mathbf{v},
$$
therefore
$$
\mathbf{v} + (-1)\mathbf{v} = \mathbf{0},
$$
from 2 it follows then that
$$
(-1)\mathbf{v} = -\mathbf{v}.
$$
### Euclidean spaces
Perhaps the most elementary vector spaces are the Euclidean vector spaces $V = \mathbb{R}^n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Given a nonzero vector $\mathbf{u} \in \mathbb{R}^n$ defined by
$$
\mathbf{u} = \begin{pmatrix}u_1 \\ \vdots \\ u_n\end{pmatrix},
$$
it may be associated with the directed line segment from $(0, \dots, 0)$ to $(u_1, \dots, u_n)$. Or more generally line segments that have the same length and direction can be represented by any line segment from $(a_1, \dots, a_n)$ to $(a_1 + u_1, \dots, a_n + u_n)$. Vector addition and scalar multiplication in $\mathbb{R}^n$ are respectively defined by
$$
\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix} u_1 + v_1 \\ \vdots \\ u_n + v_n \end{pmatrix} \quad \text{ and } \quad a \mathbf{u} = \begin{pmatrix} a u_1 \\ \vdots \\ a u_n \end{pmatrix},
$$
for any $\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v} \in \mathbb{R}^n$ and any scalar $a$.
This can be extended to matrices with $V = \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$ with $m,n \in \mathbb{N}$, the set of all matrices. Given a nonzero matrix $A \in \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$ defined by $A = (a_{ij})$. Matrix addition and scalar multiplication in $\mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$ are respectively defined by
$$
A + B = C \iff a_{ij} + b_{ij} = c_{ij} \quad \text{ and } \quad \alpha A = C \iff \alpha a_{ij} = c_{ij},
$$
for any $A, B, C \in \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$ and any scalar $\alpha$.
### Function spaces
Let $V$ be a vector space over a field $F$ and let $X$ be any set. The functions $X \to F$ can be given the structure of a vector space over $F$ where the operations are defined by
$$
\begin{align*}
(f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x), \\
(af)(x) = af(x),
\end{align*}
$$
for any $f,g: X \to F$, any $x \in X$ and any $a \in F$.
### Polynomial spaces
Let $P_n$ denote the set of all polynomials of degree less than $n \in \mathbb{N}$ where the operations are defined by
$$
\begin{align*}
(p+q)(x) = p(x) + q(x), \\
(ap)(x) = ap(x),
\end{align*}
$$
for any $p,q: X \to P_n$, any $x \in X$ and any $a \in P_n$.
## Vector subspaces
> *Definition*: if $S$ is a nonempty subset of a vector space $V$ and $S$ satisfies the conditions
>
> 1. $a \mathbf{u} \in S$ whenever $\mathbf{u} \in S$ for any scalar $a$.
> 2. $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v} \in S$ whenever $\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v} \in S$.
>
> then $S$ is said to be a **subspace** of $V$.
In a vector space $V$ it can be readily verified that $\{\mathbf{0}\}$ and $V$ are subspaces of $V$. All other subspaces are referred to as *proper subspaces* and $\{\mathbf{0}\}$ is referred to as the *zero subspace*.
> *Theorem*: Every subspace of a vector space is a vector space.
??? note "*Proof*:"
May be proved by testing if all axioms remain valid for the definition of a subspace.
### The null space of a matrix
> *Definition*: let $A \in \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$, $\mathbf{x} \in \mathbb{R}^n$ and let $N(A)$ denote the set of all solutions of the homogeneous system $A\mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$. Therefore
>
> $$
> N(A) = \{\mathbf{x} \in \mathbb{R}^n \;|\; A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}\},
> $$
>
> referred to as the null space of $A$.
Claiming that $N(A)$ is a subspace of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Clearly $\mathbf{0} \in N(A)$ so $N(A)$ is nonempty. If $\mathbf{x} \in N(A)$ and $\alpha$ is a scalar then
$$
A(\alpha \mathbf{x}) = \alpha A\mathbf{x} = \alpha \mathbf{0} = \mathbf{0}
$$
and hence $\alpha \mathbf{x} \in N(A)$. If $\mathbf{x}, \mathbf{y} \in N(A)$ then
$$
A(\mathbf{x} + \mathbf{y}) = A\mathbf{x} + A\mathbf{y} = \mathbf{0} + \mathbf{0} = \mathbf{0}
$$
therefore $\mathbf{x} + \mathbf{y} \in N(A)$ and it follows that $N(A)$ is a subspace of $\mathbb{R}^n$.
### The span of a set of vectors
> *Definition*: let $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ be vectors in a vector space $V$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$. A sum of the form
>
> $$
> a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n,
> $$
>
> with scalars $a_1, \dots, a_n$ is called a **linear combination** of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$.
>
> The set of all linear combinations of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ is called the **span** of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ which is denoted by $\text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$.
The nullspace can be for example defined by a span of vectors.
> *Theorem*: if $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ are vectors in a vector space $V$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ then $\text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$ is a subspace of $V$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $b$ be a scalar and $\mathbf{u} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$ given by
$$
a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n,
$$
with scalars $a_1, \dots, a_n$. Since
$$
b \mathbf{u} = (b a_1)\mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + (b a_n)\mathbf{v}_n,
$$
it follows that $b \mathbf{u} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$.
If we also have $\mathbf{w} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$ given by
$$
b_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + b_n \mathbf{v}_n,
$$
with scalars $b_1, \dots, b_n$. Then
$$
\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{w} = (a_1 + b_1) \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + (a_n + b_n)\mathbf{v}_n,
$$
it follows that $\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{w} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$ is a subspace of $V$.
For example, a vector $\mathbf{x} \in \mathbb{R}^3$ is in $\text{span}(\mathbf{e}_1, \mathbf{e}_2)$ if and only if it lies in the $x_1 x_2$-plane in 3-space. Thus we can think of the $x_1 x_2$-plane as the geometrical representation of the subspace $\text{span}(\mathbf{e}_1, \mathbf{e}_2)$.
> *Definition*: the set $\{\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n\}$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ is a spanning set for $V$ if and only if every vector $V$ can be written as a linear combination of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$.
## Linear independence
We have the following observations.
> *Proposition*: if $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ span a vector space $V$ and one of these vectors can be written as a linear combination of the other $n-1$ vectors then those $n-1$ vectors span $V$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
suppose $\mathbf{v}_n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ can be written as a linear combination of the vectors $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_{n-1}$ given by
$$
\mathbf{v}_n = a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1}.
$$
Let $\mathbf{v}$ be any element of $V$. Since we have
$$
\begin{align*}
\mathbf{v} &= b_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + b_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1} + b_n \mathbf{v}_n, \\
&= b_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + b_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1} + b_n (a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1}), \\
&= (b_1 + b_n a_1)\mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + (b_{n-1} + b_n a_{n-1}) \mathbf{v}_{n-1},
\end{align*}
$$
we can write any vector $\mathbf{v} \in V$ as a linear combination of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_{n-1}$ and hence these vectors span $V$.
> *Proposition*: given $n$ vectors $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$, it is possible to write one of the vectors as a linear combination of the other $n-1$ vectors if and only if there exist scalars $a_1, \dots, a_n$ not all zero such that
>
> $$
> a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0}.
> $$
??? note "*Proof*:"
Suppose that one of the vectors $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ can be written as a linear combination of the others
$$
\mathbf{v}_n = a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1}.
$$
Subtracting $\mathbf{v}_n$ from both sides obtains
$$
a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_{n-1} \mathbf{v}_{n-1} - \mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0},
$$
we have $a_n = -1$ and
$$
a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n\mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0}.
$$
We may use these oberservations to state the following definitions.
> *Definition*: the vectors $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ in a vector space $V$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ are said to be **linearly independent** if
>
> $$
> a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0} \implies \forall i \in \{1, \dots, n\} [c_i = 0].
> $$
It follows from the above propositions that if $\{\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n\}$ is a minimal spanning set of a vector space $V$ then $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent. A minimal spanning set is called a basis of the vector space.
> *Definition*: the vectors $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ in a vector space $V$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ are said to be **linearly dependent** if there exists scalars $a_1, \dots, a_n$ not all zero such that
>
> $$
> a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0}.
> $$
It follows from the above propositions that if a set of vectors is linearly dependent then at least one vector is a linear combination of the other vectors.
> *Theorem*: let $\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n$ be vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and let $X = (\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n)$. The vectors $\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n$ will be linearly dependent if and only if $X$ is singular.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n$ be vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and let $X = (\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n)$. Suppose we have the linear combination given by
$$
a_1 \mathbf{x}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{x}_n = \mathbf{0},
$$
can be rewritten as a matrix equation by
$$
X\mathbf{a} = \mathbf{0},
$$
with $\mathbf{a} = (a_1, \dots, a_n)^T$. This equation will have a nontrivial solution if and only if $X$ is singular. Therefore $\mathbf{x}_1, \dots, \mathbf{x}_n$ will be linearly dependent if and only if $X$ is singular.
This result can be used to test whether $n$ vectors are linearly independent in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for $n \in \mathbb{N}$.
> *Theorem*: let $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ be vectors in a vector space $V$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$. A vector $\mathbf{v} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n)$ can be written uniquely as a linear combination of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ if and only if $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent.
??? note "*Proof*:"
If $\mathbf{v} \in \text{span}(\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n)$ with $n \in \mathbb{N}$ then $\mathbf{v}$ can be written as a linear combination
$$
\mathbf{v} = a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_n \mathbf{v}_n.
$$
Suppose that $\mathbf{v}$ can also be expressed as a linear combination
$$
\mathbf{v} = b_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + b_n \mathbf{v}_n.
$$
If $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent then subtracting both expressions yields
$$
(a_1 - b_1)\mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + (a_n - b_n)\mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{0}.
$$
By the linear independence of $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n$, the coefficients must all be 0, hence
$$
a_1 = b_1,\; \dots \;, a_n = b_n
$$
therefore the representation of $\mathbf{v}$ is unique when $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent.
On the other hand if $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly dependent then the coefficients must not all be 0 and $a_i \neq b_i$ for some $i \in \{1, \dots, n\}$. Therefore the representation of $\mathbf{v}$ is not unique when $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots \mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly dependent.
## Basis and dimension
> *Definition*: the vectors $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n \in V$ form a basis if and only if
>
> 1. $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent,
> 2. $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ span $V$.
Therefore, a basis may define a vector space, but it is not necessarily unique.
> *Theorem*: if $\{\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n\}$ is a spanning set for a vector space $V$, then any collection of $m$ vectors in $V$ where $m>n$, is linearly dependent.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $\mathbf{u}_1, \dots, \mathbf{u}_m \in V$, where $m > n$. Then since $\{\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n\}$ span $V$ we have
$$
\mathbf{u}_i = a_{i1} \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + a_{in} \mathbf{v}_n,
$$
for $i,j \in \{1, \dots, n\}$ with $a_{ij} \in \mathbb{R}$.
A linear combination $c_1 \mathbf{u}_1 + \dots + c_m \mathbf{u}_m$ can be written in the form
$$
c_1 \sum_{j=1}^n a_{1j} \mathbf{v}_j + \dots + c_m \sum_{j=1}^n a_{1j} a_{mj} \mathbf{v}_j,
$$
obtaining
$$
c_1 \mathbf{u}_1 + \dots + c_m \mathbf{u}_m = \sum_{i=1}^m \bigg( c_i \sum_{j=1}^n a_{ij} \mathbf{v}_j \bigg) = \sum_{j=1}^n \bigg(\sum_{i=1}^m a_{ij} c_i \bigg) \mathbf{v}_j.
$$
Considering the system of equations
$$
\sum_{i=1}^m a_{ij} c_i = 0
$$
for $j \in \{1, \dots, n\}$, a homogeneous system with more unknowns than equations. Therefore the system must have a nontrivial solution $(\hat c_1, \dots, \hat c_m)^T$, but then
$$
\hat c_1 \mathbf{u}_1 + \dots + \hat c_m \mathbf{u}_m = \sum_{j=1}^n 0 \mathbf{v}_j = \mathbf{0},
$$
hence $\mathbf{u}_1, \dots, \mathbf{u}_m$ are linearly dependent.
> *Corollary*: if both $\{\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n\}$ and $\{\mathbf{u}_1,\dots,\mathbf{u}_m\}$ are bases for a vector space $V$, then $n = m$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let both $\{\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n\}$ and $\{\mathbf{u}_1,\dots,\mathbf{u}_m\}$ be bases for $V$. Since $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ span $V$ and $\mathbf{u}_1,\dots,\mathbf{u}_m$ are linearly independent then it follows that $m \leq n$, similarly $\mathbf{u}_1,\dots,\mathbf{u}_m$ span $V$ and $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly independent so $n \leq m$. Which must imply $n=m$.
With this result we may now refer to the number of elements in any basis for a given vector space. Which leads to the following definition.
> *Definition*: let $V$ be a vector space. If $V$ has a basis consisting of $n \in \mathbb{N}$ vectors, then $V$ has **dimension** $n$. The subspace $\{\mathbf{0}\}$ of $V$ is said to have dimension $0$. $V$ is said to be **finite dimensional** if there is a finite set of vectors that spans $V$, otherwise $V$ is **infinite dimensional**.
So a single nonzero vector must span one-dimension exactly. For multiple vectors we have the following theorem.
> *Theorem*: if $V$ is a vector space of dimension $n \in \mathbb{N}\ \backslash \{\mathbf{0}\}$, then
>
> 1. any set of $n$ linearly independent vectors spans $V$,
> 2. any $n$ vectors that span $V$ are linearly independent,
??? note "*Proof*:"
To prove 1, suppose that $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n \in V$ are linearly independent and $\mathbf{v} \in V$. Since $V$ has dimension $n$, it has a basis consisting of $n$ vectors and these vectors span $V$. It follows that $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n, \mathbf{v}$ must be linearly dependent. Thus there exist scalars $c_1, \dots, c_n, c_{n+1}$ not all zero, such that
$$
c_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots + c_n \mathbf{v}_n + c_{n+1} \mathbf{v} = \mathbf{0}.
$$
The scalar $c_{n+1}$ cannot be zero, since that would imply that $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly dependent, hence
$$
\mathbf{v} = a_1 \mathbf{v}_1 + \dots a_n \mathbf{v}_n,
$$
with
$$
a_i = - \frac{c_i}{c_{n+1}}
$$
for $i \in \{1, \dots, n\}$. Since $\mathbf{v}$ was an arbitrary vector in $V$ it follows that $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ span $V$.
To prove 2, suppose that $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ span $V$. If $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_n$ are linearly dependent, then one vector $\mathbf{v}_i$ can be written as a linear combination of the others, take $i=n$ without loss of generality. It follows that $\mathbf{v}_1,\dots,\mathbf{v}_{n-1}$ will still span $V$, which contradicts with $\dim V = n$, therefore $\mathbf{v}_1, \dots, \mathbf{v}_n$ must be linearly independent.
Therefore no set fewer than $n$ vectors can span $V$, if $\dim V = n$.
### Change of basis
> *Definition*: let $V$ be a vector space and let $E = \{\mathbf{e}_1, \dots \mathbf{e}_n\}$ be an ordered basis for $V$. If $\mathbf{v}$ is any element of $V$, then $\mathbf{v}$ can be written in the form
>
> $$
> \mathbf{v} = v_1 \mathbf{e}_1 + \dots + v_n \mathbf{e}_n,
> $$
>
> where $v_1, \dots, v_n \in \mathbb{R}$ are the **coordinates** of $\mathbf{v}$ relative to $E$.
## Row space and column space
> *Definition*: if $A$ is an $m \times n$ matrix, the subspace of $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ spanned by the row vectors of $A$ is called the **row space** of $A$. The subspace of $\mathbb{R}^m$ spanned by the column vectors of $A$ is called the **column space** of $A$.
With the definition of a row space the following theorem may be posed.
> *Theorem*: two row equivalent matrices have the same row space.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $A$ and $B$ be two matrices, if $B$ is row equivalent to $A$ then $B$ can be formed from $A$ by a finite sequence of row operations. Thus the row vectors of $B$ must be linear combinations of the row vectors of $A$. Consequently, the row space of $B$ must be a subspace of the row space of $A$. Since $A$ is row equivalent to $B$, by the same reasoning, the row space of $A$ is a subspace of the row space of $B$.
With the definition of a column space a theorem posed in [systems of linear equations](systems-of-linear-equations.md) may be restated as.
> *Theorem*: a linear system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ is consistent if and only if $\mathbf{b}$ is in the column space of $A$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
For the proof, see the initial proof in [systems of linear equations](systems-of-linear-equations.md).
With this restatement the following statements may be proposed.
> *Proposition*: let $A$ be an $m \times n$ matrix. The linear system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ is consistent for every $\mathbf{b} \in \mathbb{R}^m$ if and only if the column vectors of $A$ span $\mathbb{R}^m$.
>
> The system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ has at most one solution for every $\mathbf{b}$ if and only if the column vectors of $A$ are linearly independent.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $A$ be an $m \times n$ matrix. It follows that $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ will be consistent for every $\mathbf{b} \in \mathbb{R}^m$ if and only if the column vectors of $A$ span $\mathbb{R}^m$. To prove the second statement, the system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$ can have only the trivial solution and hence the column vectors of $A$ must be linearly independent. Conversely, if the column vectors of $A$ are linearly independent, $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$ has only the trivial solution. If $\mathbf{x}_1, \mathbf{x}_2$ were both solutions of $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ then $\mathbf{x}_1 - \mathbf{x}_2$ would be a solution of $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$
$$
A(\mathbf{x}_1 - \mathbf{x}_2) = A\mathbf{x}_1 - A\mathbf{x}_2 = \mathbf{b} - \mathbf{b} = \mathbf{0}.
$$
It follows that $\mathbf{x}_1 - \mathbf{x}_2 = \mathbf{0}$ and hence $\mathbf{x}_1 = \mathbf{x}_2$.
From these propositions the following corollary emerges.
> *Corollary*: an $n \times n$ matrix $A$ is nonsingular if and only if the column vectors of $A$ form a basis for $\mathbb{R}^n$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $A$ be an $m \times n$ matrix. If the column vectors of $A$ span $\mathbb{R}^m$, then $n$ must be greater or equal to $m$, since no set of fewer than $m$ vectors could span $\mathbb{R}^m$. If the columns of $A$ are linearly independent, then $n$ must be less than or equal to $m$, since every set of more than $m$ vectors in $\mathbb{R}^m$ is linearly dependent. Thus, if the column vectors of $A$ form a basis for $\mathbb{R}^m$, then $n = m$.
> *Theorem*: if $A$ is an $m \times n$ matrix, the dimension of the row space of $A$ equals the dimension of the column space of $A$.
??? note "*Proof*:"
Will be added later.
## Rank and nullity
> *Definition*: the **rank** of a matrix $A$, denoted as $\text{rank}(A)$, is the dimension of the row space of $A$.
The rank of a matrix may be determined by reducing the matrix to row echelon form. The nonzero rows of the row echelon matrix will form a basis for the row space. The rank may be interpreted as a measure for singularity of the matrix.
> *Definition*: the **nullity** of a matrix $A$, denoted as $\text{nullity}(A)$, is the dimension of the null space of $A$.
The nullity of $A$ is the number of columns without a pivot in the reduced echelon form.
> *Theorem*: if $A$ is an $m \times n$ matrix, then
>
> $$
> \text{rank}(A) + \text{nullity}(A) = n.
> $$
??? note "*Proof*:"
Let $U$ be the reduced echelon form of $A$. The system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$ is equivalent to the system $U \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$. If $A$ has rank $r$, then $U$ will have $r$ nonzero rows and consequently the system $U \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{0}$ will involve $r$ pivots and $n - r$ free variables. The dimension of the null space will equal the number of free variables.