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7: Linear Transformations

  • Page ID
    58875
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    If \(V\) and \(W\) are vector spaces, a function \(T : V \to W\) is a rule that assigns to each vector \(\mathbf{v}\) in \(V\) a uniquely determined vector \(T(\mathbf{v})\) in \(W\). As mentioned in Section [sec:2_2], two functions \(S : V \to W\) and \(T : V \to W\) are equal if \(S(\mathbf{v}) = T(\mathbf{v})\) for every \(\mathbf{v}\) in \(V\). A function \(T : V \to W\) is called a linear transformation if \(T(\mathbf{v} + \mathbf{v}_1) = T(\mathbf{v}) + T(\mathbf{v}_1)\) for all \(\mathbf{v}\), \(\mathbf{v}_1\) in \(V\) and \(T(r\mathbf{v}) = rT(\mathbf{v})\) for all \(\mathbf{v}\) in \(V\) and all scalars \(r\). \(T(\mathbf{v})\) is called the image of \(\mathbf{v}\) under \(T\). We have already studied linear transformation \(T : \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}^m\) and shown (in Section [sec:2_6]) that they are all given by multiplication by a uniquely determined \(m \times n\) matrix \(A\); that is \(T(\mathbf{x}) = A\mathbf{x}\) for all \(\mathbf{x}\) in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). In the case of linear operators \(\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2\), this yields an important way to describe geometric functions such as rotations about the origin and reflections in a line through the origin.

    In the present chapter we will describe linear transformations in general, introduce the kernel and image of a linear transformation, and prove a useful result (called the dimension theorem) that relates the dimensions of the kernel and image, and unifies and extends several earlier results. Finally we study the notion of isomorphic vector spaces, that is, spaces that are identical except for notation, and relate this to composition of transformations that was introduced in Section [sec:2_3].


    This page titled 7: Linear Transformations is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by W. Keith Nicholson (Lyryx Learning Inc.) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.