Wondering if I am doing these problems right. So I am proving whether certain vector spaces are linearly independent or dependent. This is my method of solving theses problems:

Question

anonymous · Answer

span{V1,V2,..Vn}=c1(V1)+c2(V2)+.....cn(Vn); 

where V is a vector and c is a constant. I then proceed figure out whether its linearly independent or dependent. Does it make sense to write the span portion?

anonymous · Answer

sorry, i meant figuring out if the set of vectors is linearly dependent or independent.

anonymous · Answer

So what you're saying is that you're looking at spanning sets and you're trying to detect whether some of the vectors are linearly dependent?

anonymous · Answer

If that's the case, I don't see the harm in writing out the span.

anonymous · Answer

good, its easier for me to see if its L.I or L.D by doing this. I just want to make sure, so that when I take a test on this stuff, the teacher does not look at me like i'm crazy. Thanks.

anonymous · Answer

It's okay. You should look into testing independence between vectors as well. http://www.math.oregonstate.edu/home/programs/undergrad/CalculusQuestStudyGuides/vcalc/lindep/lindep.html is useful, plus many others. Good luck :)

anonymous · Answer

o.k. Thanks.