For what condition on the real numbers a,b are the vectors
vector u1=(2+a,1,3), vector u2=(b,b,-1), vector u3=(0,a,0)
in R3 linearly dependent?

Question

For what condition on the real numbers a,b are the vectors 
vector u1=(2+a,1,3), vector u2=(b,b,-1), vector u3=(0,a,0)
in R3 linearly dependent?

jamesj · Answer

Three such vectors are linearly independent if and only if the determinant of the matrix of their coefficients is not zero.

hence these three vectors will be linearly dependent if the determinant of their matrix of coefficients is equal to zero.

anonymous · Answer

Thanx. Ur reply really helped.