11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

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Linear Algebra

Linear algebra is one of the important branches of mathematics. Linear algebra is basically the
study of vectors and linear functions. It is a key concept for almost all areas of mathematics.
Linear algebra is considered a basic concept in the modern presentation of geometry. It is
mostly used in Physics and Engineering as it helps to define the basic objects such as planes,
lines and rotations of the object. It allows us to model many natural phenomena, and also it
has a computing efficiency. In this article, you are going to learn about the basic introduction,
its components, problems, linear equations (https://byjus.com/maths/linear-equations/) and
its applications.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Topics

Vectors

Linear Function

Matrix

Numerical Linear Algebra

Applications

Problems

Practice problems

FAQs

Introduction to Linear Algebra

Linear algebra is the study of linear combinations. It is the study of vector spaces, lines and
planes, and some mappings that are required to perform the linear transformations. It includes
vectors, matrices and linear functions. It is the study of linear sets of equations and its
transformation properties.

Linear Algebra Equations

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11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

The general linear equation is represented as

a1x1 + a2x2……….+anxn = b

Here,

a’s – represents the coefficients

x’s – represents the unknowns

b – represents the constant

There exists a system of linear algebraic equations, which is the set of equations. The system of
equations can be solved using the matrices.

It obeys the linear function such as

(x1,……..xn) → a1x1 +……….+anxn

Linear Algebra Topics

The most important topics covered in the linear algebra includes:

Euclidean vector spaces

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Orthogonal matrices

Linear transformations

Projections

Solving systems of equations with matrices

Mathematical operations with matrices (i.e. addition, multiplication)

Matrix inverses and determinants

Positive-definite matrices

Singular value decomposition

Linear dependence and independence

Here, the three main concepts which are the prerequisite to linear algebra are explained in
detail. They are:

Vector spaces

Linear Functions

Matrix

All these three concepts are interrelated such that a system of linear equations can be
represented using these concepts mathematically. In general terms, vectors are elements that
we can add, and linear functions are the functions of vectors that include the addition of
vectors
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11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

Vector Spaces
As we know that linear algebra deals with the study of vector spaces and the linear
transformations between them. By the definition of vector, it is a physical quantity that has both
magnitude and direction. A vector space is defined as the collection of objects called vectors,
which may be added together and multiplied (i.e. scaled) by numbers, called scalars.
Generally, real numbers (https://byjus.com/maths/real-numbers/) are taken as scalars, but
there exist vector spaces with scalar multiplication by non-real numbers, i.e. complex numbers,
or naturally any field.

The operations such as vector addition and scalar multiplication must satisfy specific
requirements, called vector axioms. Generally, the terms real vector space and complex vector
space are used to define that the scalars are real or complex numbers
(https://byjus.com/maths/complex-numbers/), respectively.

Suppose V be any vector space with elements a, b, c and scalars m, n over a field F, then the
vector axioms are given by:

Commutative of addition: a + b = b + a

Associativity of addition: a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

Additive identity: a + 0 = 0 + a = a, where 0 is an element in V called zero vector.

Additive inverse: a + (-a) + (-a) + a = 0, a, -a belongs to V.

These four axioms define that the vector space V is an abelian group under addition.

Other axioms include distributivity of scalar multiplication with respect to vector addition and
field addition, identity element of scalar multiplication and so on.

For example, m(a) = ma; n(a + b) = na + nb

An element of a specific vector space may have different characteristics. For example, the
elements can be a sequence, a function, a polynomial or a matrix. Linear algebra is affected by
those properties of such things that are common or familiar to all vector spaces.

A linear map can be written for two given vector spaces namely V and W over a field F. This is
sometimes referred to as linear transformation or mapping of vector spaces. Thus, it is given
by:

T: V → W

This allows us to write the addition of scalar multiplication of elements such as:

T(a + b) = T(a) + T(b)

T(ma) = mT(a)

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11/25/24, 7:12 AM

Linear Function

Mathematically, linear function is defined as:

A function L : Rn → Rm is linear if

(i) L(x + y) = L(x) + L(y)

(ii) L(αx) = αL(x)

for all x, y ∈ Rn, α ∈ R

Example:

Show that the f unction L : R

Solution:

For any x, y ∈ R2, we have

For any x ∈ R2 and α ∈ R, we have

https://byjus.com/maths/linear-algebra/
2
→ R
3
given by L(x) =

⎢⎥
Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

A linear function is an algebraic equation in which each term is either a constant or the product
of a constant and a single independent variable of power 1. In linear algebra, vectors are taken
while forming linear functions. Some of the examples of the kinds of vectors that can be
rephrased in terms of the function of vectors.

⎣
x + 4x2
⎡ 1

x2
⎤
3x1 − x2

⎦
is linear.

4/15
11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

Therefore, L is a linear function.

Linear Algebra Matrix

Matrices are linear functions of a certain kind. Matrix is the result of organizing information
related to certain linear functions. Matrix almost appears in linear algebra because it is the
central information of linear algebra.

Mathematically, this relation can be defined as follows.

A is an m × n matrix, then we get a linear function L : Rn → Rm by defining

L(x) = Ax

or

Ax = B

Go through the example given below to understand this mapping in detail.

Question:

A room contains x bags and y boxes of fruits and each bag contain 2 apples and 4 bananas
and each box contains 6 apples and 8 bananas. There are a total of 20 apples and 28 bananas
in the room. Find the value of x and y.

Solution :

Write the simultaneous equation for the given information that the above condition becomes
true.

2x + 6y = 20

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11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

4x + 8y = 28

Here the example given above shows the system of linear equations.

Now, write the above equation as equality between 2- vectors and using the rules, we get

2x + 6y 20
( ) = ( )
4x + 8y 28

2 6 20
x( ) + y( ) = ( )
4 8 28

We denote the functions as an array of numbers is called a matrix.

2 6
Theref ore, the f unction ( ) is def ined by
4 8

2 6 x 2 6
( )( ) = x( ) + y( )
4 8 y 4 8

Numerical Linear Algebra

Numerical linear algebra is also known as the applied linear algebra. Applied linear algebra
deals with the study of how matrix operations can be used to create computer algorithms,
which helps to solve the problems in continuous mathematics with efficiency and accuracy. In
numerical linear algebra, many matrix decomposition methods are used to find the solutions
for common linear algebraic problems like least-square optimization, locating Eigenvalues, and
solving systems of linear equations. Some of the matrix decomposition methods in numerical
linear algebra include Eigen decomposition, Single value decomposition, QR factorization and
so on.

Linear Algebra Applications

Here, some of the linear algebra applications are given as:

Ranking in Search Engines – One of the most important applications of linear algebra is
in the creation of Google. The most complicated ranking algorithm is created with the
help of linear algebra.

Signal Analysis – It is massively used in encoding, analyzing and manipulating the

signals that can be either audio, video or images etc.

Linear Programming – Optimization is an important application of linear algebra which is

widely used in the field of linear programming.

Error-Correcting Codes – It is used in coding theory. If encoded data is tampered with a

little bit and with the help of linear algebra it should be recovered. One such important
error-correcting code is called hamming code

Prediction – Predictions of some objects should be found using linear models which are
developed using linear algebra.

Facial Recognition- An automated facial recognition technology that uses linear

algebraic expression is called principal component analysis.
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11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

Graphics- An important part of graphics is projecting a 3-dimensional scene on a 2-

dimensional screen which is handled only by linear maps which are explained by linear
algebra.

Also, read: Linear Equation Applications (https://byjus.com/maths/applications-of-linear-

equations/)

Linear Algebra Problems

Linear algebra problems include matrices, spaces, vectors, determinants, and a system of
linear equation concepts. Now, let us discuss how to solve linear algebra problems.

Example 1:

Find the value of x, y and z for the given system of linear equations.

2x + y – z = 8

-3x – y + 2z = -11

-2x + y + 2z = -3

Solution:

Given,

2x + y – z = 8

-3x – y + 2z = -11

-2x + y + 2z = -3

The matrix is of the form,

AX = B,

Here ,

2 1 −1
⎡ ⎤
A = −3 −1 2

⎣ ⎦
−2 1 2

x
⎡ ⎤
x = y

⎣ ⎦
z

8
⎡ ⎤
B = −11

⎣ ⎦
−3

After performing elementary row operation and augmented matrix, it is reduced to the form

https://byjus.com/maths/linear-algebra/ 7/15
 A

⎢ ⎥∣
11/25/24, 7:12 AM

⎣
−3

−2

0
2

0
1

−1

1
−1

−1
2

⎦
−3
8

−11
⎤

Therefore, the unique solution for this is,

x=2

y=3

z = -1

Example 2:

Find the value of x, given that

Solution:

Given that:

x
x

3 – x2 = -5

-x2 = -5-3

-x2 = -8,
=
3

4
2

1
Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

Now the reduced echelon form of the above matrix is,

Thus, the above determinant can be equated as:

3 – x2 = 3 – 8

Now, multiply both sides by -1, we get

x2 = 8

x = ± 2√2

Therefore, the value of x is ± 2√2.

3

x
x

1
=
3

4
2

Also, learn: Solving Linear Equations (https://byjus.com/maths/solving-linear-equations/)

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11/25/24, 7:12 AM Linear Algebra Introduction | Linear Functions, Applications and Examples

Practice Problems on Linear Algebra

1. Solve the following pair of linear equations using the substitution method: 7x-15y=2,
x+2y=3.

2. Solve the equations 2x+3y=11, and 2x-4y=-24. Also, determine the value of “m” for which
y=mx+3.

3. Solve the following equations using the substitution method and elimination methods: 3x
+ 4y = 10 and 2x – 2y = 2.

For more related articles on the system of linear equations, register with BYJU’S – The Learning
app and watch interactive videos.

Frequently Asked Questions on Linear Algebra

Q1 What is meant by linear algebra?

Linear algebra is the study of lines, planes, vector spaces, mappings, which are required for
the linear transformation.

Q2 Mention the applications of linear algebra?

Some of the real-life applications of linear algebra include facial recognition, testing of
coding in software engineering, ranks in the search engine, graphics and so on.

Q3 What is called a linear function?

A linear function is a kind of algebraic equation, in which each term is a constant or a

product of constant and a single independent variable of power 1.

Q4 What is meant by a vector?

A vector is a quantity that has two independent properties called magnitude and direction.

Q5 What is meant by vector space?

A vector space consists of a set of objects called vectors, which can be added together
and multiplied by the numbers called scalars.

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