# Linear independence

One of the main concepts in linear algebra. Let $V$ be a vector space over a field $K$; the vectors $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are said to be linearly independent if $$k_1 a_1 + \cdots + k_n a_n\neq 0$$

for any set $k_i \in K$ except $k_1 = \cdots = k_n = 0$. Otherwise the vectors $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are said to be linearly dependent. The vectors $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are linearly dependent if and only if at least one of them is a linear combination of the others. An infinite subset of vectors of $V$ is said to be linearly independent if any finite subset of it is linearly independent, and linearly dependent if some finite subset of it is linearly dependent. The number of elements (the cardinality) of a maximal linearly independent subset of a space does not depend on the choice of this subset and is called the rank, or dimension, of the space, and the subset itself is called a basis (or base).

In the special case when the vectors $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ are elements of some number field $K$ and $k$ is a subfield of $K$, there arises the concept of linear independence of numbers. Linear independence of numbers over the field of rational numbers $\mathbb{Q}$ can be regarded as a generalization of the concept of irrationality (cf. Irrational number). Thus, the two numbers $\alpha$ and $1$ are linearly independent if and only if $\alpha$ is irrational. Cf. also Linear independence, measure of.

The concepts of linear dependence and independence of elements have also been introduced for Abelian groups and modules.

Linear dependence is a special case of a wider concept, that of an abstract dependence relation on a set.

Abstract dependence relations are also known as matroids, cf. [a1] and Matroid.

#### References

 [a1] D.J.A. Welsh, "Matroid theory" , Acad. Press (1976)
How to Cite This Entry:
Linear independence. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Linear_independence&oldid=34662
This article was adapted from an original article by O.A. Ivanova (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article