258 Linear Function

A mapping that preserves addition of vectors and multiplication by scalars that is used to express linear relations between vectors.

definition (Linear Function) A function from a vector space, \(f: \mathbf{V} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}\), that satisfies the following conditions for all vectors and scalars:

  • (Additivity) \(f(\mathbf{u} + \mathbf{v}) = f(\mathbf{u}) + f(\mathbf{v})\) .
  • (Homogeneity) \(f(k\mathbf{v}) = k \cdot f(\mathbf{v})\).

where

  • \(\mathbf{V}\) is a real vector space.
  • \(\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v} \in \mathbf{V}\).
  • \(k\) is a scalar.

258.1 Elementary Example

258.1.1 Simple

A linear function preserves addition and scalar multiplication.

\[ f : \mathbb{R}^{2} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} \]

\[ f(x_{1},x_{2}) = 2 x_{1} - x_{2} \]

\[ f(e_{1}) = 2,\quad f(e_{2}) = -1 \]

where

  • \(f\) is the linear function.
  • \(e_{1} = (1,0)\) and \(e_{2} = (0,1)\).

258.1.2 General

On \(\mathbb{R}^{3}\), a linear function is given by three coefficients.

\[ f(x_{1},x_{2},x_{3}) = a_{1} x_{1} + a_{2} x_{2} + a_{3} x_{3} \]

\[ (a_{1},a_{2},a_{3}) = (1,-2,4) \]

where

  • \(a_{i}\) are fixed scalars.