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== Coordinatization ==

Given a space (like ''R^n^'') and bases that span that space (the set ''B = u,,1,, ... u,,n,,''), any vector ''v'' in that space can be represented as a linear combination of the bases. In other words, there must be a set of coefficients ''c,,1,, ... c,,n,,'' that satisfy:

''c,,1,,u,,1,, + ... + c,,n,,u,,n,, = v''

The vector of coefficients (''v,,B,, = [c,,1,,, ... c,,n,,]'') is called the '''coordinate vector''' relative to ''B''.

By rewriting the set of bases as a matrix '''''M''',,B,,'', the above statement becomes:

'''''M''',,B,, v,,B,, = v''

''v,,B,,'' can then be identified through [[LinearAlgebra/Elimination|elimination]] of the augmented matrix ''[u,,1,, ... u,,n,, | v]'', or through most software packages as '''''M''',,B,, \ v''.

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Following from the above notation, since the following are known to be true:

'''''M''',,B',, v,,B',, = v''

'''''M''',,B,, v,,B,, = v''

It must also be true that:

'''''M''',,B',, v,,B',, = '''M''',,B,, v,,B,,''

''v,,B',, = '''M''',,B',,^-1^ '''M''',,B,, v,,B,,''

The change of basis matrix '''''C''',,B,B',,'' (note the subscript indicating that it transforms from ''B'' to ''B'``'') is defined as:

'''''C''',,B,B',, = '''M''',,B',,^-1^ '''M''',,B,,''

This can then be identified through [[LinearAlgebra/Elimination|elimination]] of the augmented matrix ''['''M''',,B',, | '''M''',,B,,]'', or through most software packages as '''''M''',,B',, \ '''M''',,B,,''.
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Some differentiation problems are more easily solved in polar coordinates than in Cartesian coordinates. The transformation of points is simple (i.e., ''r = √(x^2^ + y^2^)'', ''x = r*cosθ'', and ''y = r*sinθ''). The trick is that space was also transformed in the change of basis. The '''Jacobian''' is the [[LinearAlgebra/Determinant|determinant]] of the matrix describing the [[Calculus/ChainRule|chain rule]] operations necessary.

{{{
    | ∂x ∂x |
    | ―― ―― |
    | ∂u ∂v | ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
det | | = ―― ―― - ―― ――
    | ∂y ∂y | ∂u ∂v ∂v ∂u
    | ―― ―― |
    | ∂u ∂v |
}}}

Concretely, for the transformation of 2-dimensional polar coordinates to 2-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, the Jacobian is:

{{{
    | ∂x ∂x |
    | ―― ―― |
    | ∂θ ∂r | | cosθ -r*sinθ |
det | | = det | sinθ r*cosθ | = (cosθ)(r*cosθ) - (-r*sinθ)(sinθ) = r
    | ∂y ∂y |
    | ―― ―― |
    | ∂θ ∂r |
}}}

Therefore ''dxdy = rdrdθ''.

Basis

The bases for a linear space describe the space. Each member basis is independent.


Description

Bases are independent vectors that can be linearly combined to reach every other vector in a linear space. If a basis vector is removed, the space necessarily shrinks.

If the basis vectors are orthonormalized, they form an orthonormal basis. A convenient pair of orthonormal basis vectors in R2 are [1 0] and [0 1]. A convenient set of orthonormal basis vectors in R3 are [1 0 0], [0 1 0], and [0 0 1]. And so on.

A null space has no basis.

All non-null spaces have infinitely many possible bases to choose from, because the only requirement on a basis is that it be independent.


Coordinatization

Given a space (like Rn) and bases that span that space (the set B = u1 ... un), any vector v in that space can be represented as a linear combination of the bases. In other words, there must be a set of coefficients c1 ... cn that satisfy:

c1u1 + ... + cnun = v

The vector of coefficients (vB = [c1, ... cn]) is called the coordinate vector relative to B.

By rewriting the set of bases as a matrix MB, the above statement becomes:

MB vB = v

vB can then be identified through elimination of the augmented matrix [u1 ... un | v], or through most software packages as MB \ v.


Change of Basis

A space can be linearly transformed to bring about a change of basis. This transformation can be expressed with a matrix. The inverse of that matrix then also expresses the inverse of the change of basis.

Following from the above notation, since the following are known to be true:

MB' vB' = v

MB vB = v

It must also be true that:

MB' vB' = MB vB

vB' = MB'-1 MB vB

The change of basis matrix CB,B' (note the subscript indicating that it transforms from B to B') is defined as:

CB,B' = MB'-1 MB

This can then be identified through elimination of the augmented matrix [MB' | MB], or through most software packages as MB' \ MB.

Such a change of basis has a linear scaling effect on space. The scaling factor is the determinant. If the determinant is 0, then the matrix expresses a transformation that removes one (or more) basis vector(s). Such a transformation effectively collapses the space to a lower dimension.

Any matrix that has basis is invertible, and therefore has a non-zero determinant.

Usage

If a matrix is diagonalizable, identifying the change of basis that transforms it into a diagonal matrix enables several efficient strategies for solving systems.


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LinearAlgebra/Basis (last edited 2026-02-04 02:24:25 by DominicRicottone)