What is a linear transformation?

Definition
Let T : V → W be a function from a vector space V into a vector space W . T is called a
linear transformation if T satisfies the following axioms
(i) T (u + v ) = T (u) + T (v ) for every u, v ∈ V
(ii) T (λu) = λT (u) for every u ∈ V and every scalar λ.

Axioms (i) and (ii) are equivalent to saying that T : V → W is a linear transformation
if for every v1 , v2 ∈ V and every scalars λ1 , λ2 , T (λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 ) = λ1 T (v1 ) + λ2 T (v2 ).

Proposition 1: Let T : V → W be a linear transformation between vector spaces V and W .

Then T (λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + · · · + λn vn ) = λ1 T (v1 ) + λ2 T (v2 ) + · · · + λn T (vn ).

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Proof of Proposition 1

Proof.
We do this by induction on n: If T : V → W is a linear transformation, then
T (λ1 v1 ) = λ1 T (v1 ). Therefore the formula holds for n = 1.
Now suppose the formula holds for n = k; that is
T (λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + · · · + λk vk ) = λ1 T (v1 ) + λ2 T (v2 ) + · · · + λk T (vk ). Does it hold for
n = k + 1? Then,
T (λ1 v1 + λ2 v2 + · · · + λk vk + λk+1 vk+1 ) = λ1 T (v1 ) + λ2 T (v2 ) + · · · + λk T (vk ) + λk+1 T (vk+1 ).
And we are done!

Example
Let A ba an m × n matrix with real coeficients and define a function TA : Rn → Rn by
TA (x) = Ax for every x ∈ Rn . Prove that TA is a linear transformation.

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Proof.
Let x, y ∈ Rn and let λ ∈ R. Then

TA (x + y ) = A(x + y )
= Ax + Ay
= TA (x) + TA (y )

And

TA (λx) = A(λx)
= λAx
= λTA (x)

TA satisfies axioms (i) and (ii) of a linear transformation and hence is a linear
transformation.

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Another example!

Example
Let V = C [a; b] be the vector space of continuous real- valued functions defined on the closed
Rb
and bounded interval [a; b]. Define T : V → R by T (f ) = a f (x)dx. Prove that T is a linear
transformation.
Solution: Let f , g ∈ V and let λ ∈ R, then
Z b
T (f + g ) = (f + g )(x)dx
a
Z b
= (f (x) + g (x))dx
a
Z b Z b
= f (x)dx + g (x)dx = T (f ) + T (g ).
a a

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And
Z b
T (λf ) = (λf )(x)dx
a
Z b
= λf (x)dx
a
Z b
=λ f (x)dx
a
= λT (f ).

Therefore T is a linear transformation.

Note 1: A linear transformation is sometimes called a linear map or linear mapping.
Note 2: If V = W , then T : V → V is called a linear operator. For example, the identity
operator I : V → V on V defined by I (v ) = v , ∀v ∈ V .

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Theorem

Theorem
Let T : V → W be a linear transformation. Then
(i) T (0V ) = 0W .
(ii) T (−v ) = −T (v ) for every v ∈ V .
(iii) T (u − v ) = T (u) − T (v ) for every u, v ∈ V .

Proof.
(i) We can write 0V as 0V = 0.v for some v ∈ V . HenceT (0V ) = T (0.v ) = 0T (v ) = 0W .
(ii) For every v ∈ V , T (−v ) = T (−1.v ) = −1.T (v ) = −T (v ).
(iii) For every u, v ∈ V , T (u − v ) = T (u + −v ) = T (u) + T (−v ) = T (u) − T (v ).
And we are done!

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Finding a formula for a linear transformation from images of basis vectors

Definition
If V is an n-dimensional vector space over a field K and S = {v1 , v2 , . . . , vn } is a set of vectors
in V . Then, S is a basis of V if and only if every vector u ∈ V can be written uniquely as
u = c1 v1 + c2 v2 + · · · + cn vn for some scalars c1 , c2 , . . . , cn ∈ K .

Using this definition, we can construct a formula for a linear transformation T from images of
basis vectors as the following example illustrates.
Example
Consider a basis S = {v1 , v2 } where v1 = (−2, 1) and v2 = (1, 3) and let T : R2 → R3 be a
linear transformation such that T (v1 ) = (−1, 2, 0) and T (v2 ) = (0, −3, 5). Find a formula for
T and use it to find T (2, −3).

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Solution to example
 
  x  
2 3 a a
Since T : R → R , we can assume that T = y  for ∈ R2 . Since S = {v1 , v2 } is
b b
z
a basis for R2 , there exist scalars k1 and k2 such that
 
a
= k1 v1 + k2 v2 . (1)
b
It follows therefore, that
 
a
T = T (k1 v1 + k2 v2 )
b
= k1 T (v1 ) + k2 T (v2 )
   
−1 0
= k1  2  + k2 −3
0 5
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Also from Equation 1, we have
 
a
= k1 v1 + k2 v2
b
   
−2 1
= k1 + k2
1 3
 
−2k1 + k2
=
k1 + 3k2
a = −2k1 + k2
b = k1 + 3k2 .

−3a + b a + 2b
and k2 =
Solving for k1 and k2 yields k1 = . SOLVE THESE
7 7
YOURSELVES AND CHECK THAT YOU GET THOSE VALUES (SOLVING
SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS FROM S.2 MATHEMATICS....LOL!)

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Therefore
   
  −1 0
a
T = k1  2  + k2 −3
b
0 5
   
−1 0
−3a + b   a + 2b  
= 2 + −3
7 7
0 5
 
3a − b
1
= −9a − 4b 
7
5a + 10b

Hence  
  9
2 1
T =  −6 
−3 7
−20
and we are done!
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Composition of linear transformations

Definition
Let T1 : U → V and T2 : V → W be the linear transformations. The composition of T2 with
T1 , denoted by T2 ◦ T1 is the function T2 ◦ T1 : U → W defined by T2 ◦ T1 (u) = T 2(T 1(u))
for every u ∈ U.

Theorem
Let T1 : U → V and T2 : V → W be the linear transformations. The composition
T2 ◦ T1 : U → W is also a linear transformation.

Proof: Recall that a function T : U → V is a linear transformation if for every u1 , u2 ∈ U and

all scalars c1 , c2 , T (c1 u1 + c2 u2 ) = c1 T (u1 ) + c2 T (u2 ). Therefore, let u1 , u2 ∈ U and let c1 , c2
be constants.

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 (T2 ◦ T1 )(c1 u1 + c2 u2 ) = T2 (T1 (c1 u1 + c2 u2 )) (2)
= T2 (c1 T1 (u1 ) + c2 T1 (u2 ) (3)
= c1 T2 (T1 (u1 ) + c2 T2 (T1 (u2 )) (4)
= c1 (T2 ◦ T1 )(u1 ) + c2 (T2 ◦ T1 )(u2 ) (5)

(2) and (5) are by definition, while (3) and (4) are by linearity of T1 and T2 respectively.
Therefore T2 ◦ T1 is a linear transformation. And we are done!

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