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Exercise 120Linear algebra › Linear mapsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Computing an image

#image#linear map#generators

Statement

Let f:R2→R3f:\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}^3 be defined by f(x,y)=(x+y, x−y, 2x)f(x,y)=(x+y,\ x-y,\ 2x). Compute Im⁡f\operatorname{Im} f and its dimension.

Hint

The image is spanned by the images of a basis of R2\mathbb{R}^2.

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Solution

Generators. Since (x,y)=x(1,0)+y(0,1)(x,y)=x(1,0)+y(0,1), we have f(x,y)=xf(1,0)+yf(0,1)f(x,y)=xf(1,0)+yf(0,1), so Im⁡f=span⁡(f(1,0),f(0,1))\operatorname{Im} f=\operatorname{span}\big(f(1,0),f(0,1)\big) with
f(1,0)=(1,1,2),f(0,1)=(1,−1,0).f(1,0)=(1,1,2), \qquad f(0,1)=(1,-1,0).

Independence. These two vectors are not proportional, so they are linearly independent.

Conclusion. Im⁡f=span⁡((1,1,2),(1,−1,0))\operatorname{Im} f=\operatorname{span}\big((1,1,2),(1,-1,0)\big), a plane in R3\mathbb{R}^3, of dimension 22.

Remark (equation of the plane). For every (x,y)(x,y), the image (X,Y,Z)=f(x,y)(X,Y,Z)=f(x,y) satisfies X+Y−Z=(x+y)+(x−y)−2x=0X+Y-Z=(x+y)+(x-y)-2x=0. The plane {X+Y−Z=0}\{X+Y-Z=0\} has dimension 22 and contains Im⁡f\operatorname{Im} f, which also has dimension 22, so Im⁡f={(X,Y,Z):X+Y−Z=0}\operatorname{Im} f=\{(X,Y,Z): X+Y-Z=0\}.