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Exercise 1896Linear algebra › Vector spaces and subspacesL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Completing a family into a basis

#basis#completion#incomplete basis theorem

Statement

In R3\mathbb{R}^3, complete the independent family ((1,1,0),(0,1,1))((1,1,0),(0,1,1)) into a basis.

Hint

Find a vector not in the span of the two given vectors, and check that the three are independent.

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Solution

Span of the given family. span⁡((1,1,0),(0,1,1))\operatorname{span}((1,1,0),(0,1,1)) is the plane x−y+z=0x-y+z=0 (check: a vector (x,y,z)(x,y,z) in the span satisfies x−y+z=0x-y+z=0).

Choose a vector outside. Take e3=(0,0,1)e_3=(0,0,1): it does not satisfy 0−0+1=1≠00-0+1=1\neq0, so it is outside the span.

Independence. Suppose λ(1,1,0)+μ(0,1,1)+ν(0,0,1)=0\lambda(1,1,0)+\mu(0,1,1)+\nu(0,0,1)=0. The first coordinate gives λ=0\lambda=0; the second gives λ+μ=0\lambda+\mu=0, so μ=0\mu=0; the third gives μ+ν=0\mu+\nu=0, so ν=0\nu=0. Independent.

Conclusion. ((1,1,0),(0,1,1),(0,0,1))((1,1,0),(0,1,1),(0,0,1)) is a basis of R3\mathbb{R}^3.