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Section 3.4 Injective and Surjective Linear Maps (AT4)

Subsection 3.4.1 Class Activities

Definition 3.4.1.

Let T:VW be a linear transformation. T is called injective or one-to-one if T does not map two distinct vectors to the same place. More precisely, T is injective if T(v)T(w) whenever vw.

Figure 33. An injective transformation and a non-injective transformation

Activity 3.4.2.

Let T:R3R2 be given by

T([xyz])=[xy]with standard matrix [100010]

Is T injective?

  1. Yes, because T(v)=T(w) whenever v=w.

  2. Yes, because T(v)T(w) whenever vw.

  3. No, because T([001])T([002]).

  4. No, because T([001])=T([002]).

Activity 3.4.3.

Let T:R2R3 be given by

T([xy])=[xy0]with standard matrix [100100]

Is T injective?

  1. Yes, because T(v)=T(w) whenever v=w.

  2. Yes, because T(v)T(w) whenever vw.

  3. No, because T([12])T([34]).

  4. No, because T([12])=T([34]).

Definition 3.4.4.

Let T:VW be a linear transformation. T is called surjective or onto if every element of W is mapped to by an element of V. More precisely, for every wW, there is some vV with T(v)=w.

Figure 34. A surjective transformation and a non-surjective transformation

Activity 3.4.5.

Let T:R2R3 be given by

T([xy])=[xy0]with standard matrix [100100]

Is T surjective?

  1. Yes, because for every w=[xyz]R3, there exists v=[xy]R2 such that T(v)=w.

  2. No, because T([xy]) can never equal [111].

  3. No, because T([xy]) can never equal [000].

Activity 3.4.6.

Let T:R3R2 be given by

T([xyz])=[xy]with standard matrix [100010]

Is T surjective?

  1. Yes, because for every w=[xy]R2, there exists v=[xy42]R3 such that T(v)=w.

  2. Yes, because for every w=[xy]R2, there exists v=[00z]R3 such that T(v)=w.

  3. No, because T([xyz]) can never equal [32].

Observation 3.4.7.

As we will see, it's no coincidence that the RREF of the injective map's standard matrix

[100100]

has all pivot columns. Similarly, the RREF of the surjective map's standard matrix

[100010]

has a pivot in each row.

Activity 3.4.8.

Let T:VW be a linear transformation where kerT contains multiple vectors. What can you conclude?

  1. T is injective

  2. T is not injective

  3. T is surjective

  4. T is not surjective

Activity 3.4.10.

Let T:VR5 be a linear transformation where ImT is spanned by four vectors. What can you conclude?

  1. T is injective

  2. T is not injective

  3. T is surjective

  4. T is not surjective

Activity 3.4.12.

Let T:RnRm be a linear map with standard matrix A. Sort the following claims into two groups of equivalent statements: one group that means T is injective, and one group that means T is surjective.

  1. The kernel of T is trivial, i.e. kerT={0}.

  2. The columns of A span Rm.

  3. The columns of A are linearly independent.

  4. Every column of RREF(A) has a pivot.

  5. Every row of RREF(A) has a pivot.

  6. The image of T equals its codomain, i.e. ImT=Rm.

  7. The system of linear equations given by the augmented matrix [Ab] has a solution for all bRm.

  8. The system of linear equations given by the augmented matrix [A0] has exactly one solution.

Observation 3.4.13.

The easiest way to determine if the linear map with standard matrix A is injective is to see if RREF(A) has a pivot in each column.

The easiest way to determine if the linear map with standard matrix A is surjective is to see if RREF(A) has a pivot in each row.

Activity 3.4.14.

What can you conclude about the linear map T:R2R3 with standard matrix [abcdef]?

  1. Its standard matrix has more columns than rows, so T is not injective.

  2. Its standard matrix has more columns than rows, so T is injective.

  3. Its standard matrix has more rows than columns, so T is not surjective.

  4. Its standard matrix has more rows than columns, so T is surjective.

Activity 3.4.15.

What can you conclude about the linear map T:R3R2 with standard matrix [abcdef]?

  1. Its standard matrix has more columns than rows, so T is not injective.

  2. Its standard matrix has more columns than rows, so T is injective.

  3. Its standard matrix has more rows than columns, so T is not surjective.

  4. Its standard matrix has more rows than columns, so T is surjective.

Activity 3.4.17.

Suppose T:RnR4 with standard matrix A=[a11a12a1na21a22a2na31a32a3na41a42a4n] is both injective and surjective (we call such maps bijective).

(a)

How many pivot rows must RREFA have?

(b)

How many pivot columns must RREFA have?

(c)

What is RREFA?

Activity 3.4.18.

Let T:RnRn be a bijective linear map with standard matrix A. Label each of the following as true or false.

  1. RREF(A) is the identity matrix.

  2. The columns of A form a basis for Rn

  3. The system of linear equations given by the augmented matrix [Ab] has exactly one solution for each bRn.

Observation 3.4.19.

The easiest way to show that the linear map with standard matrix A is bijective is to show that RREF(A) is the identity matrix.

Activity 3.4.20.

Let T:R3R3 be given by the standard matrix

A=[211411621].

Which of the following must be true?

  1. T is neither injective nor surjective

  2. T is injective but not surjective

  3. T is surjective but not injective

  4. T is bijective.

Activity 3.4.21.

Let T:R3R3 be given by

T([xyz])=[2x+yz4x+y+z6x+2y].

Which of the following must be true?

  1. T is neither injective nor surjective

  2. T is injective but not surjective

  3. T is surjective but not injective

  4. T is bijective.

Activity 3.4.22.

Let T:R2R3 be given by

T([xy])=[2x+3yxyx+3y].

Which of the following must be true?

  1. T is neither injective nor surjective

  2. T is injective but not surjective

  3. T is surjective but not injective

  4. T is bijective.

Activity 3.4.23.

Let T:R3R2 be given by

T([xyz])=[2x+yz4x+y+z].

Which of the following must be true?

  1. T is neither injective nor surjective

  2. T is injective but not surjective

  3. T is surjective but not injective

  4. T is bijective.

Subsection 3.4.2 Videos

Figure 38. Video: The kernel and image of a linear transformation
Figure 39. Video: Finding a basis of the image of a linear transformation

Subsection 3.4.3 Slideshow

Slideshow of activities available at https://teambasedinquirylearning.github.io/linear-algebra/2022/AT4.slides.html.

Exercises 3.4.4 Exercises

Exercises available at https://teambasedinquirylearning.github.io/linear-algebra/2022/exercises/#/bank/AT4/.

Subsection 3.4.5 Mathematical Writing Explorations

Exploration 3.4.24.

Suppose that f:VW is a linear transformation between two vector spaces V and W. State carefully what conditions f must satisfy. Let 0V and 0W be the zero vectors in V and W respectively.
  • Prove that f is one-to-one if and only if f(0V)=0W, and that 0V is the unique element of V which is mapped to 0W. Remember that this needs to be done in both directions. First prove the if and only if statement, and then show the uniqueness.

  • Do not use subtraction in your proof. The only vector space operation we have is addition, and a structure preserving function only preserves addition. If you are writing vv=0V, what you really mean is that vv1=0V, where v1 is the additive inverse of v.

Exploration 3.4.25.

Start with an n-dimensional vector space V. We can define the dual of V, denoted V, by

V={h:VR:h is linear}.

Prove that V is isomorphic toV. Here are some things to think about as you work through this.

  • Start by assuming you have a basis for V. How many basis vectors should you have?

  • For each basis vector in V, define a function that returns 1 if it's given that basis vector, and returns 0 if it's given any other basis vector. For example, if bi and bj are each members of the basis for V, and you'll need a function fi:V{0,1}, where fi(bi)=1 and fi(bj)=0 for all ji.

  • How many of these functions will you need? Show that each of them is in V.

  • Show that the functions you found in the last part are a basis for V? To do this, take an arbitrary function hV and some vector vV. Write v in terms of the basis you chose earlier. How can you write h(v), with respect to that basis? Pay attention to the fact that all functions in V are linear.

  • Now that you've got a basis for V and a basis for V, can you find an isomorphism?

Subsection 3.4.6 Sample Problem and Solution

Sample problem Example B.1.17.

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