Find a linear map knowing its image and kernel

hamel-basislinear algebralinear-transformationsmatricesvector-spaces

So..I have to find any linear map $f: \mathbb{R}^4 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$ that has a kernel and and an image with the following basis:

$$\ker(f)=\operatorname{Span}\{(-1,0,0,1),(1,3,2,0)\}.$$

$$\operatorname{Img}(f)=\operatorname{Span}\{(1,1,1),(0,-2,1)\}.$$

I have been trying to find similar problems to this one, but all of them so far have been for linear maps on $\mathbb{R}^3 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$, which are solved with Gauss. I have also seen that this can be solved by the extension of basis, but I can't wrap my mind around it as we have not touched that at all. What should be the method for solving this?

Best Answer

Lets fix: $V:= \mathbb{R}^4, K:= \left\langle \begin{pmatrix}-1 \\ 0\\0\\1\end{pmatrix} ,\begin{pmatrix}1 \\ 3\\2\\0\end{pmatrix} \right\rangle , I:= \left\langle \begin{pmatrix}1 \\ 1\\1 \end{pmatrix} ,\begin{pmatrix} 0\\-2\\1 \end{pmatrix} \right\rangle , W:= \mathbb{R}^3$

Now clearly: $K \subset V$ and $I \subset W$, this means we have canonical maps: $\pi:V\twoheadrightarrow V/_K$ and $\iota:I \hookrightarrow W$ (the projection onto the quotient and the inclusion). Now by the dimension formula we know $\dim( V/_K)=2=\dim(I)$, hence there exists an isomorphism $\varphi:V/_K \to I$ (pick your favourite one).

Consider the morphism: $$\iota \circ \varphi \circ \pi: V\twoheadrightarrow V/_K \xrightarrow{\sim}I \hookrightarrow W.$$

Now since both, $\varphi$ and $\iota$ are monics, the kernel of $\iota \circ \varphi \circ \pi$ is the same as the kernel of $\pi$ which construction is $K$. Dually since $\varphi$ and $\pi$ are epics, the image of $\iota \circ \varphi \circ \pi$ is the same as the image of $\iota$ which by construction is $I$.

So $\iota \circ \varphi \circ \pi$ has the desired properties

Now a funfact at the end: by the homomorphism theorem any morphism with the desired properties factors in precisely that way and "only" depends on the choice of $\varphi$.

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