Let $A = \{a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n \}$ be a set of vectors in $\mathbb{R^n}$ and let $B \subseteq A$. Prove that if $A$ is linearly independent, then $B$ must be linearly independent too.
The result is obvious intuitively, but I'm struggling with notation. Linearly independence means that $c_1a_1 + c_2a_2 + \dots c_na_n = 0 \iff c_1, c_2 \dots, c_n =0 $.
Assume without loss of generality that $B = \{ a_1, a_2, \dots ,a_m\}$ with $m \leq n$, then $c_1a_1 + c_2a_2 + \dots + c_ma_m = 0 \iff c_1, c_2, \dots , c_m = 0$ as per the linear independence of $A$.
My question
- Is my usage of "without loss of generality" correct? Otherwise I have no idea how to denote the vectors of $B$.
- Is there a better way of making the last line of the proof clearer? I think the step "$c_1a_1 + c_2a_2 + \dots + c_ma_m = 0 \iff c_1, c_2, \dots , c_m = 0$" might be a bit too abrupt.
Best Answer
If this is your first class in linear algebra, your professor might like it if you make things bit more explicit by writing
$$\begin{align}&c_1a_1+\dots+c_ma_m=c_1a_1+\dots+c_ma_m+0a_{m+1}+\dots+0a_n=0\\ &\Leftrightarrow c_1=0,\dots,c_m=0,0=0\dots 0=0\\ &\Leftrightarrow c_1=0,\dots,c_m=0\end{align}$$