[Math] Expanding a basis of a subspace to a basis for the vector space

linear algebra

I'm not really sure how to extend a basis. I'm trying to do the following question.

Consider the subspace $ W = \{(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4) \in \mathbb{R}^4 : x_1 = -x_4, x_2 = x_3\}$ of $ \mathbb{R}^4$. Extend the basis $\{(0,2,2,0),(1,0,0,-1)\}$ of $W$ to a basis of $ \mathbb{R}^4$.

I know I need to add another two vectors for it to be a basis of $ \mathbb{R}^4$ but I'm not sure how to pick the vectors. In general, how do you expand a basis?

Best Answer

Hint: Any $2$ additional vectors will do, as long as the resulting $4$ vectors form a linearly independent set. Many choices! I would go for a couple of very simple vectors, check for linear independence. Or check that you can express the standard basis vectors as linear combinations of your $4$ vectors.