[Math] How to find a basis for $2\times 2$ matrix

linear algebravector-spaces

Consider $W$ the subset of the Vector space $V$ where $V$ is all 2×2 matrices:
$$
W = \left\{ \begin{pmatrix} a & a \\ a & b \end{pmatrix} \mid a,b \in \mathbb{R} \right\}
$$

How would I find a basis for $W$?

Best Answer

An arbitrary element of $W$ is $$ A=\begin{pmatrix} a & a \\a & b\end{pmatrix}=a\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\1 & 0\end{pmatrix}+b\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 \\0 & 1\end{pmatrix} $$ So a basis of $W$ is $\{\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\1 & 0\end{pmatrix}, \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 \\0 & 1\end{pmatrix}\}$

Related Question