[Math] Prove the linear transformations T and S are equal

linear algebra

Let $T: \mathbb{R}^n\mapsto{}\mathbb{R}^m$ and $S: \mathbb{R}^n\mapsto{}\mathbb{R}^m$ be linear transformations, and let $b_1,…,b_p$ be vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$ such that $T(b_1)=S(b_1), T(b_2)=S(b_2), …, T(b_p)=S(b_p)$. Prove that $T(v)=S(v)$ for all $v\in{}Span\{b_1,…,b_p\}$

I'm not sure what there is to prove here, probably just because I don't understand it… But doesn't the fact that $T(b_1)=S(b_1), T(b_2)=S(b_2), …, T(b_p)=S(b_p)$ prove that $T(v)=S(v)$ for all $v\in{}Span\{b_1,…,b_p\}$?

Best Answer

Well, the fact that $T(b_1)=S(b_1), T(b_2)=S(b_2), \ldots , T(b_p)=S(b_p)$ holds doesn't literally prove that $T(v) = S(v)$ holds for all $v\in\text{Span}\{b_1,\ldots,b_p\}$, but the proof is indeed very short.

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