# Math Help - spanning set for R^2

1. ## spanning set for R^2

First, can anyone explain to me the meaning of spanning set? I am a little confused with it meaning.

Then please show me how to do the below questions. Thank you very much.

Determine whether any of the following sets are spanning sets for R^2 , considered as column matrices
1) S = { esub1 = [1] , esub2 = [0]}
........................[0]............. [1]

2) S = { esub1 = [1] , esub2 = [0], fsub1 = [1]}
........................[0]............. [1].............[1]

3) S = { fsub1 = [1] , fsub2 = [2]}
.......................[1]............. [2]

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note: e and f are vectors.

2. Originally Posted by apple12
First, can anyone explain to me the meaning of spanning set? I am a little confused with it meaning.
A spanning set for a (sub-) space $W$ is a set of elements of $W$ which spans $W$. A set $S \subset W$ spans $W$ if for all $w \in W$ $w$ is a linear combination of elements of $S$.

Then please show me how to do the below questions. Thank you very much.

Determine whether any of the following sets are spanning sets for R^2 , considered as column matrices
1) S = { esub1 = [1] , esub2 = [0]}
........................[0]............. [1]
This is the standard basis for $R^2$, so spans $R^2$.

2) S = { esub1 = [1] , esub2 = [0], fsub1 = [1]}
........................[0]............. [1].............[1]
This contains the standard basis and so spans $R^2$

3) S = { fsub1 = [1] , fsub2 = [2]}
.......................[1]............. [2]
$[1,2]'$ cannot be written as a linear combination of elements of $S$, so $S$ does not span $R^2$.

RonL