# Math Help - Linear algebra plane span

1. ## Linear algebra plane span

Let $a_1= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 4 \\ -2 \end{bmatrix}, a_2= \begin{bmatrix} -2 \\ -3 \\ 7 \end{bmatrix}$ and $b= \begin{bmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \\ h \end{bmatrix}$. For what value(s) of h is b in the plane spanned by $a_1$and $a_2$?

2. Originally Posted by Linnus
Let $a_1= \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 4 \\ -2 \end{bmatrix}, a_2= \begin{bmatrix} -2 \\ -3 \\ 7 \end{bmatrix}$ and $b= \begin{bmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \\ h \end{bmatrix}$. For what value(s) of h is b in the plane spanned by $a_1$and $a_2$?
You are asking for what $h$ does there exists real numbers $a,b$ so that $a\bold{a_1}+b\bold{a_2} = \bold{b}$?

$a-2b = 4$
$4a -3b = 1$
$-2a+7b = h$
$\begin{bmatrix}1 & -2 & 4 \\ 4 & - 3 & 1 \\ -2 & 7 & h \end{bmatrix}$
Now use Gauss-Jordan elimination to reduce it you should get on the bottom row something like: $[ 0 ~ \ ~ 0 ~ \ ~ \text{ expression of h} ]$.
Then in order for it to be consider that expression of $h$ needs to be equal to zero.