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Changing Basis in Linear Transformations

Jan 22, 2025

Lecture 12: Advanced Linear Algebra - Changing Basis of a Standard Matrix

Overview

  • Focus on changing the basis of a linear transformation represented as a standard matrix.
  • Previously covered representing linear transformations as standard matrices.
  • Today's goal: learn the process of changing the basis for these matrices.

Key Concepts

Changing Basis for Coordinate Vectors

  • If you have vector ( v ), create coordinate vector ( v ) with respect to basis ( B ).
  • To change to another basis ( C ), multiply by a change of basis matrix.

Changing Basis for Linear Transformations

  • Similar to coordinate vectors, need to multiply on both sides (input and output) by change of basis matrices for standard matrices.

Main Theorem

  • Describes how to change basis for standard matrices of linear transformations.
  • Uses pre-and-post multiplication by change of basis matrices.

Setup

  • Finite dimensional vector spaces ( V ) and ( W ).
  • Linear transformation ( T ) between these spaces.
  • Two input bases: old (( B )) and new (( C )).
  • Two output bases: old (( D )) and new (( E )).

Theorem Statement

  • If the standard matrix with respect to old bases ( B ) and ( D ) is known, use a formula to construct the standard matrix with respect to new bases ( C ) and ( E ).
  • Pre-and-post multiply by appropriate change of basis matrices.

Diagrammatic Proof

  • Shows transitions between different basis representations.
  • Coordinate vectors in ( V ) and ( W ) using bases ( B, C ) and ( D, E ).
  • Change of basis matrices transform these vectors between different bases.
  • Demonstrates the equality of matrices using coordinate transformations.

Algebraic Proof

  • Involves multiplying a product of matrices by an arbitrary coordinate vector and proving equality of two matrix products.

Example: Transpose Map with a New Basis

Task

  • Compute the standard matrix of the transpose map with respect to a new basis (the Pauli basis).

Importance

  • Demonstrates using a theorem to change the basis of a matrix.
  • Though calculations are involved, results in simpler (diagonal) matrix representations.

Computation

  • Determine change of basis matrices ( P_{E \leftarrow B} ) and ( P_{B \leftarrow E} ).
  • Multiply those with the original standard matrix to get the new standard matrix.

Notes

  • Direct computation from the definition yields the same result.
  • Simplifies the representation of operations like the transpose map.

Conclusion

  • Highlights benefits of changing bases, even to non-standard ones, for simpler matrix representations.
  • Prepares for upcoming topics: properties of linear transformations, range, null space, eigenvalues.

  • End of Lecture 12 and week three.