Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2001/ia/paper-1/2c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 ia Paper 1 2C Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A family is linearly independent if forces . For the three specified vectors, direct substitution givesThe coefficients are not all zero, so the vectors are linearly dependent.
For the implication question, using the usual interpretation that a basis contains the listed family as independent entries, the answers in order (i)–(x) areThe key distinctions are that the unrestricted zero combination always exists, whereas linear dependence requires a nontrivial combination; and dependence does not necessarily let the specified third vector be solved in terms of the first two. For example , makes (iii) and (iv) false, while disproves (vi).
There is a set-versus-family qualification in (v). If “contains” is interpreted as literal set containment, repeated nonzero vectors need only occur once in the basis. Then is dependent as a family but all three belong to the basis , so (v) becomes false. With three distinct vectors, or with family-containment as above, basis extension gives (v) true. Implication (x) remains true on either reading.
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