Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
June 24, 2025
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Linear Transformations
Let V and W be vector spaces over a field F (or C, Rfor us).
A linear transformation from V into W is defined to be a
linear function T mapping V into W . That is,
T (v1 + v2 ) = T (v1 ) + T (v2 ) and T (αv) = αT (v)
or, equivalently,
T (αv1 +βv2 ) = αT (v1 )+βT (v2 ) for all v1 , v2 ∈ V, α, β ∈ F.
A linear operator on V is defined to be a linear
transformation from V into itself—i.e., a linear function
mapping V back into V .
In the definition above we see that every linear transformation
satisfies that T(0) = 0. If a function does not satisfy this
condition,then it cannot be a linear transformation.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Examples of Linear Transformations
The function 0(x) = 0 that maps all vectors in a space V to
the zero vector in another space W is a linear transformation
from V into W , and it is called the zero transformation.
The function IV (x) = x that maps every vector from a space
V back to itself is a linear operator on V . IV is called the
identity operator on V .
If V is the vector space of all functions from R to R, and U is
the space of all differentiable functions from R to R, then the
df
mapping D(f ) = dx is a linear transformation from U into V .
If V is the space of all continuous functions
Rx from R into R,
then the mapping defined by T (f ) = 0 f (t)dt is a linear
operator on V .
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Linear Transformations Between Euclidean Spaces
For any matrix A ∈ Rm×n and vector x ∈ Rn×1 , the function
T (x) = Ax defines a linear transformation from Rn to Rm .
Why is it linear?
When A is square (n × n), then T (x) = Ax becomes a linear
operator on Rn , mapping Rn to itself.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Matrix of a Linear Transformation T ∈ L(F n , F m )
Let T ∈ L(F n , F m ). Then there exists a unique matrix
A ∈ Mm,n (F ) such that for every vector v ∈ F n ,
T (v) = Av.
We call A the matrix of T , or say that T is represented by A.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Definition :L(V, W )
Given vector spaces V and W over a field F , we denote by:
L(V, W ): the set of all linear transformations from V to W .
L(V ): the set of all linear operators from V to itself.
Linear combination of linear transformations:
Given T, S ∈ L(V, W ) and scalars a, b ∈ F , define:
(aT + bS)(v) = aT (v) + bS(v), ∀v ∈ V.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Zero Transformation
Zero transformation:
0 : V → W, 0(v) = 0, ∀v ∈ V.
Observation: The zero transformation belongs to L(V, W ).
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Vector Space Structure of L(V, W )
The set L(V, W ), equipped with:
Addition: (T + S)(v) = T (v) + S(v),
Scalar multiplication: (aT )(v) = aT (v),
forms a vector space.
Remark: These operations satisfy the axioms of a vector space.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Theorem
Theorem .
The set L(V, W ) of linear transformations from V to W , together
with the addition and scalar multiplication operations defined in
Definition is a vector space.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Definition : Null Space and Range Space
Let V, W be vector spaces and T : V → W be a linear
transformation.
Null Space (Kernel)
The null space of T is the set:
N (T ) = ker(T ) = {x ∈ V | T (x) = 0}
Subset of the domain V
Also called the kernel of T
Range Space (Image)
The range space of T is the set:
R(T ) = im(T ) = {y ∈ W | y = T (x) for some x ∈ V }
Subset of the codomain W
Also called the image of T
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Theorem
Let V and W be vector spaces and T : V → W be a linear
transformation.
Theorem
The sets:
ker(T ) = N (T ) ⊂ V (null space/kernel)
im(T ) = R(T ) ⊂ W (range space/image)
are subspaces of V and W , respectively.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Definition
Let V and W be vector spaces and T : V → W be a linear
transformation.
(a) Injective (One-to-One) T is injective if and only if:
∀v1 , v2 ∈ V, T (v1 ) = T (v2 ) =⇒ v1 = v2
Equivalent condition: ker(T ) = {0}
(b) Surjective (Onto) T is surjective if and only if:
R(T ) = W
i.e., every w ∈ W has some v ∈ V with T (v) = w.
(c) Bijective (Isomorphism) T is bijective if and only if it is:
Injective (one-to-one)
Surjective (onto)
Such T is called an isomorphism.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Rank of a Linear Transformation
Let V , W be real vector spaces, and let T : V → W be a linear
transformation.
Definition
The rank of T is the dimension of its image:
rank(T ) = dim(Im T )
Matrix Interpretation:
Let TA : Rn → Rm be the linear transformation given by an m × n
matrix A.
The rank of the matrix A is defined as:
rank(A) = rank(TA ) = dim(Im TA )
This is the dimension of the column space (range) of A.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Nullity-Rank Theorem
Theorem (Nullity-Rank/Dimension Theorem)
For any linear transformation T : V → W between
finite-dimensional vector spaces:
dim(N(T ) + dim(R T ) = dim V
Key Implications
Fundamental relationship between a transformation’s ”input”
and ”output” spaces
Used to determine if a linear transformation is
injective/surjective
Basis for many important results in linear algebra
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Invertibility Condition
Definition: A transformation T : V → W is invertible if it is
bijective:
Injective (1-to-1): T (v1 ) = T (v2 ) =⇒ v1 = v2 .
Surjective (onto): ∀w ∈ W, ∃v ∈ V such that T (v) = w.
Inverse T −1 : Defined by:
T −1 (w) = v ⇐⇒ T (v) = w.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Theorem
Theorem: If T is linear and invertible, then T −1 is also linear.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Theorem
Theorem: If T is linear and invertible, then T −1 is also linear.
Proof Sketch: Show T −1 (aw1 + bw2 ) = aT −1 (w1 ) + bT −1 (w2 ):
1 Let w1 = T (v1 ), w2 = T (v2 ).
2 By linearity of T , aw1 + bw2 = T (av1 + bv2 ).
3 Apply T −1 :
T −1 (aw1 + bw2 ) = av1 + bv2 = aT −1 (w1 ) + bT −1 (w2 ).
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Implications
1 Invertible T implies dim V = dim W .
2 For matrix A of T , T −1 corresponds to A−1 .
3 Bijective linear maps are isomorphisms.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Implications
1 Invertible T implies dim V = dim W .
2 For matrix A of T , T −1 corresponds to A−1 .
3 Bijective linear maps are isomorphisms.
Note: In finite dimensions, T is invertible ⇐⇒ its matrix is
nonsingular (det A ̸= 0).
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Inverse Transformation Theorem
It is common in the literature to define the inverse matrix in an
equivalent way, which we state here as a theorem.
Theorem Let T : V → V be a bijective (invertible) linear
transformation. Then the transformation T −1 : V → V is the
inverse of T if and only if:
T −1 ◦ T = IV
This means that applying T and then its inverse T −1 is equivalent
to the identity transformation on V .
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Isomorphisms and Automorphisms
We say that a linear transformation T : V → W is an
isomorphism (or synonymously, invertible) if there exists a linear
transformation
T −1 : W → V
such that both compositions are the identity maps:
T −1 ◦ T = IV and T ◦ T −1 = IW
In this case, we write:
∼
T :V −
→W
and say that V and W are isomorphic via T .
If the domain and codomain of T are the same, i.e., T : V → V ,
then T is called an automorphism.
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Diagram: Isomorphism and Automorphism
V W
T −1
V Automorphism
Top: Isomorphism T : V → W and T −1 : W → V
Bottom: Automorphism T : V → V
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations
Diagram: Isomorphism and Automorphism
V W
T −1
V Automorphism
Top: Isomorphism T : V → W and T −1 : W → V
Bottom: Automorphism T : V → V
Theorem
Every n-dimensional vector space over a field F is isomorphic to Fn .
Rochana Meegaskumbura , University of Peradeniya, Dept of Engineering Mathematics Engineering Mathematics , Peradeniya
Week 1 & 2 - Linear Transformations