Change of Basis Matrices

A basis for a vector space is not unique. In fact, given a vector space V and two dierent bases B =< 1 , . . . , n > and C =< 1 , . . . , n > we can easily construct a linear map v v w w that sends each basis vector in B to a dierent basis vector in C by letting j j and v w extending linearly. The purpose of this handout is to illustrate the routine for nding the matrix representation for that linear map in the case where our vector space V = Rn .

The Easy Direction from B to En

0 1 0 1 , , . . . . Now suppose . . . . . .

Recall the notation for the standard basis in Rn is En =

that B =< 1 , . . . , n > is any other basis for Rn . We may represent any vector in Rn in v v terms of B using the notation a1 a2 v v . := a1 1 + + an n . . . an B Well assume that the vectors a1 a2 . . . an B c1 c2 . . . cn

and

represent the same vector in Rn but written relative to the two given bases. (Think of this as these vectors have the same picture magnitude and direction.) To change a vector in terms of the basis B to a vector in terms of En we need only do the following matrix multiplication a1 a1 c1 a2 a2 c2 = D = v1 vn . (1) . . . . . . . . an B an B cn That is, the matrix D is the matrix whose column vectors are the basis vectors from B (keeping the order consistent!) You should think of the matrix D as having input vectors in terms of the basis B and output vectors in terms of the basis En .

From En to B Using Matrix Inverses

Since the column vectors in the matrix D above form a basis for Rn , the matrix D has rank n and is thus invertible. So to change from the standard basis En to B we just need to left multiply by D1 . That is, c1 a1 c2 a 2 D1 . = . . . . . . cn an B This equation arises simply by multiplying both sides of Equation (1) by D1 .

The General Case

Now lets handle the case where we have two bases B =< 1 , . . . , n > and C =< v v , . . . , > and we want to change between the equal vectors w1 wn a1 d1 a2 d2 and . . . . . . . an B dn C Again, these vectors are equal in the sense that they have the same direction and magnitude in Rn but have dierent representations relative to the bases B and C. The relationship between the two representations can be simply written as follows: Dene v 1. D = 1 w 2. G = 1 Then a matrix whose columns are the vectors from B vn a matrix whose columns are the vectors from C. wn d1 a1 d2 a2 and D1 G . = . . . . . . dn C an B

a1 d1 a2 d2 G1 D . = . . . . . an B dn C

(2)

That is 1. the matrix G1 D converts from basis B to basis C 2. the matrix D1 G converts from basis C to basis B

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4.1

Some Examples
An Easy One

0 0 1 3 0 , 1 , 0 this is just a Consider the vector space R and the basis B = 1 0 0 rearrangement of the standard basis. Writing a vector relative to B is just like taking the standard basis representation and ipping it over. For example, 6 1 3 = 3 . 1 6 B Notice that the matrix to change coordinates 0 D = 0 1 In fact, from B to E3 is just 0 1 1 0 . 0 0

6 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 = 3 . 1 1 0 0 6 B

Notice that for this strange case, D1 = D and we have 0 0 1 6 1 0 1 0 3 = 3 . 1 0 0 1 6 B So the matrix D will change both ways from B to E3 and from E3 to B.

4.2

Another Example in R3

Notice that each of the following are bases in R3 (do the computation!!) 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 , 1 , 0 1 , 1 , 1 B= and C = 0 1 2 1 1 0 For an example of a vector written with respect to each basis, notice that 1 1 0 0 1 1 = 1 1 + 1 1 + 2 0 = 0 2 B 0 1 2 5 and 4 0 1 0 1 1 = 4 1 + 1 1 + 5 1 = 0 . 5 C 1 1 0 5 3

Thus

1 4 1 = 1 . 2 B 5 C form of this vector to the other. Dene 0 0 1 0 0 and G := 1 1 1 . 2 1 1 0

Well nd matrices that convert one 1 0 1 1 D := 0 1 Compute (do it!) D1

1 0 0 1 0 = 1 1 2 1 1 2 2

and G1

1 0 1 = 1 0 0 . 0 1 1 to C is given by 2 0 2

Using Equation (2), we see that the matrix to 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 G D= 0 0 1 1

change bases from B 1 1 0 0 = 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2

Similarly we see that the matrix to change bases from C to B is 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 = 1 1 0 D G= 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 Verify that 4 1 1 1 2 1 = 1 1 0 0 5 C 1 0 2 2 B Also verify that and

given by 1 0 2 1 1 1 2 2

0 1 0 1 4 1 2 1 = 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 B 5 C 2

1 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 = 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 0 2 1 2