Homogeneous Linear Equations with More Unknowns than Equations

Theorem

Let $\alpha_{ij}$ be elements of a field $F$, where $1 \le i \le m, 1 \le j \le n$.

Let $n > m$.

Then there exist $x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n \in F$ not all zero, such that:

$\ds \forall i: 1 \le i \le m: \sum_{j \mathop = 1}^n \alpha_{ij} x_j = 0$

Alternatively, this can be expressed as:

If $n > m$, the following system of homogeneous linear equations:

$\ds 0$

$=$

$\ds \alpha_{11} x_1 + \alpha_{12} x_2 + \cdots + \alpha_{1n} x_n$

$\ds 0$

$=$

$\ds \alpha_{21} x_1 + \alpha_{22} x_2 + \cdots + \alpha_{2n} x_n$

$\ds $

$\cdots$

$\ds $

$\ds 0$

$=$

$\ds \alpha_{m1} x_1 + \alpha_{m2} x_2 + \cdots + \alpha_{mn} x_n$

has at least one solution such that not all of $x_1, \ldots, x_n$ is zero.

Consider these vectors for $1 \le k \le n$:

$\mathbf a_k = \tuple {\alpha_{1k}, \alpha_{2k}, \dots, \alpha_{mk}} \in F^m$

$\ds \exists \set {\lambda_k: 1 \le k \le n} \subseteq F: \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^n \lambda_k \mathbf a_k = \mathbf 0$

where at least one of $\lambda_k$ is not equal to $0$.

The system of homogeneous linear equations above can be written as:

$\ds \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^n x_k \mathbf a_k = \mathbf 0$

The result follows from taking $x_k = \lambda_k$.

$\blacksquare$

1964: Iain T. Adamson: Introduction to Field Theory ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: Elementary Definitions: $\S 4$. Vector Spaces