# Affine Independence and Linear Independence

Definition: Let $v_0, v_1.. v_k$ be points in $\mathbb{R}^d$. These points are called affinely independent if there do not exist real numbers $\alpha_0, \alpha_1...\alpha_k$ that are not all zero such that $\sum_{i=0}^k \alpha_i v_i = 0$ and $\sum_{i=0}^k \alpha_i = 0$.

We need to prove the following: The points $v_0, v_1... v_k$ are affinely independent if and only if the vectors $v_1 - v_0, v_2 -v_0... v_k - v_0$ are linearly independent.

Thank you so much.

• You can try expressing one of the coefficients, say the first one, with the remaining ones since $\sum_{i=1}^{k-1} \alpha_i = -\alpha_0$. Then plug this into the definition of affine dependence and you will get a pattern. – user13838 Nov 15 '11 at 0:52

Assume affine independence. Assume some linear combination of the $v_i-v_0$ is 0. Write that linear combination down (with unknown coefficients) and manipulate it to a form where you can use the assumption of affine independence.

Conversely, assume linear independence. Let some linear combination of the $v_i$ be zero. Do some manipulation to relate it to a linear combination of the $v_i-v_0$. Use the linear independence hypothesis to draw a conclusion about the coefficients.

If all that is too abstract for you, try to do the case $k=1$ or $k=2$ where you can more easily see what's happening.

Statement A: $$v_0,v_1,...,v_k$$ are affinely independent.
Statement B: $$v_1-v_0,v_2-v_0,...,v_k-v_0$$ are linearly independent.

First let us prove that $$A \implies B$$.
Consider some $$\lambda_1,...,\lambda_k$$, such that:
$$\sum_{i=1}^{k} \lambda_i (v_i - v_0) = 0 \tag{1}$$ We have to show that, if affine independence holds, all the cofficients ($$\lambda$$'s) must be zero.
Now, consider some $$\lambda_0 \in \mathbb{R}$$, such that: $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_i = 0\tag{2}$$ Also, we have: $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_i v_i = \sum_{i=1}^{k} \lambda_i (v_i - v_0) + (\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_i)v_0 \tag{3}$$ Using equations 1 and 2, we observe that both terms on the RHS of (3) are zero. This means that: $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_i v_i = 0 \tag{4}$$

From equations 2 and 4, we can say that $$\lambda_i = 0$$, $$\forall i$$ due to affine independence. Therefore, since all coefficients must be zero, this implies that B is true.

Now, let us prove the converse, that $$B \implies A$$.
Consider some $$\lambda_0,\lambda_1,...,\lambda_k$$, such that: $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_i v_i = 0$$ and $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_k = 0$$.
We have to show that all these coefficients must be zero under the condition of linear independence.
Using equation 3, and the above two conditions, we can conclude that $$\sum_{i=1}^{k} \lambda_i (v_i - v_0) = 0$$.
Therefore, due to linear independence of $$(v_i - v_0)$$, we conclude that: $$\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 = .... = \lambda_k = 0$$ Also, $$\sum_{i=0}^{k} \lambda_k = 0 \implies \lambda_0 = 0$$.
This proves that they are affinely independent (B is true).

We have shown $$A \implies B$$ and $$B \implies A$$.
$$\therefore A \iff B$$.