f is a linear function if she is defined by <math>f (x) = M * x</math> where:
A Linear function can be expressed as a matrix-vector product:
Let <math>V</math> and <math>W</math> be vector spaces over a field <math>\mathbb{F}</math> . A function <math>f : V \mapsto W</math> is a linear function if it satisfies two properties:
<MATH> f (\alpha.v) = \alpha f(v) </MATH>
<MATH> f (u + v) = f (u) + f (v) </MATH>
A linear function maps zero vector to zero vector:
The image of a linear function <math>f : V \rightarrow W</math> is a vector space
When <math>f : V \mapsto W</math> is linear <MATH> \begin{eqnarray} f(\alpha_1.v_1 + \dots + \alpha_n.v_n) & = & \alpha_1.f(v_1) + \dots + \alpha_n.f(v_n) \\ & = & \alpha_1.f(w_1) + \dots + \alpha_n.f(w_n) \end{eqnarray} </MATH>
Kernel of a linear function f is <math>{v : f (v) = 0}</math>
For a matrix function <math>f (x) = M * x, \text{Ker f} = \text{Null M}</math> where Null M is the null space
Kernel-Image Theorem: For any linear function <math>f : V \mapsto W</math> : <MATH> \href{dimension}{dim} \text{ Ker f } + \href{dimension}{dim } \text{ } \href{#image}{lm} f = \href{dimension}{dim} \text{ V} </MATH>
where: