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Coordinates in a basis

A basis gives a coordinate system inside a vector space. If

$$B=(\mathbf b_1,\ldots,\mathbf b_n)$$

is an ordered basis, every vector $\mathbf v$ can be written uniquely as

$$\mathbf v=c_1\mathbf b_1+\cdots+c_n\mathbf b_n.$$

The coefficient list is the coordinate vector of $\mathbf v$ relative to $B$:

$$[\mathbf v]_B= \begin{pmatrix}c_1\ \vdots\ c_n\end{pmatrix}.$$

The vector and its coordinates are different objects

In $\mathbb R^2$, let

$$B=((1,1),(1,-1)).$$

The vector

$$\mathbf v=(4,2)$$

satisfies

$$\mathbf v=3(1,1)+1(1,-1),$$

so

$$[\mathbf v]_B=\begin{pmatrix}3\1\end{pmatrix}.$$

The vector is still $(4,2)$ in the plane; $(3,1)$ is only its description in the basis $B$.

Why order matters

If the basis vectors are reordered, the coordinate entries must be reordered as well. Coordinates therefore belong to an ordered basis.

Choosing a basis converts abstract vectors into coordinate columns and allows vector-space problems to be handled with matrices.

Visual intuition: coordinates and basis vectors