Final answer:
Linear transformations are mathematical functions that preserve the structure of a vector space and satisfy linearity of addition and scalar multiplication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Linear transformations are mathematical functions that map one vector space to another in a way that preserves the structure of the vector space. In order for a transformation to be considered linear, it must satisfy two conditions: linearity of addition and linearity of scalar multiplication.
1. Linearity of addition: This condition states that the transformation of the sum of two vectors should be equal to the sum of the transformed vectors. Mathematically, if T is a linear transformation, it should satisfy T(u + v) = T(u) + T(v), where u and v are vectors.
2. Linearity of scalar multiplication: This condition states that the transformation of a scalar multiple of a vector is equal to the scalar multiple of the transformed vector. Mathematically, if T is a linear transformation, it should satisfy T(ku) = kT(u), where k is a scalar and u is a vector.