Final answer:
In a linear combination of vectors a and b, the values of m and n can be any real numbers that satisfy the equation c = ma + nb. They determine how much of each vector is added to create the resulting vector c.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a linear combination of vectors a and b, the vector c can be expressed as c = ma + nb, where m and n are scalars. The values of m and n can be any real numbers that satisfy the equation. They determine how much of each vector is added to create the resulting vector c.
For example, if m = 2 and n = 3, the linear combination would be c = 2a + 3b. This means that vector c is formed by adding 2 times the magnitude of vector a to 3 times the magnitude of vector b.
Note that there are infinitely many possible values of m and n that can satisfy the equation, as long as they are real numbers.