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Suppose $v_1,\ldots,v_n$ are vectors such that $v_i \ne c v_j$ for any $i,j$ and there is a nontrivial linear combination $a_1v_1+\cdots+a_nv_n=0.$ Suppose further that for each $i$, $v_i=w_{i_1}+w_{i_2}$ (the $w_{i_j}$ are not assumed distinct). Certainly $a_1(w_{1_1}+w_{1_2})+\cdots+a_n(w_{n_1}+w_{n_2})=0,$ but is it a nontrivial linear combination?

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E.g. if $v_1 = w_1 + w_2$, $v_2 = w_2 + w_3$, $v_3 = w_3 + w_4$, $v_4 = w_4 + w_1$, $v_1 - v_2 + v_3 - v_4 = 0 w_1 + 0 w_2 + 0 w_3 + 0 w_4$. Is that what you meant?

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    Yes. Thanks. Did suspect I was missing the obvious.2012-03-07