Linear Transformation is Injective iff Kernel Contains Only Zero

Theorem
Let $\mathbf V, \mathbf V'$ be vector spaces, with respective zeroes $\mathbf 0, \mathbf 0'$.

Let $T: \mathbf V \to \mathbf V'$ be a linear transformation.

Then:


 * $T$ is injective $\map \ker T = \set {\mathbf 0}$

where:


 * $\mathbf 0$ is the zero of the domain of $T$


 * $\map \ker T$ is the kernel of $T$.

Sufficient Condition
That $\mathbf 0 \in \map \ker T$ follows from Kernel of Linear Transformation contains Zero Vector.

That $\map \ker T$ is a singleton follows from the definition of injection.

Necessary Condition
Let $\map \ker T = \set {\mathbf 0}$.

Consider:
 * $\map T {\mathbf x} = \mathbf b$

where $\mathbf b$ is in the codomain of $T$.

Let this equation have a solution:
 * $\mathbf x = \mathbf x_1 \in \mathbf V$

Suppose $\mathbf x = \mathbf x_2 \in \mathbf V$ is also a solution.

Clearly:
 * $\map T {\mathbf x_1} = \map T {\mathbf x_2}$

Observe that:

As $\mathbf x_1, \mathbf x_2$ were arbitrary:


 * $\forall \mathbf x_1,\mathbf x_2 \in \mathbf V: \map T {\mathbf x_1} = \map T {\mathbf x_2} \implies \mathbf x_1 = \mathbf x_2$

and the result follows from the definition of injectivity.