Are the functions $\sin^n(x)$ linearly independent?

Solution 1:

Suppose we have real numbers $a_j$ such that $\sum_1^k a_j \sin^j(x)=0$ for every real $x$. Consider the polynomial $f(y)=\sum_1^k a_j y^j$. By assumption, we know that $f(\sin(x))=0$ for every $x$. Since $\sin(x)$ can take any value between $-1$ and $1$, we have that $f(y)=0$ for any $y$ between $-1$ and $1$. But then $f(y)=0$ for infinitely many values of $y$, and so $f$ is the zero polynomial, i.e. $a_j=0$ for all $j$. Thus the only linear dependence is the trivial one, and so our set is linearly independent.

Solution 2:

Here is a generalization.

Let $X$ be a set, let $F$ be a field, and let $h:X\to F$ be a function. Then $\{h,h^2,h^3,h^4,\ldots\}$ is linearly independent in the $F$-vector space $F^{X}$ if and only if $h(X)$ is infinite.

Proof can be found at the linked question, or using the same idea as in Chris Eagle's answer.