MATH 2140 Part A: Linear Algebra Lecture 2

Unit 2. Vector Spaces

Objective
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of vector space and subspace; determine whether a given subset of a vector space is a subspace; determine a spanning set for a given vector space or a subspace;

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Definition of Vector Space

Definition 2.1 A vector space over the real number field is a set with two operations called vector addition and scalar multiplication satisfying A1. (Closure under addition) If , , then ; A2. (Associativity) , , ; A3. (Commutativity) , , ; A4. (Zero vector) zero vector satisfying , ; A5. (Inverse) , unique such that , is denoted by ; S1. (Closure under scalar multiplication) and , ; S2. (Associativity) , and , ; S3. (Distributivity) , , , , , ; S4. (Identity) 1 , .

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Note: A vector space is non-empty since it contains a zero vector by requirement. 0 . Proof. 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 1 1 . Proof. 1 1 1 1 1 0 .

Exercise: Show that the zero vector is unique.

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Examples of Vector spaces

1. 2. 3. 4.
, , . , , , , . , , , , 1,2, , . , , , , 1,2, , .

5. is real matrix . 6. The set of all real functions defined on an interval , under operations
, , ( is an interval).

7. is a real continuous function on , operations as in 6 ( is an

interval).

8. : the set of all polynomials over under ordinary addition of

polynomials and multiplication by a real number.

9. : the set of all polynomials of order , operations as in 6.

10. The set of all solutions to a homogeneous system of linear equations. 11. The set of all solutions to a linear ODE 0.
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Subspaces
Definition 2.2 Let be a nonempty subset of a vector space . If itself is a vector space (under the same operations as in ) then is called a subspace of . The zero space and itself are always subspaces of V . Both these are called trivial subspaces of . All other subspaces are called proper subspaces or non-trivial subspaces. Theorem 2.1 A subset of a vector space is a subspace of if and only if it is non-empty and closed under the operations of , that is, is non-empty; and if , , then ( is closed under vector addition); and if , , then ( is closed under scalar multiplication). Theorem 2.1 is often used to check if a given subset is actually a subspace

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Example 2.1 Check if the given subset is a subspace of the vector space .

1. , 4 , ; 2. , 1 , ; 3. , , ; 4. , , 2, 1 , ; 5. , , 2 0 , ; 6. 0 , ; 7.
0 , , ;

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Generating Systems (Spanning Sets)

Definition 2.3 If , , , are vectors of a vector space , then any expression of the form is called a linear combination of , , , , where , 1,2, , . Different sets of values for , 1,2, , give different linear combinations of , , , . For example, in , 2 6 and 3 2 9 are different linear combinations of the vectors , , . Example 2.2 Are (3, 2, 5) and (2, 1, 2) linear combinations of (1, 1, 1) and (1, 2, 1) in ? Example 2. 3 Let , , , ( 1) be vectors of a vector space . Then the subset consisting of all linear combinations of , , , is a subspace of .

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Definition 2.4 The vectors , , , form a generating system (or spanning set) for a vector space if every element of can be expressed as a linear combination of , , , . We then say , , , generate (or span) and write , , ,

Example 2.4 Let , , , be any vectors in a vector space . Then , , , where is the subspace of all linear combinations of , , , .

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Example 2.5 Show that (1, 0, 0), (1, 1, 0) and (0, 1, 1) span .

Solution:

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