Let X be a vector space over F .

1. Let x1 , . . . , xm belong to X. Show that these vectors are linearly dependent if

one of these vectors is zero. If xi = xj for some i 6= j, show that these vectors
are LD.

2. Assume W1 and W2 are subspaces of X.

(a) Can you say that W1 ∪ W2 is a subspace?

(b) How about W1 ∩ W2 ?
(c) Show that W1 ∪ W2 is a subspace iff W1 ⊆ W2 or W2 ⊆ W1 .

3. Assume that X is three dimensional. Show that there exist subspaces X1 , X2

and X3 such that every vector in X can be uniquely written as a sum of three
vectors where each vector is in Xi .

4. Formulate a theorem based on the above problem for any finite dimensional
space. Write a proof.

5. Show that the following are equivalent.

(a) x1 , x2 , . . . , xn is a basis for X.

(b) Every vector in X is a LC of x1 , . . . , xn and this LC is unique.

6. Calculate the dimension of Pm . (Pm is the real vector space of all polynomials
with degree at most m and have real coefficients)